An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 struck Myanmar on Tuesday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. As per the NCS, the earthquake struck at a shallow depth of 25km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. In a post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 3.5, On: 26/08/2025 03:03:25 IST, Lat: 22.62 N, Long: 96.17 E, Depth: 25 Km, Location: Myanmar.”

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties. Earlier on August 26, another earthquake of magnitude 4.9 struck Myanmar at a depth of 65km. In a post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 4.9, On: 22/08/2025 10:26:19 IST, Lat: 23.37 N, Long: 94.07 E, Depth: 65 Km, Location: Myanmar.”

In the aftermath of the magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes that struck central Myanmar on March 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned of a series of rapidly rising health threats for tens of thousands of displaced people in earthquake-affected areas: tuberculosis (TB), HIV, vector- and water-borne diseases.

Myanmar is vulnerable to hazards from moderate and large magnitude earthquakes, including tsunami hazards along its long coastline. Myanmar is wedged between four tectonic plates (the Indian, Eurasian, Sunda, and Burma plates) that interact in active geological processes. A 1,400-kilometre transform fault runs through Myanmar and connects the Andaman spreading center to a collision zone in the north called the Sagaing Fault. 

The Sagaing Fault elevates the seismic hazard for Sagaing, Mandalay, Bago, and Yangon, which together represent 46 per cent of the population of Myanmar. Although Yangon is relatively far from the fault trace, it still suffers from significant risk due to its dense population. For instance, in 1903, an intense earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 that occurred in Bago also struck Yangon.