A moderate earthquake measuring 4.2 on the Richter scale struck Nepal on Monday morning, causing tremors that were felt across various parts of the Himalayan nation and its surrounding regions.
Earthquake Details and Epicenter Location
The seismic event occurred at precisely 7:10 AM local time on Monday morning, according to the National Center for Seismology. The earthquake's epicenter was located in Nepal at 28.69 degrees North latitude and 80.41 degrees East longitude. The geological agency reported that the quake originated at a depth of 10 kilometers beneath the Earth's surface, making it a relatively shallow seismic event.
Shallow earthquakes typically generate more noticeable tremors at the surface compared to deeper seismic events, which explains why the shaking was perceptible in the affected regions despite the moderate magnitude reading.
Regional Impact and Response
While the earthquake registered as a moderate seismic event, initial reports indicate that tremors were felt in several areas. The National Center for Seismology, which operates under India's Ministry of Earth Sciences, has been closely monitoring the situation and providing regular updates about the earthquake's parameters.
Earthquakes are relatively common in Nepal due to its location along the seismically active Himalayan belt, where the Indian tectonic plate collides with the Eurasian plate. This geological setting makes the region particularly vulnerable to seismic activity of varying intensities throughout the year.
Understanding Earthquake Magnitude
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake falls into the category of light earthquakes, which are typically felt by people indoors but cause minimal to no damage to structures. For context, earthquakes below magnitude 4.0 are often not felt by most people, while those above 4.0 become increasingly noticeable.
Seismologists use the Richter scale to measure earthquake magnitude, which is logarithmic in nature. This means that each whole number increase on the scale represents a tenfold increase in measured amplitude and approximately 31.6 times more energy release.
Authorities continue to monitor the region for any potential aftershocks, though earthquakes of this magnitude typically generate few, if any, significant follow-up tremors. No immediate reports of damage or injuries have been confirmed following this seismic event.
