5.9 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Sending Tremors To Kolkata

A moderate earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale rattled Myanmar on Tuesday evening, with the shaking extending across borders and causing noticeable tremors in Kolkata, as reported by NDTV.

The quake struck in western Myanmar, according to data from seismological agencies including the US Geological Survey (USGS), which placed the epicentre near the Rakhine region, approximately 95 km west of Yenangyaung in the Magway Region. It occurred at around 10:04 pm local time in Myanmar (corresponding to approximately 9:34 pm IST), at a depth of roughly 63 km.

The shallow-to-moderate depth amplified the ground motion, allowing the vibrations to be felt over a wide area, including parts of neighbouring countries. In Kolkata, residents in high-rise buildings and various neighbourhoods reported mild to moderate shaking lasting several seconds, prompting some to step outdoors as a precaution.

No immediate reports of casualties, injuries, or significant structural damage have emerged from Myanmar or the affected areas in India. Authorities continue to assess the situation, but initial indications suggest limited impact given the quake’s magnitude and location.

This event follows recent seismic activity in the region, including a 4.6-magnitude tremor in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands the previous day, as noted by India’s National Centre for Seismology (NCS). That earlier quake, which struck at a depth of 10 km, had coordinates of 9.03 North latitude and 92.78 East longitude.

Myanmar lies in a seismically active zone along tectonic plate boundaries, making such events relatively common, though most cause minimal disruption when centred away from densely populated urban centres.

The tremors in Kolkata served as a brief reminder of the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes originating from nearby fault systems, even when the epicentre lies outside Indian territory. Officials have urged calm while monitoring for any aftershocks.