March 31st, 2025

BBC Verify: What satellite images reveal about Myanmar's quake

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar caused extensive destruction and at least 2,000 deaths, with estimates potentially exceeding 10,000. Government restrictions on media hinder accurate reporting and assessment.

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BBC Verify: What satellite images reveal about Myanmar's quake

A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar last Friday, resulting in significant destruction and a reported death toll of at least 2,000, with estimates from the US Geological Survey suggesting it could exceed 10,000. The military government has restricted access to foreign journalists, complicating efforts to assess the full impact of the disaster. BBC Verify's Nick Beake, reporting from Thailand, has been gathering information on the affected areas through satellite imagery and local reports. The situation remains dire as the government continues to downplay civilian casualties, raising concerns about the accuracy of the reported figures and the overall humanitarian response.

- The earthquake in Myanmar has caused extensive destruction and a high death toll.

- The military government is limiting foreign media access, hindering accurate reporting.

- Satellite imagery is being used to assess the damage and impact of the earthquake.

- There are concerns about the government's transparency regarding civilian casualties.

- The US Geological Survey suggests the death toll could be significantly higher than reported.

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By @lightedman - about 18 hours
I did a calculation of the energy released. Roughly 105GT of TNT, to move ~360km of land roughly 6 meters.

Had that been a fee kilometers closer to the surface, there would not have been much left of the area. That was roughly 200 Tsar Bombas.