New Delhi:

An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 struck the Indian Ocean on Sunday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS).

In an official update, the NCS said the tremor occurred at 08:10:38 IST at a shallow depth of 10 km, with coordinates recorded at latitude 1.806 N and longitude 94.924 E.

Shallow earthquake impact: Why low-depth tremors are significant

Seismologists note that shallow earthquakes—typically occurring at depths of less than 70 km—can result in stronger ground shaking compared to deeper tremors. This is because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the Earth’s surface, increasing the potential for impact in nearby regions.

However, no immediate reports of damage or casualties have been reported following the Indian Ocean earthquake.

Indian Ocean seismic history: Lessons from 2004 tsunami

The Indian Ocean region has a history of major seismic activity, including the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.

The 2004 megathrust earthquake, measuring between 9.2 and 9.3 in magnitude, struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering massive tsunami waves that affected multiple countries, including India, Sri Lanka and Thailand.

The disaster remains one of the deadliest natural calamities in recorded history, claiming over 227,000 lives and causing widespread destruction across coastal regions.

Current outlook

While the latest magnitude 4.9 earthquake is relatively moderate, authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the Indian Ocean region, which remains one of the world’s most tectonically active zones.

ANI