4.6-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Shallow tremor strikes Nicobar region in early hours; islands lie in highest seismic risk zone
- 4.6-magnitude quake hit Nicobar Islands at 3:31 am IST
- Epicentre located at 10 km depth, increasing shaking intensity
- Region falls under Seismic Zone V, India’s highest risk category
- No immediate reports of damage or casualties
GG News Bureau
Andaman, 2nd Feb: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 struck the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the early hours of Monday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.
According to the NCS, the tremor occurred at around 3:31 am IST at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located at latitude 9.03° North and longitude 92.78° East, in the Nicobar Islands region.
In a post on X, the NCS said, “EQ of M: 4.6, On: 02/02/2026 03:31:12 IST, Lat: 9.03 N, Long: 92.78 E, Depth: 10 Km, Location: Nicobar Islands.”
The Andaman and Nicobar Islands fall under Seismic Zone V, the highest category in India’s seismic zoning map, and are among the most seismically active regions in the world. The area has experienced several major earthquakes in the past.
The region was also severely impacted by the devastating December 26, 2004 earthquake, which triggered massive tsunami waves and caused widespread loss of life and property.
Experts note that shallow earthquakes, such as Monday’s tremor, are generally more dangerous than deeper ones as seismic waves reach the surface more quickly, leading to stronger ground shaking. No immediate reports of casualties or damage were received following the quake.
