Strong earthquake rattles northeastern India

Added by Nigel Shelbourne on September 18, 2011

An earthquake measured at 6.8 hit Sikkim India at 6:10pm local time (12:40pm UTC/GMT) on Sunday.

The earthquake lasted about 30-60 seconds and was followed by three aftershocks – felt up to 50km away – of magnitude 5.7, 5.3, and 4.6.

Residents in some parts of New Deli felt the tremor, along with people in Bihar and West Bengal, where four deaths were reported, Jaipur, areas of Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.

Damage is limited to a number of collapsed buildings yet officials fear damage could be worse in the outskirts of Sikkim. Damage includes large cracks in a number of taller buildings.

Initial reports from the area state at least 25 people were killed and many others injured. People fled from their homes, and many are reported to remain outside in fear of the aftershocks.

The earthquake is considered to be the biggest the region has experienced in 20 years.

Teams from the National Disaster Response Force are being sent to the area to assist in relief, rescue, and recovery operations.

A previous earthquake, felt around Delhi, Noida, and Ghaziabad, occurred just nine days ago on September 7 and was measured at 4.2 after being downgraded from 6.0 in initial measurements.

Update (September 21 2011): Scientists warn larger earthquakes possible.