Earthquake Zone

• A geologist assigned to make a preliminary study on the frequent tremors said, Mizoram’s zone of “scary” earthquakes is caught between two subterranean faults.

• Mizoram experienced at least eight moderate earthquakes between June 21 and July 9. The tremors ranged from 4.2 to 5.5 on the Richter scale.

About:

• The State’s Champhai district and adjoining areas could experience aftershocks for several months but the people there have nothing to worry if their magnitude does not measure above 5 on the Richter scale.

• The epicentre of most of these quakes was beneath Champhai district bordering Myanmar, including the last one of magnitude 4.3 and about 10 kilometres deep. A few were beneath the adjoining Saitual and Serchhip districts.

• Earthquakes have happened and will happen in that part of Mizoram because it is caught between two geological faults. These are the Churachandpur Mao Fault and the Mat Fault.

• Faults are discontinuities or cracks that are the result of differential motion within the earth’s crust. Vertical or lateral slippage of the crust along the faults causes an earthquake.

• The Churachandpur Mao Fault is named after two places in Manipur and runs north-south into Myanmar along the border of Champhai. The Mat Fault runs northwest-southeast across Mizoram, beneath river Mat near Serchhip.

Indian seismic zones:

• Earthquake-prone areas of India have been identified on the basis of 3 factors- scientific inputs related to seismicity, earthquakes occurred in the past & tectonic setup of the region

• Based on these conditions, the Bureau of Indian Standards divided the country into four seismic zones, viz. Zone II, III, IV and V.

• Zone II: It is a low intensity zone.

• Zone III: It is the moderate-intensity zone.

• Zone IV: It is a severe intensity zone.

• Zone V: It is a very severe intensity zone.