Tremors strike in parts of Wayanad, Palakkad, Kozhikode; residents urged to move to safety

Thiruvananthapuram: Even as the people of Wayanad are slowly recovering from the devastating July 30 landslides which left 413 people dead and 152 still missing, there was tension and fear in certain areas of Wayanad, Palakkad, and Kozhikode after locals heard sounds coming from under the ground on Friday. The seismic experts have ruled out any cause for worry. 

In Wayanad, the locals at Nenmeni informed that they experienced rumbles and slight tremors in some areas at around 10.15 am.

Authorities have advised people to move to safer places due to the suspicion of an earthquake. People in Kurchyarmala, Pinangode, Morickap, Ambukuthi Mala and Edakkal Cave areas were asked to evacuate as they communicated that they heard a loud noise from beneath the earth. Revenue Department officials have reached the area to take stock of the situation. Schools in the area have also let out early.

Locals said that at 10.20 am, there was a loud noise and slight tremors in Nenmeni village and parts of Ambalavayal village. They lasted for only about two seconds. Many residents in these areas have said they experienced the windows rattling.

“The officials inspected houses and wells in the areas. There were no cracks in the houses or muddying up of water in the wells. The impact was felt for kilometres in the region,” said Nenmeni Village Officer Sajeendran.

Similar incidents were reported at Kuduerinji in Kozhikode district. These two places are located in a radius of 50 sq km. Likewise in Palakkad district, a tremor was felt around the same time. Meanwhile, reports of slight tremors at Edappal in Malappuram and Ottappalam in Palakkad at around 10:30 am have also emerged. Locals in Ottappalam informed that they heard loud noises from beneath the ground. 

The cause of these tremors has not yet been identified. However, Dr O P Mishra, director of the National Centre for Seismology, has stated that they could not be classified as earthquakes. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority ruled out an earthquake after their preliminary studies and said they will study what happened in detail. The Geological Survey of India officials also ruled out an earthquake. A retired seismic expert pointed out that these could be just natural movements of the earth. There have been instances in the past when such a phenomenon happened in and around the area where a landslide had taken place.

"The tremors might be due to localised movements of rock masses from higher to lower levels. During this process, frictional energy from the collision of these masses can generate sound waves. This often happens after a landslide as an aftereffect. We have not recorded an earthquake, so it definitely is not one. We are monitoring the situation round-the-clock. While you should stay alert, there is no need to panic," Dr Mishra explained.