Earthquake in Myanmar equivalent to 334 atomic bombs, more than 1,000 people died

The March 28 earthquake near Myanmar's Mandalay city, measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale, was the strongest earthquake to hit Myanmar in more than a century.

The earthquake has so far killed more than 1,000 people, injured 2,376 and left 30 missing, while the US Geological Survey (USGS) forecast model estimates the death toll could exceed 10,000.

On March 29, US news agency CNN quoted geologist Jess Phoenix as saying that the earthquake in Myanmar released energy equivalent to more than 300 atomic bomb explosions and aftershocks could continue to shake the area.

“The power an earthquake like this unleashes is equivalent to about 334 atomic bombs,” said geologist Jess Phoenix.

Ms Phoenix also warned that aftershocks could last for months, as the Indian tectonic plate continues to collide with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar.

The geologist added that the devastation in Myanmar would be even more severe because the country is engulfed in civil war.

“An already difficult situation has now become almost unmanageable,” said Ms. Phoenik.

In a somewhat similar vein, science and technology editor Tom Clarke said the world's highest mountain range - the Himalayas - is a testament to the power of tectonic plates, having been pushed up by the gradual northward movement of the Indian plate into the Eurasian plate.

This power is almost unimaginable and disaster occurs when even a tiny fraction of that power is suddenly released.