Watch the Earth split in real time: First-ever video reveals 2.5-meter fault slip in seconds caused by an earthquake |

In March 2025, central Myanmar was struck by a strong 7.7 magnitude earthquake—the strongest to hit the area in over a century and considered one of the deadliest in its fashionable historical past. What units this seismic occasion aside is the seize of the fault’s sudden rupture in real time by a close-by CCTV digital camera, marking the first-ever video proof of such speedy floor motion throughout an earthquake. The footage vividly exhibits the Earth’s floor splitting and slipping sideways by an spectacular 2.5 meters in simply 1.3 seconds. This uncommon visible document offers scientists with an unprecedented alternative to check the detailed mechanics of earthquake fault slips, advancing our understanding of seismic behaviour and doubtlessly remodeling how future earthquakes are analysed and predicted.

Myanmar earthquake and uncommon real-time footage of two.5 metre fault

On March 28, 2025, the Sagaing Fault close to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest metropolis, ruptured in a strike-slip earthquake the place two blocks of earth slid previous one another horizontally. This earthquake was each highly effective and lethal, shaking the area in contrast to any occasion in latest reminiscence. What makes this occasion groundbreaking is the CCTV footage that captured the fault slipping in real time, a phenomenon by no means earlier than recorded on video. Unlike earlier research counting on distant seismic sensors, this footage provides a direct visible document of the fault motion.

The Sagaing Fault, which stretches greater than 1,200 kilometers from north to south, is considered one of Southeast Asia’s most energetic fault strains. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), it has the potential to generate earthquakes with magnitudes exceeding 7.5, making steady monitoring important for regional security. This occasion confirms long-standing considerations amongst seismologists about the fault’s potential for sudden and devastating ruptures.

Detailed evaluation reveals pulse-like rupture and curved slip path

Researchers from Kyoto University analyzed the footage utilizing a pixel cross-correlation method, measuring the fault’s speedy 2.5-meter slip at speeds as much as 3.2 meters per second. The slip lasted only one.3 seconds, confirming a pulse-like rupture — a brief, intense burst of motion touring alongside the fault, much like a ripple throughout a rug. The examine additionally confirmed the fault slip path was subtly curved, difficult earlier concepts of purely linear fault ruptures and aligning with geological observations worldwide. This groundbreaking footage bridges a niche between seismic concept and visible proof, providing a brand new dimension to earthquake science. It could pave the means for smarter early warning techniques and extra exact fault modeling in seismic zones globally.

New frontiers in earthquake science and future analysis

This first-of-its-kind video statement provides highly effective new instruments for seismologists to grasp fault conduct and earthquake mechanics. Capturing such detailed fault motion in real time will enhance earthquake fashions and assist higher predict the floor shaking in future occasions, which is essential for catastrophe preparedness. The analysis workforce plans to additional discover the elements controlling fault slip form and pace by way of physics-based simulations, hoping to unlock deeper insights into earthquake dynamics globally.