7.8 Quake Jolts Andaman, Impact Felt in Chennai, Orissa
A strong undersea earthquake registering 7.8 magnitude on the Richter struck the Andaman archipelago at around 0126 hours on Tuesday. The quake, which was felt in several cities across southern and eastern India, caused widespread panic amongst residents; however, no casualties were reported.
Noting its location at about 265 kms north of Port Blair, the Indian Meteorological Department categorised the tremor as “great”.
Following the quake, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami alert which was later withdrawn.
No alerts were issued by the Indian Tsunami Warning Centre, where scientists opined the tremors were related to a normal fault and did not warrant any warning.
Tremors were felt in several places in Chennai, Vijaywada, Kolkata, Ranchi and many areas in Orissa.
Though no casualty was reported from any part of the Andaman region comprising North Andamans, Middle Andamans and South Andamans, the quake jolted the islands out f slumber and spurred memories of the devastating tsunami of December 2004, reported PTI.
The latitude of the quake was 14.1 degrees North and the longitude 93 degrees East, it added citing the Met Department.
A 4.8 magnitude aftershock was hit the islands at around 0620 hours.
No damages or injuries were reported from any of the islands.
The tremors sent panic waves across several cities where the quake was felt, especially in the coastal areas of Chennai, where the quake triggered rumours of tsunami warnings.
The fishermen stayed ashore and moved their families to safer places, vacating their seaside homes, the worries were, however, calmed after it became clear that no tsunami alerts had been issued by Indian authorities.
In Chennai, the tremors were felt in Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Besant Nagar and Nungambakkam areas.
The tremors were also felt in several parts of Orissa including Bhubaneshwar, Cuttack, Paradip, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Puri, Bhadrak and Balasore.
Mild tremors were also felt in Vijaywada, Ranchi and Kolkata.
Later in the day, An earthquake measuring 6.4 struck central and eastern Japan, some 70 people are feared to have been injured.
In Tokyo, train services were cancelled, motorways closed and a nuclear power station shut down, reported the BBC website.
(With agency Inputs)
