Supershear-subshear-supershear rupture sequence during the 2025 Mandalay Earthquake in Myanmar

TL;DR

This study analyzes the rupture dynamics of the 2025 Mandalay earthquake, revealing a complex sequence of supershear and subshear rupture speeds influenced by local slip variations, using multiple observational methods.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed analysis of a supershear-subshear-supershear rupture sequence during a major earthquake, integrating seismic, video, and satellite data.

Findings

Rupture decelerated from supershear to subshear speeds before reaching the camera.

Satellite data indicated a slip minimum, correlating with rupture deceleration.

Rupture re-established supershear speeds after passing the slip minimum.

Abstract

We investigated the rupture dynamics of the 2025 $M_w$7.7 Mandalay, Myanmar earthquake, using a video recording of surface rupture, strong motion recordings, waveform simulation, and satellite imagery. Our assessment, based on the S-wave observation in the video and rupture arrival time at a seismic station 246 km south of the hypocenter, suggests that rupture decelerated to subshear speeds ($\sim$3 km/s) from initial supershear propagation ($\sim$6 km/s) before reaching the camera location. This deceleration is also supported by comparison between the fault-normal acceleration patterns seen in the video and that simulated by kinematic rupture modeling. Additionally, satellite imagery indicated a local minimum in slip (2$-$3 m) approximately 40$-$60 km south of the epicenter, suggesting a region of reduced stress drop that likely caused the temporary deceleration. Beyond this point, the rupture appears to have re-established supershear propagation.