Two Earthquakes Strike Manipur Districts, No Casualties Reported

Synopsis

On January 22, two earthquakes of 4.3 and 3.3 magnitudes impacted the Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts of southern Manipur, with no reports of casualties or damages. The region is prone to seismic activity, prompting measures for quake-resistant construction.

Key Takeaways

Two earthquakes measured 4.3 and 3.3 struck Manipur.
No casualties or property damage reported.
The region is prone to seismic activity.
Authorities are promoting quake-resistant structures.
Frequent earthquakes in northeastern India raise concerns.

Imphal, Jan 22 (NationPress) Two sequential earthquakes, recorded at 4.3 and 3.3 on the Richter scale, shook the mountainous regions of southern Manipur, specifically Churachandpur and Pherzawl districts, along with nearby areas on Wednesday night, according to officials.

Officials reported that a moderate earthquake measuring 4.3 on the Richter scale struck Pherzawl district and its surroundings on Wednesday night.

Data from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) revealed that this tremor occurred at a depth of 40 km beneath the surface. Following this, within 49 minutes, a secondary quake measuring 3.3 on the Richter scale affected Churachandpur district and nearby regions at approximately 9.46 p.m. This second shock was recorded at a depth of 30 km, as per the NCS data.

Disaster Management Officials confirmed that there have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage to properties resulting from these two consecutive quakes.

Pherzawl district shares its borders with Mizoram and Assam, while Churachandpur district borders Mizoram and Myanmar. The recent tremors in Manipur followed six separate quakes in the state and seven in the northeastern region during this month.

A prior quake impacted Churachandpur district (3.1 on the Richter scale) on January 2, followed by a tremor (3.8) in Tamenglong district on the same day. Other quakes occurred on January 5 in Kamjong district (3.1), on January 7 in Kangpokpi district (3.6), on January 13 again in Kangpokpi (3.3), on January 17 in Tamenglong (3.3), and on January 21 in Meghalaya's South West Khasi Hills district (4.1 on the Richter scale).

According to NCS data, northeastern states have experienced over one quake weekly, with most tremors ranging from 3 to 4 on the Richter scale.

The frequent occurrence of mild to moderate earthquakes in the mountainous northeastern states, particularly in Assam, Mizoram, and Manipur, has raised concerns among authorities, prompting both public and private builders to construct quake-proof structures.

Seismologists classify the mountainous northeastern region as the sixth most earthquake-vulnerable zone globally.

In 1950, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.7 on the Richter scale changed the path of the mighty Brahmaputra river, which flows through the densely populated Guwahati city, the main commercial center in the northeastern region.

Another significant earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 struck northeastern India in 1988, resulting in over 200 fatalities in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

In 2011, a 6.9 magnitude quake shook Sikkim and parts of West Bengal, claiming the lives of over 100 individuals.

A further quake in 2017, measuring 5.7, affected an area 20 km northeast of Ambassa in Tripura's Dhalai district.

Authorities in Disaster Management are actively conducting awareness initiatives regarding the frequent seismic activities in the northeastern states.