BHUBANESWAR: A moderate intensity earthquake in Myanmar, measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale, shook large parts of eastern India including Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Assam on Wednesday afternoon.
Large parts of Odisha including Khurda, Cuttack, Jajpur, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj districts experienced tremors seconds after the earthquake hit Myanmar.
The preliminary recording by United States Geological Survey (USGS) found the epicentre of the earthquake 25 km to the west of Chauka in Myanmar. It occurred at a depth of 84.1 km.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the magnitude of the event was 6.7 on the Richter Scale and the earthquake was recorded at a depth of 58 km. Under its impact, many parts of the State felt the tremors as the earthquake, recorded at 4.05 pm, was located about 895 km east of the Seismological Observatory at Bhubaneswar.
Director IMD, Odisha Sarat Chandra Sahu said the effect of the seismic event in the State could be about II on the Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) Scale which measures effects of earthquake through response of people, movement of furniture, damage and destruction.
“Though people felt the tremors at many parts of Odisha, not everybody experienced it. However, the intensity could range between VI and VII in Myanmar,” he said.
In Bhubaneswar, people ran out to open spaces as the tremors lasted for several seconds.
Those living in apartments had a scary experience. This is the second earthquake to have occurred on the day. Earlier, an earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter Scale had struck Italy killing 37 persons.
Myanmar had recorded another earthquake with a magnitude of 5.5 of Richter Scale on Tuesday.