Massive 6.2 magnitude earthquake hits India

An Indian state has been rocked by a massive earthquake that has left buildings and roads damaged just as the country reels from its latest COVID crisis.

A massive earthquake has hit Assam in India, battering the nation that has already been brought to its knees by the coronavirus disaster.

The 6.2 magnitude quake hit the north eastern state early Wednesday, leaving buildings damaged and cracks in roads, according to reports online.

“Big earthquake hits Assam. I pray for the wellbeing of all and urge everyone to stay alert. Taking updates from all districts,” Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said.

Authorities in the state are in the process of checking of fatalities, Reuters reports, although so far, no official deaths have been recorded.

Sharing video online a member of the public claimed a hill in the Udalguri district had “broke away” following the earthquake.

Part of Bhairabkunda hill in Udalguri district near bhutan border in #Assam broke away after the #earthquake that hit the state today at 7:51 a.m.#Assam#earthquake#PrayForAssam #Tezpur #Northeast #Udalguri #India #Earthquakeindia pic.twitter.com/upHgBtMtaX

— Rising Northeast (@NortheastRising) April 28, 2021

First video of aftermath of Assam Earthquake on Twitter.

Huge damage in Assam’s Nagaon district at Signature Apartment. No casualties report yet. 🙏🏻#earthquake#Assam#NorthEastIndiapic.twitter.com/U2kx6vQH8S

— Licypriya Kangujam (@LicypriyaK) April 28, 2021

Shocking footage of the earthquake’s destruction have been shared on social media by witnesses, who have captured and described the devastation.

“This earthquake was the biggest I can remember, there was first a big jolt and then a smaller one,” a police official in the town told Reuters.

“We did not receive any distress calls, but people did run out of their homes.”

However, in the city of Tezpur about 45km form the epicentre, residents said the quake badly shook the town and people poured from their homes onto the street.

The natural disaster comes as the country reels from a deadly wave of coronavirus infections, with 360,960 fresh cases and 3293 new deaths confirmed over the last 24 hours – a horrifying jump from yesterday’s 223,000 new cases.

The state of Assam has a population of more than 31 million people.

Early images of damage show destruction to buildings and infrastructure.

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The earthquake north-northwest of Dhekiajuli and south of the border with Bhutan. Picture: Accuweather

India’s National Disaster Management Agency is in the process of assessing damage and casualties. There have been no immediate reports of deaths.

“Our entire multi-storeyed apartment has witnessed massive damage with roofs and walls caving in,” Subham Hazarika, a businessman who lives in an up-market apartment in Guwahati, told Reuters.

“Luckily no one got injured.”

Few early pictures of damage in Guwahati. pic.twitter.com/lTIGwBKIPV

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) April 28, 2021

#Assam jolted with 6.4 magnitude #earthquake. Tremors were felt in the entire region, including neighbouring #Meghalaya and northern parts of West Bengal, they said.https://t.co/vJR5IT8P2s pic.twitter.com/Rn0uAnBo9e

— Business Insider India🇮🇳 (@BiIndia) April 28, 2021

The quake was at a magnitude of 6.2 according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured the quake at 6.0 magnitude, and said it hit at a depth of 34km with a epicentre near Dhekiajuli town — about 140km from the main city of Assam.

Strong tremors were felt in India’s north east, as well as neighbouring Bhutan. In Bhutan, hundreds of people fled from their homes as the quake shook the area, a witness told Reuters.

The Himalayan region is regularly hit by big earthquakes. AFP reports.

A 1950 quake killed about 4800 people in Assam and in Tibet.