Mae Chan Fault

Mae Chan Fault is a east-west strike fault in Northern Thailand, responsible for a 6.3 magnitude quake on May 16, 2007 that caused property damage in the provincial capital of Chiang Rai^[1] A part of it stretches from Mae Chan to Mae Ai for 40 km along the highway, then goes through Fang, Chiang Dao, Mae Rim and San Kamphaeng districts of Chiang Mai, to Mae Tha district of Lamphun.^[2] A Japanese study found it is capable of producing a 7.0 magnitude quake.,^[3] is considered as one of two the most "worrying" faults in Thailand.^[4]

It is part of a roughly parallel series of faults that accommodate the twisting of the northern Sunda Block from northern motion of the Indian plate at the Sagaing fault and southern motion of China at the Red River Fault. Among the members of this set of parallel clockwise moving faults are the Jinghong Fault stretching from Kengtung, Myanmar to Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, the Nan Ma Fault, Muang Houn Fault, and Dien Bien Phu Fault.^[5]

It has become "more active" since the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake.^[1] The 2011 Burma Earthquake hit some 20-30 km north of this fault, most likely at the roughly parallel Nan Ma Fault^[5], killing well over 100 people.

See also

• 2011 Myanmar earthquake

References

1. ^ ^{a b} http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/05/18/national/national_30034523.php
2. ^ http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/local/224414/quake-hits-chiang-mai-mae-ai-district
3. ^ http://eqtap.edm.bosai.go.jp/publications/EqTAP_ws/ws_1st/pdf/region_reports/lukkunaprasit_1st.pdf
4. ^ http://www.festerlivenewsudonthani.com/fester-live-udon-thani/2010/06/thailand-prepares-for-earthquakes.html
5. ^ ^{a b} http://www.earthobservatory.sg/media/news-and-features/295-myanmar-earthquake-of-march-24th-magnitude-68.html