An earthquake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale occurred in Myanmar on February 16, 2026, at 22:04:26 IST. According to the National Centre for Seismology, the quake struck at a depth of 50 kilometers. The recorded coordinates were 22.99 degrees North latitude and 94.51 degrees East longitude. The National Centre for Seismology shared this information through a post on social media.
Previous Earthquakes
On February 15, 2026, Myanmar experienced a series of three earthquakes. The first earthquake had a magnitude of 4.5 and was recorded at a depth of 100 kilometers. This tremor occurred at 08:17:20 IST, with its coordinates being 22.16 degrees North and 94.51 degrees East. Earlier on the same day, a 3.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 00:52:42 IST. This event happened at a depth of 25 kilometers, with latitude 23.44 degrees North and longitude 93.49 degrees East. Furthermore, another earthquake of the same magnitude of 3.2 occurred later that day at 00:26:53 IST, at a depth of 80 kilometers and with coordinates 23.53 degrees North and 94.59 degrees East.
Geological Context
Myanmar is situated in a seismically active region, being positioned between four significant tectonic plates: the Indian, Eurasian, Sunda, and Burma plates. The interaction of these plates leads to various geological phenomena, including earthquakes and potential tsunamis along the extensive coastline. A major transform fault extends through Myanmar, linking the Andaman spreading center to the Sagaing Fault, a collision zone located in the northern part of the country.
Regional Vulnerability
The presence of the Sagaing Fault heightens the risk of seismic activity for several major regions, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon. Collectively, these areas are home to approximately 46 percent of Myanmar’s population. Although Yangon is situated at a considerable distance from the fault trace, the city is still exposed to considerable earthquake risk due to its high population density. Historical records indicate that significant earthquakes, such as a magnitude 7.0 event in Bago in 1903, have impacted Yangon as well.
