3.8 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Jammu and Kashmir
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Synopsis
A light earthquake with a magnitude of 3.8 struck Jammu and Kashmir on February 23, 2023, at 8:47 p.m. The epicenter was located in Kupwara, with no reported casualties or damage. The region is historically prone to seismic activities.
Key Takeaways
- Earthquake Magnitude: 3.8 on the Richter scale
- Location: Kupwara, Jammu and Kashmir
- Depth: 10 km
- Historical Context: Region is prone to seismic activities
- Previous Major Quake: 7.6 magnitude in 2005
Srinagar, Feb 23 (NationPress) A light-intensity earthquake registering 3.8 on the Richter scale struck Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday evening, yet authorities reported no casualties or damages to property.
The National Center for Seismology confirmed that the quake occurred at 8:47 p.m. with coordinates of Latitude 34.28 degrees north and Longitude 74 degrees east.
This seismic event was located 10 km beneath the earth's surface, with its epicenter in the Kupwara region of Jammu and Kashmir.
Seismologically, the Kashmir Valley is classified as a highly sensitive zone prone to earthquakes.
Historically, earthquakes have caused significant devastation in Kashmir.
On October 8, 2005, a quake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale resulted in the loss of over 80,000 lives across both sides of the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir.
The town of Muzaffarabad in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir was left in ruins following the 2005 earthquake.
Additionally, Uri town in the Baramulla district suffered extensive damage.
The aftermath of that earthquake was so severe that residents throughout the Valley fled their homes as buildings trembled.
Aftershocks persisted for over a month after the catastrophic event.
In the wake of that disaster, there was a concerted effort to construct homes and buildings capable of withstanding future shocks.
In recent years, the Chenab Valley region of Jammu and Kashmir, including the Doda, Kishtwar, and Ramban districts, has experienced earthquakes with irregular frequency.
While there have been no reported fatalities in the Chenab Valley quakes thus far, incidents of earth subsidence have led to severe damage to structures.
In many instances, cracks have appeared in residential and government buildings, rendering them uninhabitable.
