A strike-slip fault — when two tectonic plates move side by side — triggered the powerful earthquake in Myanmar that was felt across the region, according to CNN meteorologist Derek Van Dam.
“The India and Eurasia plate actually moved side by side with each other, and that caused this intense shaking right at the surface,” he said.
“We’re talking about violent to severe shaking for millions of people across Myanmar, several millions. We’re talking about near 90 million people felt at least light shaking from this,” he added.
Van Dam warned that aftershocks are anticipated, and that the search and recovery effort “will continue for days, if not weeks.”