Earthquake tremors with a magnitude of 3.7 were felt in Kutch district of Gujarat on Monday morning. The shock occurred at 10:44 am. It is a matter of relief that there is no news of any loss of life or property so far. This is the second time this month that an earthquake of magnitude three or more was recorded in Kutch. Earlier on December 7, an earthquake of 3.2 magnitude was felt.
There were earthquakes last month also
The series of earthquakes continues in Kutch, Gujarat.
- 18 November 2023: An earthquake of 4.0 magnitude was recorded in Kutch.
- 15 November 2023: A tremor of 4.2 magnitude was felt in Patan, North Gujarat.
Gujarat is considered a high earthquake risk area of India. The state has suffered nine major earthquakes in the last 200 years.
- 26 January 2001: The Kutch earthquake was the third largest earthquake in the history of India.
Why do earthquakes occur?
Earthquakes are the result of the movement of plates inside the Earth.
- There are 7 major plates beneath the Earth’s surface, which keep rotating continuously.
- When these plates collide with each other, a pressure is created.
- Due to excessive pressure, the plates start breaking, releasing the energy within and causing earthquakes.
What is the epicenter and intensity of an earthquake?
- Epicenter:
- The place where energy is released when plates collide.
- The impact of earthquake is maximum at this place.
- Intensity:
- The impact of an earthquake with a magnitude of 7 or more on the Richter scale can be fatal up to a radius of 40 km.
- If the frequency (vibration) of an earthquake is in the vertical direction, its impact is limited to a small area.
How is earthquake intensity measured?
Earthquakes are measured on a Richter scale, which is called the Richter Magnitude Test Scale.
- The measurement scale ranges from 1 to 9.
- Epicenter: The intensity of energy emanating from the center of an earthquake is measured.
- The higher the intensity on this scale, the more deadly the earthquake is.
Earthquake incidents in Gujarat: What do experts’ reports say?
- The Kutch region of Gujarat is placed in India’s Seismic Zone V, which is one of the most at-risk areas.
- Experts believe that frequent small earthquakes in areas like Kutch could be signs of larger events.
Safety measures and awareness
The following suggestions have been given by the government and experts to avoid natural disasters like earthquakes:
- Keep an emergency kit ready.
- Go towards open places during earthquake.
- Use stairs instead of elevators to exit buildings.
