From Himalayan foothills to Central Asian urban centers, panicked residents rushed out of buildings as tremors rippled through, highlighting once again the region’s seismic vulnerability.
The first earthquake, a 3.4 magnitude tremor, hit Mandi district in Himachal Pradesh at 9 a.m. on Sunday. The quake originated from a shallow depth of 5 km, with its epicenter located at 31.49°N, 76.94°E, as per the National Center for Seismology.
Though minor in magnitude, the Mandi tremor was perceptible to locals, who described a low rumble followed by abrupt shaking. As a precaution, many evacuated buildings. No casualties or damage have been reported, according to officials.
Central Myanmar experienced a 5.5-magnitude earthquake near Meiktila on Sunday, the USGS reported. It is among the strongest aftershocks since the deadly March 28 quake that killed over 3,600 people and injured thousands more.
Central Myanmar experienced a 5.5-magnitude earthquake including in Mandalay and Naypyitaw, regions still recovering from the March 28 earthquake. Though no additional casualties have been confirmed, the tremor has heightened concerns in a country already grappling with widespread grief.
Tajikistan experienced two earthquakes within an hour on Sunday morning. The first, a powerful 6.1-magnitude quake initially estimated at 6.4, struck at 9:54 a.m. at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. The epicenter was recorded at 38.86°N and 70.61°E, making it the strongest tremor of the morning. Residents in nearby towns reported intense shaking, prompting precautionary evacuations of schools and shops.
At 10:36 a.m., a second, smaller quake measuring 3.9 in magnitude struck the same region, again at a depth of 10 km, fueling concerns over a potential spike in seismic activity.