Medium-intensity earthquake jolts Mizoram, no damage reported

An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 on the Richter scale struck 23 km South-West of Champhai, Mizoram, at 2 pm on Thursday. Notably, this is the 8th such earthquake happening in the state in the last three weeks.

Aizawl:With a fresh moderate earthquake of 4.3 on the Richter scale on Thursday, mountainous Mizoram continues to be hit by mild and moderate tremors since June 22, officials said.

India Meteorological Department (IMD) said that the quake hit eastern Mizoram's Champhai district on Thursday afternoon, the eighth tremors to jolt the northeastern state in nearly three weeks.

According to officials of the Mizoram state disaster control center, there is no report of any damage in the state due to the tremor, which occurred at 2.28 p.m. and had its epicenter 10 km deep, and was also felt in neighbouring areas of Myanmar.

The mountainous northeastern state had recorded successive quakes during the past 18 days and seismologists consider the mountainous northeast region as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world.

Prior to this, a series of earthquakes have hit at least three districts — Champhai, Saitual and Serchhip — between June 18 and June 24.

A moderate earthquake, measuring 5.5 on the Richter scale, shook the same Champhai area and other adjoining northeastern states bordering Myanmar on June 22, damaging 31 structures, including roads, buildings and important installations.

Besides Champhai, a series of tremors also hit Saitual and Serchhip districts since June 22.

IANS