China Earthquake / After the landslide, now another disaster in China, the earth shook due to earthquake

China Earthquake: The earth shook once again in the Tibet region of China on Friday morning. The intensity of this earthquake, which occurred at 9:27 am, was measured at 4.2 on the Richter scale. The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said that the epicenter of this earthquake was near the border of China and Nepal. Although no major damage has been reported, it has once again created an atmosphere of fear in the area. It is noteworthy that earthquakes have been felt several times in Tibet recently.

Shortly before the latest earthquake, there was a massive landslide in the southwestern region of China, in which four people died and more than 17 people were trapped in the debris. Such disasters are an indication that this area is geologically very sensitive.

Why do earthquakes occur?

Earthquakes are the result of geological movements taking place inside the earth. Our earth is made up of seven large tectonic plates, which keep moving continuously. When these plates collide with each other or there is friction between them, there is an explosion of energy, which is felt as an earthquake. The more energy is accumulated in this process, the more intense the earthquake.

Earthquake sensitive areas in India

India is also a very sensitive country in terms of earthquakes. According to geologists, about 59 percent of the country falls in earthquake prone areas. India is divided into four seismic zones:

• Zone-2: Low risk area
• Zone-3: Medium risk
• Zone-4: High risk
• Zone-5: Extreme risk

Cities like Delhi fall in Zone-4, while Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Kashmir, Northeast India and Kutch region of Gujarat fall in Zone-5. A devastating earthquake can occur in these areas anytime, because the Indian tectonic plate is colliding with the Eurasian plate, due to which there is tension in the Himalayan region.

What does intensity on the Richter scale mean?

The Richter scale is used to measure the intensity of an earthquake. This scale tells how powerful the earthquake was:

• 4.0 - 4.9: Mild tremors, some objects may fall down
• 5.0 - 5.9: Moderate tremors, heavy objects may move
• 6.0 - 6.9: Severe tremors, cracks in foundations of buildings
• 7.0 - 7.9: Devastating, buildings may collapse
• 8.0 and above: Tsunami and massive destruction likely
• 9.0+: Most severe level, historic destruction possible