5.7 quake hits Myanmar—USGS

YANGON—A moderate 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck southern Myanmar on Thursday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake hit at a shallow depth of 3.5 kilometers (two miles), with its epicentre about 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of the capital Naypyidaw, at 9:46 pm local time (1516 GMT).

Earthquakes are relatively common in Myanmar. The USGS said six strong earthquakes, of 7.0-magnitude and more, struck between 1930 and 1956 near the Sagaing Fault which runs north to south through the centre of the country.

In November a powerful earthquake left more than 20 people dead and destroyed hundreds of buildings in Myanmar’s second-biggest city of Mandalay and surrounding villages.