Mild tremors were felt in Chennai on Tuesday afternoon, after an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale was reported in the Bay of Bengal off Andhra Pradesh coast. Many users on social media in parts of Chennai shared that they had felt mild tremors. Users said that they felt the tremors in Thiruvanmiyur, Alwarpet and areas close to the sea in Chennai.
As per the National Center for Seismology, the earthquake was at 12.35 pm on Tuesday and was at a depth of 10 kilometres. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) Chennai has confirmed that the tremors were caused by this earthquake. “We are still in the process of studying the tremors. The epicentre of the earthquake is found to be near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal region. Its magnitude is ascertained as 5.1 on the Richter scale. As a result, tremors were felt in parts of northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai,” an official in the India Meteorological Department, Chennai, told TNM.
According to the National Center for Seismology, the epicentre was 296 km south-southeast of Kakinada in Andhra, 312 km south-southeast of Rajamundry, 339 km south-east of Guntur and 386 km east-northeast of Tirupati. In Tamil Nadu, the epicentre was located 320 km east north-east of Chennai.
“We have only observed a 5.1 magnitude earthquake in Bay of Bengal. We are still reviewing whether there was a tsunami and if the sea waves rose. With regard to forecasting mechanisms, we cannot forecast or issue alerts for earthquake or tsunami in advance,” the IMD official added.
A fisherman residing in Thiruvanmyur told TNM, “We didn’t feel any tremors in the fishing village near Thiruvanmyur, but the waves have been rougher and bigger than usual. However, none of the residents felt any tremors on the land."
A 5.1 Mag earthquake at a depth of 10kms happened in Bay of Bengal. Some of my friends said that they felt in #Chennai
— Raj Bhagat P #Mapper4Life (@rajbhagatt) August 24, 2021
But nothing to worry about. It WON'T cause Tsunami or anything of that sort.
It is a rare intraplate earthquake and once in a while such tremors do happen pic.twitter.com/sjrnYCRiqK
Just felt the earthquake #Chennai
— Prasath (@imprasath) August 24, 2021
Felt a mild tremor in Perungudi, Chennai just a while ago... thought I was sleepy but nooo #tremor #earthquake #chennai
— Cheryl John (@cheryljohnn) August 24, 2021
#Earthquake in Bay of Bengal, the tremors of which were felt at many places in #Chennai. #COMK pic.twitter.com/BmKZ8vVzr6
— Mask Up Chennai, Take the Vaccine (COMK) (@ChennaiRains) August 24, 2021
According to Tamil Nadu Weatherman Pradeep John, earlier this year, an intra plate quake was felt near Chengam in Tiruvannamalai district on April 11. This quake with an intensity of 3.0 magnitude level was felt after 3 years.