The catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on Friday had as much energy as more than 300 atomic bombs combined, as per a leading American geologist. “The force that a quake like this releases is about 334 atomic bombs,

A major earthquake in Myanmar on Friday has caused more than 1,000 deaths and led to the collapse of numerous structures. Even though Myanmar is a high risk region for earthquakes, damage to buildings has been widespread.

It’s not much of a stretch to say that Earth’s inner structure, especially the innermost spherical core, has stupefied scientists for generations. It sits over 3,000 miles below the surface, smaller than the Moon yet massive enough to play a big part in Earth’s magnetic field.

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake in Myanmar caused widespread shaking and likely considerable damage because of a lack of buildings built to withstand temblors

A rescue team in Mandalay, the city closes to the earthquake's epicentre, tells the BBC they "are digging people out with our bare hands".

Earthquakes strike when tectonic plates, the large rocks making up the Earth’s crust, rub against each other. The USGS says the Myanmar quake occurred due to “strike slip faulting” between the India and Eurasia plates - which Myanmar sits on top of.

Satellite images show effects of deadly 7.7 magnitude earthquake in Myanmar which has caused widespread devastation, with over 1,600 lives lost and international aid efforts underway.

The country's military chief says 1,700 people have died as a result of the quake, as Bangkok rescuers continue to search rubble for survivors.