Representational image of a seismograph recording an earthquake. File.
| Photo Credit: Reuters

New Delhi:

A strong earthquake of magnitude 4.0 hit Delhi this morning and the tremors were felt in several adjoining areas of the national capital. According to the National Centre of Seismology, the quake hit at a depth of about 5 km. While there have been no casualties or injuries, residents reported a loud sound for a few seconds when the earthquake hit Delhi.

What was the loud sound?

The loud grumbling sounds during the tremors usually occur during a shallow-focus earthquake. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), high-frequency vibrations from shallow earthquakes generate a booming sound as the ground vibrates and creates a short-period seismic wave motion that reaches the air and becomes sound waves. The shallower the epicentre, the more energy and sound can be produced.

Sometimes earthquakes can create booming sounds even when no vibrations are felt.

Also Read | Video Shows Moment 4.0 Magnitude Earthquake Hit Delhi-NCR

Why Delhi is prone to earthquakes

Delhi is located in the Seismic Zone IV which has fairly high seismicity, according to the Delhi Disaster Management Authority. In this zone, earthquakes generally occur in the range of 5-6 magnitude, and even 7-8 occasionally. The zoning, however, is a continuous process that keeps changing.

Seismicity in North India, including the Himalayas, is due to the collision of the Indian plate with the Eurasian plate. These colliding plates flex, and store energy like a spring, and when the plate’s margin finally slips to release energy, an earthquake results.

Generally, shallow earthquakes, originating five or 10 kilometres below the surface, tend to cause more damage than those originating deep below the surface. The Dhuala Kuan area – the epicentre of today’s quake – has been experiencing smaller, low-magnitude earthquakes once every two to three years. It had recorded an earthquake of 3.3 magnitude in 2015.

Residents recount earthquake tremors

The earthquake tremors woke the national capital up on Monday morning, with residents describing the moment as “one of the most insane earthquakes”. Several videos also showed the moment the earthquake hit the national capital. CCTV footage from the terrace camera of a house in Delhi showed tank pipes and wires moving with heavy intensity.

A passenger waiting for his train at the New Delhi Railway station described the tremors as a “bridge collapse”. “I was in the waiting lounge. All rushed out from there. It felt as if any bridge or something had collapsed,” he said.

Another resident said, “Tremors were so strong. Felt like a train was moving nearby. Everything was shaking. I have never felt like this ever before. The entire building was shaking.”

Shortly after the quake, the Delhi police urged citizens to call the emergency 112 helpline for emergencies. “We hope you all are safe, Delhi,” they wrote on X.

New Delhi:

Residents of Delhi-NCR felt a strong earthquake this morning. According to the National Center for Seismology, a 4.0-magnitude earthquake struck the national capital around 5:36 am.

In a post on X, the Delhi Police said, “We hope you all are safe, Delhi!” It also urged citizens to call on the emergency 112 helpline for emergencies.  Follow Delhi Earthquake Live Updates here

What To Do Before An Earthquake

One must always have a disaster emergency kit ready. Which includes:

• Battery operated torch with extra batteries
• Battery operated radio
• First aid kit and manual
• Emergency food (dry items) and water (packed and sealed)
• Candles and matches in a waterproof container
• Knife
• Chlorine tablets or powdered water purifiers
• Can opener.
• Essential medicines
• Cash and credit cards
• Thick ropes and cords
• Sturdy shoes

What To Do During An Earthquake

Stay as safe as possible during an earthquake. Be aware that some earthquakes are actually foreshocks and a larger earthquake might occur. Minimise your movements to a few steps that reach a nearby safe place and stay indoors until the shaking has stopped and you are sure exiting is safe.

If Indoors

Drop to the ground; take a cover by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and hold on until the shaking stops. If there is no table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.

Protect yourself by staying under the lintel of an inner door, in the corner of a room, under a table or even under a bed.

Stay away from glass, windows, outside doors and walls, and anything that could fall, (such as lighting fixtures or furniture).

Stay in bed if you are there when the earthquake strikes. Hold on and protect your head with a pillow, unless you are under a heavy light fixture that could fall. In that case, move to the nearest safe place.
Use a doorway for shelter only if it is in close proximity to you and if you know it is a strongly supported, load bearing doorway.

Stay inside until the shaking stops and it is safe to go outside. Research has shown that most injuries occur when people inside buildings attempt to move to a different location inside the building or try to leave.

Be aware that the electricity may go out or the sprinkler systems or fire alarms may turn on.

If Outdoors

Do not move from where you are. However, move away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and utility wires.

If you are in open space, stay there until the shaking stops. The greatest danger exists directly outside buildings; at exits; and alongside exterior walls. Most earthquake-related casualties result from collapsing walls, flying glass, and falling objects.

If In A Moving Vehicle

Stop as quickly as safety permits and stay in the vehicle. Avoid stopping near or under buildings, trees, overpasses, and utility wires.

Proceed cautiously once the earthquake has stopped. Avoid roads, bridges, or ramps that might have been damaged by the earthquake.

If Trapped Under Debris

Do not light a match.

Do not move about or kick up dust.

Cover your mouth with a handkerchief or clothing.

Tap on a pipe or wall so rescuers can locate you. Use a whistle if one is available. Shout only as a last resort. Shouting can cause you to inhale dangerous amounts of dust.

Delhi is prone to earthquakes as it is located in a high seismic zone (zone IV) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zonation map.

New Delhi:

An earthquake measuring 4.0 on the richter scale hit Delhi-NCR this morning with many residents rushing out of their houses. According to National Centre for Seismology, tremors were felt across north India, with Delhi as the epicentre. The depth of the quake was just 5 km.

