Earthquake of 5.4 Magnitude Strikes Andaman Sea; Tremors Felt Across Islands, No Casualties Reported

The National Center for Seismology (NCS) confirmed that a moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.4 was recorded in the Andaman Sea on Sunday afternoon. The event occurred at about 12:06 p.m., and vibrations were felt in different areas of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

So far, officials have confirmed that there are no reports of casualties or damage to property. NCS report stated that the earthquake had a depth of around 90 kilometres.

In contrast, Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Secretary Dr. Chandra Bhushan Kumar mentioned that the local seismographs measured a 5.7 magnitude around 12:08 p.m. “The tremors were felt in Mayabunder, Rangat, and parts of North and Middle Andaman. All the agencies have been informed and safety measures are being followed,” he added.

Kumar also stated that the fishermen and tourists have been warned not to go near the sea since it is a precautionary measure while the monitoring teams keep checking for aftershocks and possible risks.

The District Emergency Operations Centre (DEOC) in Port Blair reports that the earthquake's epicentre was situated north of Barren Island, at a depth of around 96 kilometres under the Andaman Sea.

The active volcano of Barren Island, the only one in India, is about 140 kilometres from Port Blair by sea. The island is sited at the boundary between the Indian and Burmese tectonic plates, a place where seismic activity is common.

The experts say that among the world's earthquake-prone areas, the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt which intersects the Andaman-Nicobar region is the most significant one. Due to its geological traits, the archipelago experiences minor to moderate quakes as a common thing.

Despite the absence of any tsunami warning related to this incident, the authorities are still monitoring the area very closely.