May 5, 1930 Earthquake: Pegu, Rangoon, Myanmar

One of the worst earthquakes ever felt in Burma [Mynamar] occurred on May 5, 1930 at 13:45:58 UTC. The ancient seaport of Pegu was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquake and sea wave (tsunami) which followed it. The roof of the famous Shwemawdaw Pagoa, reported to be entirely covered with gold and very valuable, was wrecked. The earthquake caused the practical destruction of the town of Pegu with the loss of at least 500 lives; it was felt as far as the Kyaukpyu and Murgui districts up and down the coasts respectively, as far north as Mongmit in the northern Shan States, across the greater part of the southern Shan States and the Kingdom of Siam [Thailand]. The outer curve marking these approximate limits passes into the Bay of Bengal, the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Siam [Thailand], but the land area actually involved was not less than 220,000 sq. miles. The region of maximum intensity lies within isoseismal IX on the RF [Rossi-Forel Intensity] scale, and embraces 375 sq. miles elongated pear-shaped area south of Pegu itself to beyond Thongwa - a distance of 45 miles as the crow flies. At Pegu itself a considerable portion of the town was ruined and fire, which broke out at once, added to the horror of the situation. Large cracks appeared in the ground and exuded sand and water. Big pieces of the river bank slid into the stream. Within the epicentral tract, the Tawa lock of the Pegu-Sittang canal, together with the adjoining country, was raised 0.77 feet. (ref #1185)

Only tonight is it possible to estimate the full effects of the appalling earthquake which yesterday wrought havoc in Burma [Myanmar] and shattered the town of Pegu, 58 miles north of Rangoon, which was afterward almost completely destroyed by fire. Between 5,000 and 7,000 persons, it is believed tonight, perished in southern Burma [Mynamar], either in the first crash of falling buildings or in the fire and tidal waves [tsunami] along the Sittang River which followed quickly after the nerve-shattering earthquake. The motion of the earth was so violent three miles north of Pegu that the magnificent steel bridge on the Rangoon-Mandalay Railroad came crashing down. The casualties in Rangoon itself are officially put at 58 killed and 204 injured, no Europeans being among them. The heaviest casualties occurred in the vicinity of the famous Shwe-Dagon pagoda, which since the 16th century, has been one of the greatest pilgrimage shrines of Buddhism. The glittering weather vane, richly studded with jewels, which crowned the conical gold tower of the pagoda and was valued at more than $1,250,000, toppled into the gardens 370 feet below. More than 50 large buildings will have to be reconstructed. (ref #2706)

One of the worst earthquakes ever felt in Burma [Myanmar] occurred on May 5th. The time of origin is given by the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey as 13:45:32 GMT. The ancient seaport of Pegu was almost entirely destroyed by the earthquake and a sea wave which followed it. Hundreds of people were reported killed or injured. Rangoon suffered heavily from the shocks. Many buildings in the European residential district collapsed. Press reports said that two hundred people were killed or injured by the earthquakes there. (reference #2709)

1930-05-05 13:46:01.31 UTC, 17.733 N 96.406 E, magnitude 7.43 Mw (ref #10476, v.11)

550 casualties (ref #1250, 11454, 12149)