Nationwide Middle for Seismology mentioned the earthquake struck at a focal depth of 5 kilometres in Delhi-NCR on February 17, 2025
| Photograph Credit score: Particular association
Robust tremors have been felt within the nationwide capital and adjoining areas as an earthquake of 4.0 magnitude struck the area early on Monday (February 17, 2025). The Nationwide Middle for Seismology mentioned the earthquake struck at a focal depth of 5 kilometres at 5:36 am.
After Delhi, NCR, tremor felt in Bihar additionally at 4.0 magnitude. The Nationwide Middle for Seismology mentioned the earthquake struck at a depth of 10 kilometres at 8:02 am.
Shallow earthquakes, originating 5 or 10 kilometres beneath the floor, are inclined to trigger extra harm than these originating deep beneath the floor.
Shallow earthquakes are between 0 to 70 km deep; intermediate earthquakes, 70 to 300 km deep; and deep earthquakes, 300 to 700 km deep.
An occasion of the devastating impact of a shallow earthquake could be the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia in Novermber 2022 that left greater than 160 useless and tons of injured as buildings crumbled and terrified residents ran for his or her lives on the primary island of Java.
In keeping with the U.S. Geological Survey, “There may be not one magnitude above which harm will happen. It is determined by different variables, akin to the space from the earthquake, what sort of soil you might be on, constructing development” and different elements.
Why an earthquake’s depth issues
A quake’s harmful drive relies upon not solely on its energy, but additionally on location, distance from the epicentre and depth.
Quakes can strike close to the floor or deep inside the Earth. Most quakes happen at shallow depths, in response to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Shallow quakes typically are usually extra damaging than deeper quakes. Seismic waves from deep quakes must journey farther to the floor, dropping power alongside the best way.
Shaking is extra intense from quakes that hit near the floor like setting off “a bomb immediately underneath a metropolis,” mentioned Susan Hough, a USGS seismologist.
Printed – February 17, 2025 10:26 am IST
