4.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes North Garo Hills in Meghalaya
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Synopsis
A 4.1 magnitude earthquake struck Meghalaya's North Garo Hills district and nearby areas, with no immediate reports of casualties or damage. This earthquake is part of a series of seismic events affecting the northeastern region, prompting concerns over construction safety.
Key Takeaways
- 4.1 magnitude quake occurred in North Garo Hills.
- No immediate reports of casualties or damage.
- Second earthquake in Meghalaya in 12 hours.
- Northeast experiences frequent seismic activities.
- Authorities promote earthquake-resistant construction.
Imphal, Feb 20 (NationPress) A 4.1 magnitude earthquake shook the North Garo Hills district of Meghalaya and surrounding regions on Thursday, as reported by officials.
As per a representative from the Disaster Management department of the Meghalaya government, the tremor affected the hilly terrains of North Garo Hills and neighboring areas of Assam.
No immediate reports of casualties or property damage have been received.
Data from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) indicate that the quake occurred at a depth of 5 km below the surface, recorded at 11:32 a.m.
This tremor marks the second earthquake to impact mountainous Meghalaya in under 12 hours.
Earlier on Wednesday night at approximately 11:43 p.m., a minor quake measuring 3.1 on the Richter scale affected the western part of Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills district, adjacent to North Garo Hills and Assam.
According to NCS data, that tremor had a depth of 10 km.
Statistics from NCS reveal that northeastern states experience over one earthquake weekly, most ranging between 3 and 4 on the Richter scale.
The series of earthquakes, predominantly mild to moderate, in the northeastern region, particularly in Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, and Meghalaya, have raised concerns among authorities, encouraging both public and private developers to construct quake-resistant buildings.
Seismologists classify this mountainous northeastern area as the sixth most earthquake-prone zone globally. The catastrophic earthquake in 1950 measured 8.7 on the Richter scale, altering the flow of the Brahmaputra River, which runs through the bustling city of Guwahati, a key commercial center in the northeast. Another quake of 6.5 magnitude struck northeastern India in 1988, claiming over 200 lives in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.
In 2011, a quake measuring 6.9 impacted Sikkim and parts of West Bengal, resulting in over 100 fatalities.
A further earthquake in 2017, with a magnitude of 5.7, occurred 20 km northeast of Ambassa in Tripura's Dhalai district. Disaster Management authorities are consistently conducting public awareness initiatives regarding the frequent seismic activities in the northeastern states.
