Did Tremors Rock the Northeastern States Without Causing Damage?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 5.7 magnitude earthquake felt across Northeastern states.
- No reports of casualties or damage.
- Epicenter located in Madhabdi, Bangladesh.
- Series of earthquakes recorded this month.
- Importance of quake-resistant buildings highlighted.
Agartala/Guwahati, Nov 21 (NationPress) A moderate earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale in neighboring Bangladesh caused tremors across several states in the Northeast on Friday, according to officials.
Disaster Management authorities from various Northeastern states confirmed that there were no immediate reports of casualties or property damage resulting from the tremor.
The tremors also reached multiple areas in West Bengal, triggering panic among residents. Nevertheless, there were no reports of injuries or damage in the state at the time of this report.
A Disaster Management representative in Agartala noted that the earthquake originated at a depth of approximately 10 km, with its epicenter located in Madhabdi, within Bangladesh’s Narsingdi district. The tremors were felt in Tripura, Assam, Mizoram, and Meghalaya, states that share an 1,880-km border with Bangladesh.
According to Bangladeshi media sources, citing the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake was also felt in Dhaka and other regions of the country. Reports of tremors were also noted in Chandpur, Nilphamari, Sitakunda, Sirajganj, Narayanganj, Patuakhali, Bogura, Barishal, and Moulvibazar, as reported by a leading daily.
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) indicated that Friday's tremor marked the fifth earthquake in the Northeastern region this week and the 18th for November thus far. Out of these, Assam recorded seven, followed by five in Arunachal Pradesh, three in Manipur, and one each in Tripura, Meghalaya, and Sikkim.
Several earthquakes were felt simultaneously across multiple Northeastern states, with significant quakes occurring on November 2, 6, 11, 12, and 18, particularly in Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh.
An analysis of NCS data revealed that the Northeastern region has experienced more than one earthquake weekly this month, most of which registered between 3 and 4 on the Richter scale.
Earthquakes are quite prevalent in the mountainous Northeastern region, which consists of eight states and is situated within one of the world's six most earthquake-prone areas. The frequent, mostly mild to moderate tremors in Assam, Mizoram, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Meghalaya have raised concerns among authorities and have prompted both public and private builders to adopt quake-resistant construction practices.