1912 Maymyo earthquake
| UTC time | 1912-05-23 02:24:04 |
|---|---|
| ISC event | 16958191 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | 23 May 1912 |
| Local time | 08:54:04 |
| Magnitude | 7.9 Mw |
| Epicenter | 22°21′00″N 96°44′13″E / 22.35°N 96.737°E |
| Areas affected | Myanmar |
| Max. intensity | RFS IX (Devastating tremor) MMI IX (Violent) |
| Casualties | Unknown |
The 1912 Maymyo earthquake or Burma earthquake struck Burma on the morning of May 23, with an epicentre near Taunggyi and Pyin Oo Lwin in Shan State. The earthquake was initially calculated at 8.0 on the surface-wave magnitude scale (Ms ) by Beno Gutenberg and Charles Francis Richter, and described by them as being one of the most remarkable seismic events in the early 1900s. Recent re-evaluation of the earthquake, however, have revised the magnitude to 7.6–7.9. It was preceded by two foreshocks on May 18 and 21 with respective intensities V and VII on the Rossi–Forel scale, while the mainshock was assigned IX. Shaking was felt throughout most of Burma, parts of Siam and Yunnan; an area covering approximately 375,000 square miles. It was one of the largest earthquakes in the country.