On January 7, 2025, a significant earthquake struck southern Tibet, affecting northern India, especially Bihar. Measuring 7.1 in magnitude, this quake was the strongest since the 2015 Nepal earthquake. India ranks seventh globally for significant earthquakes, with 58 recorded events from 1990 to 2024, illustrating its vulnerability due to tectonic plate convergence and unregulated construction practices. Data revealed that China and Indonesia have experienced the most seismic incidents in recent years, with India facing substantial risks across approximately 59% of its territory.
On January 7, 2025, southern Tibet experienced a significant earthquake, measuring 7.1 on the Richter scale, which impacted a vast area of northern India, notably Bihar. The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 93 kilometers north-east of Lobuche, near the boundary of Nepal and Tibet. This seismic event was the strongest recorded in the region since the devastating Nepal earthquake of April 2015, which resulted in nearly 10,000 fatalities. This incident underscores the heightened seismic risks faced by various nations, including India, which ranks seventh globally for major earthquakes from 1990 to early 2024, with 58 recorded significant earthquakes that met specific criteria of damage or fatalities.
The data sourced from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reveals that between 1990 and 2024, China faced the most major earthquakes, totaling 186, followed by Indonesia with 166, Iran with 109, and Japan with 98. This information highlights the broader geographic regions affected by such seismic activities, revealing the major earthquake-prone areas around the globe.
India’s seismic susceptibility is largely attributed to its geographical position across numerous tectonic plate boundaries and a complex geological framework. Approximately 59% of India’s territory is susceptible to experiencing moderate to severe seismic events, with the Himalayan region present as a particularly vulnerable zone prone to powerful earthquakes exceeding magnitude 8.0, as evidenced by historical data.
In sum, the recent earthquake serves as a stark reminder of the persistent seismic threats that countries like India face due to their geological makeup, historical seismic activity, and significant population density contributing to the overall risk factors for catastrophic earthquake impacts.
The article focuses on the recent seismic activity that struck the vicinity of northern India, particularly emphasizing the earthquake that occurred on January 7, 2025. It provides an overview of India’s positioning within the global context of earthquake occurrences, detailing significant events and assessing the country’s vulnerability due to its location along tectonic plates. The article compiles data from reputable sources like the NOAA and the USGS to categorize the nations most affected by earthquakes over a specific timeframe, showcasing India’s standing as the seventh most earthquake-prone country. The narrative is supported by statistics that elaborate on the frequency and severity of earthquakes experienced by various countries, emphasizing the inherent risks due to geological factors and unregulated constructions prevalent in India and other regions.
In conclusion, the recent earthquake in northern India serves to highlight the ongoing risk of seismic activity in a country that ranks seventh in the world for major earthquakes from 1990 to 2024. With India enduring 58 significant earthquakes in this timeframe and a large portion of its land at risk, the potential for future earthquakes remains an area of concern. The comparative data featuring countries most affected by these seismic events underscores the urgent necessity for appropriate risk management and systematic construction practices in order to mitigate the consequences of such natural disasters.
Original Source: indianexpress.com
