Robust tremors have been felt within the nationwide capital and adjoining areas as an earthquake of 4.0 magnitude struck the area early on Monday (February 17, 2025). The Nationwide Heart for Seismology stated the earthquake struck at a focal depth of 5 kilometres at 5:36 am.
After Delhi, NCR, tremor felt in Bihar additionally at 4.0 magnitude. The Nationwide Heart for Seismology stated the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres at 8:02 am.
Shallow earthquakes, originating 5 or 10 kilometres beneath the floor, are likely to trigger extra injury than these originating deep beneath the floor.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 to 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 to 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 to 700 km deep.
An occasion of the devastating impact of a shallow earthquake could be the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia in Novermber 2022 that left greater than 160 lifeless and a whole lot injured as buildings crumbled and terrified residents ran for his or her lives on the principle island of Java.
In accordance with the U.S. Geological Survey, “There’s not one magnitude above which injury will happen. It is dependent upon different variables, similar to the space from the earthquake, what sort of soil you’re on, constructing development” and different components.
Why an earthquake’s depth issues?
A quake’s damaging drive relies upon not solely on its energy, but additionally on location, distance from the epicentre and depth.
Quakes can strike close to the floor or deep inside the Earth. Most quakes happen at shallow depths, in response to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Shallow quakes usually are usually extra damaging than deeper quakes. Seismic waves from deep quakes need to journey farther to the floor, shedding power alongside the way in which.
Delhi earthquake: Aftershocks to be minimal, says scientist
Shaking is extra intense from quakes that hit near the floor like setting off “a bomb straight beneath a metropolis,” stated Susan Hough, a USGS seismologist.
Commenting on the tremor felt in Delhi-NCR area, Nationwide Centre for Seismology Director OP Mishra says, “Seismologically, it’s not new area, earthquakes have occurred earlier within the area. Earlier, there was 4.6 magnitude earthquake in 6 km periphery, however it was deeper, with 10 km depth. There’s a distinction. It was not a plate tectonic earthquake, it was resulting from in situ materials heterogeneity, it was resulting from native impact. We will count on aftershock of round 1 or 1.2 magnitude.”
Revealed – February 17, 2025 10:26 am IST
