Myanmar was struck by a magnitude 3.7 earthquake in the early hours of Thursday, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 83 km, increasing its susceptibility to aftershocks.

This marks the third earthquake to hit the region in quick succession. Earlier on Wednesday, July 16, a magnitude 4.6 earthquake struck, and on Monday, July 14, a magnitude 3.9 tremor was recorded.

Myanmar is highly vulnerable to seismic activity due to its location on a major seismic belt, with the active Sagaing Fault posing a significant hazard to densely populated areas like Yangon and Mandalay.

Shallow earthquakes, like these recent events, are generally more dangerous as their seismic waves cause stronger ground shaking. The country is still recovering from powerful magnitude 7.7 and 6.4 earthquakes on March 28, which led to widespread health concerns for displaced populations, as warned by the World Health Organization.