Vishakapatnam, March 31: An earthquake, measuring 6.4 on the richter scale, on the Andamans caused mild tremors in Visakhapatnam and some parts of Srikakulam district on Tuesday night.
The tremors were felt in MVP Colony, Maddilapalem, Venkojipalem, NAD Junction, Seethammadhara, Marripalem, Kancharapalem, Madhavadhara, Muralinagar, Gajuwaka, Nakkavanipalem, Lawsons Bay Colony and other places here in the city and even Anakapalle. The first tremor lasted for 8-10 seconds and the second, which occurred after a gap of 10 minutes, lasted for 6-7 seconds.
Panicked people ran out of apartments and houses. Visakhapatnam District Collector J Shyamala Rao told Express that the tremors occurred due to the earthquake at Andaman and Nicobar islands. ‘‘There were no reports of any loss of life or property.
The epicentre of the quake was some 34 km deep inside the Andaman island,’’ he added.
Fears of a tsunami prompted fishermen to rush far from the sea side for safety. According to USGS, the epicentre of the quake was in the North Andamans, 137 miles north of Port Blair. It also put the intensity of the quake at 6.9 on the richter scale.
–Agencies