The Aryavarth Express
Sri Vijaya Puram (Andaman & Nicobar Islands): An earthquake measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale struck the Nicobar Islands in the early hours of Monday, the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said.
According to the NCS, the tremor occurred at around 3:30 am at a depth of 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located at latitude 9.03° North and longitude 92.78° East.
In a post on social media platform X, the NCS stated, “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 seismic risk category in India, and are among the most seismically active regions in the world. The region has witnessed several major earthquakes in the past.
The most devastating of these occurred on December 26, 2004, when a massive earthquake triggered destructive tsunami waves, causing extensive loss of life and large-scale damage to property across the islands, according to the Directorate of Disaster Management, Andaman and Nicobar Administration.
Experts note that shallow earthquakes, such as this one, are generally more dangerous than deeper tremors as seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface, leading to stronger ground shaking and an increased risk of damage and casualties.
