Magnitude 6 Earthquake Hits Central Bago Region

By San Yamin Aung 12 January 2018

YANGON — A strong magnitude 6.0 earthquake and a series of aftershocks hit Myanmar’s central Bago Region early Friday morning, according to the Department of Meteorology and Hydrology.

There have been no reports as yet of casualties or damage.

The quake’s epicenter was near Pyu city and struck at 12:56 a.m. local time.

Ko Tun Lin Kyaw, a seismologist with the Meteorology Department, said people in Yangon, Naypyitaw, Pyu, Pyay and Taungoo felt the quake.

He said there were at least four aftershocks, three measuring a magnitude 5.3 and one a magnitude 4.7.

The Meteorology Department later reported an additional aftershock and said the last one, a magnitude 4.6, struck at 10:46 a.m.

“It was a shallow quake and so most people near the area felt it,” said Ko Tun Lin Kyaw.

He said people near the epicenter should be cautious about staying in old buildings and placing heavy objects such as televisions in high places.