Magnitude 6.9 earthquake hits north-west Myanmar

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake hit north-west Myanmar on Wednesday at around 8:30pm local time (1400 UTC).

Initially reported as a 7.2 magnitude earthquake by RT, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and GEOFON Global Seismic Network (GEOFON) later confirmed the magnitude as 6.9. The USGS reported the seismic event occurred at a depth of roughly 135km (83.8 miles) due to reverse faulting.

The epicenter of the seism was approximately 100km (62 miles) north-north-west of the Myanmarese city of Monywa, according to the USGS and GEOFON. The earthquake affected Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Nepal. The epicenter of the seism was not in a densely populated area, and immediate reports did not mention any injuries or serious damage.

The next day, the Hindustan Times and the Central Chronicle reported two people were killed and 70 injured in India’s north-eastern region of Assam. More than 80 people were also injured across Bangladesh as people hurried to evacuate their buildings during the quake, according to ABC News Australia.