So far there are no reports of injuries or casualties.

In a post on X, The Delhi Police said, “We hope you all are safe, Delhi!” It also urged citizens to call on the emergency 112 helpline for emergencies.

The strong tremors triggered by the earthquake prompted residents of several high-rise buildings in Delhi, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad to rush out.

A passenger awaiting his train at New Delhi railway station said he felt like as if a train has crashed or a bridge collapsed. “I was in the waiting lounge. All rushed out from there. It felt as if any bridge or something had collapsed…”, he said while speaking to the news agency ANI. Follow Delhi Earthquake Live Updates here

A resident of Ghaziabad said he has never felt anything like this before. “Tremors were so strong. Felt like a train was moving nearby. Everything was shaking. I have never felt like this ever before. The entire building was shaking…”, he said.

Naresh Kumar, a resident of West Delhi, said this was the first time that he had experienced such a strong tremor.

Another passenger waiting for his train at New Delhi railway station says, “It was for a lesser time, but the intensity was so high. It felt like any train has come with a very high speed.”

At New Delhi railway station, a vendor Anish said his payment counter started shaking, everybody around was screaming. “It was strong, the payment counter also started shaking. Everything was shaking, customers started screaming.”

Delhi is prone to earthquakes and is located in a high seismic zone (zone IV) of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) seismic zonation map.

In this image from a video, roads in Hualien, Taiwan are cordoned off after a cluster of earthquakes struck the island early Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

A cluster of earthquakes struck the island republic of Taiwan early Tuesday, the strongest having a magnitude of 6.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

There were no reports of casualties in the quakes, although there were further damages to two multi-story buildings that had been evacuated following a magnitude 7.4 quake that hit the island earlier this month, killing 13 people and injuring over 1,000. That earthquake was centered along the coast of the rural and mountainous Hualien County.

ALSO READ | A lesson from Taiwan in quake resilience

It was the strongest earthquake in the past 25 years in Taiwan and was followed by hundreds of aftershocks

According to the USGS, Tuesday’s quake of 6.1 magnitude had its epicenter 28 kilometers (17.5 miles) south of the city of Hualien, at a dept of 10.7 kilometers. The half-dozen other quakes ranged from magnitude 4.5 to magnitude 6, all near Hualien. Taiwan’s own earthquake monitoring center put the magnitudes of the initial quake at 6.3. Such small discrepancies are common between monitoring stations.

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New York:

New York City was shaken by a small earthquake on Friday with a 4.8 magnitude and an epicenter in neighboring New Jersey state, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). 

There were no initial reports of injuries or damage.

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 4.8 – 7 km N of Whitehouse Station, New Jersey https://t.co/DuTYZ1kb4X

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) April 5, 2024

In Brooklyn buildings shook, rattling cupboard doors and fixtures, an AFP correspondent reported.

At the United Nations, which has its headquarters in New York, a Security Council meeting on the situation in Gaza was temporarily paused after the tremor.

“Is that an earthquake?” said Save the Children representative Janti Soeripto who was speaking at the time.

Social media users reported feeling the earthquake from Philadelphia up to New York and eastward along Long Island.   

The iconic Empire State Building reported on its X account: “I AM FINE.”

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The epicentre for the strongest earthquake was 206 km southeast of the pilgrimage town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 north of Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow. Photo: USGS

Four earthquakes, the strongest being of magnitude 6.2, jolted Nepal in quick succession with tremors reverberating through parts of north India including Delhi-NCR, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) said on October 3.

An NCS official said the first quake of magnitude 4.6 struck west Nepal at a depth of 10 kilometres at 2:25 p.m., followed by the 6.2 magnitude jolt at 2:51 p.m.

Two more quakes (magnitude 3.6 and 3.1) hit the same region at a depth of 15 km and 10 km at 3:06 p.m. and 3:19 p.m., respectively.

The epicentre for the strongest quake was 206 km southeast of the pilgrimage town of Joshimath in Uttarakhand and 284 north of Uttar Pradesh’s capital Lucknow.

People in Delhi and the National Capital Region reported strong tremors after the second quake and rushed out of their offices and high-rise residential buildings. The Delhi Police urged them not to panic.

“We hope you all are safe. Please come out of your buildings to a safe spot, but do not panic. DO NOT USE ELEVATORS! For any emergency help, dial 112,” it said in a post on X.

Tremors were felt in Chandigarh, Jaipur and other parts of north India as well. The Police control room in the pink city said there was no information yet about losses.

Nepal lies in one of the most active tectonic zones (seismic zone IV and V) of the world, making the country extremely vulnerable to earthquakes.

According to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit Nepal on April 25, 2015, killing more than 8,000 people and injuring over 21,000.

Rome:

A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck central Italy north of Florence on Monday morning, sending residents into the streets but causing no immediate damage, authorities said. Schools were closed in some areas as a precaution and trains were delayed pending checks on the railway lines.

Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV) measured the quake at 4.8 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre near Marradi, a town of about 3,000 residents in the province of Florence within the Apennine mountain range.

It occurred at 5:10 am (0310 GMT).

Firefighters wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that frightened residents had been calling emergency services but “no personal injuries have been reported at this time”.

The mayor of Marradi, Tommaso Triberti, told Rainews24 television that firefighters were conducting checks inside private homes. 

“There is a lot of concern. All the people are in the street but no particular damage has been reported,” he said.

A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck nearby Mugello in 2019, again causing minimal damage but cracking the facade of a 17th-century church.

The town of Mugello was hit by a devastating earthquake in 1919, one of the century’s worst, killing about 100 people.

The central Apennines are at high risk of seismic activity.  

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)