NEW DELHI: Delhi and its surrounding areas, including Noida, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, and Gurugram, experienced earthquake tremors on Thursday afternoon, shaking furniture and triggering panic among residents.
The National Center for Seismology (NCS), revealed that the quake had a magnitude of 6.1 and occurred at 14:50:24 IST. The epicenter was located in Afghanistan, specifically at latitude 36.48 and longitude 70.45, with a depth of 220 km.
The tremors were not limited to India, as reports from Pakistani media confirmed that Lahore, Islamabad, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cities also felt the earthquake. The Pakistan Meteorological Department reported a 6.0 magnitude earthquake in parts of Pakistan, originating from the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan. The quake struck at 2:20 pm (local time) at a depth of 213 km, with the epicenter located at latitude 36.16 N and longitude 70.63 E.
FLASH: An earthquake was felt in #Delhi and parts of the national capital region (NCR) after 6.1 magnitude #earthquake shakes #Afghanistan. pic.twitter.com/opoOLhIOIS
— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 11, 2024
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The earthquake’s impact extended to Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Punjab, and other parts of northern India. The epicenter in Afghanistan was situated 241 kilometers north-northeast of Kabul, according to the NCS.
The quake triggered panic among people in Delhi and the National Capital Region, with many reporting shaking furniture. The Pakistan Meteorological Department confirmed that Afghanistan had experienced earthquakes of Magnitude 6 and above twice since October of the previous year. However, no immediate reports of damage or injuries have emerged.
In the past week, Quetta and its surrounding areas in Pakistan were jolted by a 4.6-magnitude earthquake. The epicenter of this earthquake was in the Jurm district of the Afghan province of Badakhshan, within the mountainous Hindu Kush region.
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The US Geological Survey reported a magnitude of 6.4 for this quake, striking just before 2:00 pm and felt in Kabul, approximately 300 kilometers from Jurm. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
Afghanistan, situated near the junction of the Eurasian and Indian tectonic plates, is frequently prone to earthquakes, particularly in the Hindu Kush mountain range. The series of recent seismic activities in the region highlight the need for continued vigilance and preparedness in the face of such natural occurrences.
As residents in the affected areas assess and recover from the tremors, authorities emphasize the importance of staying informed and following safety protocols during seismic events to minimize potential risks.