Myanmar Quake Released Energy Equal to 334 Atomic Bombs

Mandalay: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Myanmar killed 1,700 people and released energy equal to 300 atomic bombs, says an American geologist. Geologist Jess Phoenix told CNN, “The force of this quake is about 334 atomic bombs.” She warned that aftershocks from the Myanmar quake, which occurred on Friday, “could last for months.”

Phoenix explained that aftershocks persist as the Indian tectonic plate keeps colliding with the Eurasian plate beneath Myanmar.

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The geologist warned that Myanmar’s civil war could worsen the disaster, making it harder to assess the full impact. “What is usually a difficult situation becomes nearly impossible,” she stated.

Myanmar Rescue Efforts Ongoing

Rescue efforts continue in Mandalay, but hopes of finding survivors fade as temperatures rise to 40°C amid ongoing aftershocks. Many residents spent a third night outside, as tremors continued shaking the city of 1.7 million over the weekend.

The intense heat exhausted rescuers and sped up body decomposition, making identification harder, AFP reported. In Myanmar’s second-largest city, rescuers amputated a pregnant woman’s leg after 55 hours, but she was declared dead after rescue.

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“We tried everything to save her,” a medical responder told AFP, but she lost too much blood after the amputation. Muslim worshipers gathered near a destroyed mosque on Monday morning for Eid al-Fitr prayers, marking the end of Ramadan. Funerals for hundreds of victims are expected to take place on Monday as families mourn their tragic loss.

The 7.7-magnitude quake struck near Mandalay on Friday, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock minutes later, causing widespread destruction.

The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies launched a $100 million emergency appeal on Sunday to support earthquake victims. The humanitarian network warned that rising temperatures and the upcoming monsoon season could trigger “secondary crises,” worsening the situation.

Myanmar, with over 50 million people, faced immense challenges even before the earthquake due to four years of civil war. The conflict began after the 2021 military coup, with reports of sporadic fighting even after the recent quake. A rebel group told AFP that seven of its fighters died in an aerial attack soon after the tremors. Before the earthquake, around 3.5 million people were displaced by war, many facing hunger risks.