**Myanmar's 7.7-Magnitude Earthquake: Understanding the Sagaing Fault**  

 The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday ruptured along the **Sagaing Fault**, a major geological fault that plays a crucial role in the region’s complex tectonic structure.  This fault formed **tens of millions of years ago** when the Indian subcontinent collided with Asia, contributing to the uplift of the Tibetan Plateau.  

 **What is the Sagaing Fault? **  

 The **Sagaing Fault** is a massive crack in the Earth's crust that separates two tectonic plates moving in opposite directions.  These plates shift past each other at a rate of **0.7 inches (18 mm) per year**—a significant movement over time.  To put this into perspective, if a fence were built across the fault, it would be displaced by about **7 inches in a decade**.  This gradual buildup of stress along the fault is periodically released in the form of major earthquakes.  

**Key Facts About the Earthquake**  

  **Largest in Modern History:** Friday’s earthquake is likely **the strongest to hit Myanmar since 1946**, when a **7.6 to 7.7-magnitude** quake also struck along the Sagaing Fault.  

  **First Major Quake Since 1991:** Myanmar has not experienced a **7.0 or greater** earthquake since 1991, when a **7.0-magnitude** event occurred about 100 miles north of Friday’s epicenter.  

  **Regional History of Devastation:** A **7.7-magnitude earthquake** hit just across the border in China in **1988**, killing **730 people**.  

 **Comparisons to the 2023 Turkey Earthquake**  

 The Myanmar earthquake bears **striking similarities** to the **2023 Turkey earthquake**, which killed more than **50,000 people**.  The **United States Geological Survey (USGS)**:  

 The **Turkey quake** exposed around **750,000 people** to violent shaking, while the **Myanmar quake affected approximately 800,000**.  

 Myanmar had **twice as many people** exposed to severe and violent shaking (levels 8 and 9 on the shaking intensity scale) compared to Turkey—**nearly 5 million versus 2.7 million**.  

 The full extent of damage and casualties is still being assessed, but this earthquake highlights the **significant seismic risks** associated with the **Sagaing Fault** and the need for ongoing preparedness in the region.