An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 hit central Myanmar on Wednesday and the tremors were also felt in parts of eastern India like Kolkata, Patna, Guwahati and in the state of Tripura. Also, the quake was felt in Thailand, where it swayed high-rise building in Bangkok. The US Geological Survey said that the magnitude of the quake was 6.8 Richter scale.
Metro services, which were temporarily suspended in Kolkata after the tremors were felt in the region, have resumed now, reported ANI. Reports have also said that no casualties have been reported in India so far. However, it is said that the epicenter was reportedly located more than the 500 kilometers from the Indian border.
Offices and colleges in Kolkata were evacuated, people there talked of “horrible shaking” and said the tremors lasted at least 10 seconds.
Kolkata: People rush out to the streets after tremors rock the city. #Earthquake pic.twitter.com/CO36KKrxdB
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 24, 2016
This earthquake took place on a day when another powerful earthquake that rocked central Italy left 38 people dead. Deaths were reported in the villages of Amatrice, Accumoli and Arquata del Tronto as residents and emergency services battled frantically to rescue people trapped beneath the ruins after the quake hit as people slept.
The magnitude 6 quake in Italy had struck at 3.36 am (1.36 am GMT) and a 5.4-magnitude aftershock followed an hour later. The tremors were felt across a broad swath of central Italy, including Rome where residents of the capital felt a long swaying followed by aftershocks.
The hardest-hit towns were Amatrice and Accumoli near Rieti, some 80 kilometers (50 miles) northeast of Rome, which were partially demolished. The center of Amatrice was devastated, with entire palazzos razed to the ground. Rocks and metal tumbled onto the streets and dazed residents huddled in piazzas as aftershocks continued into the early morning hours.
