A 4.5-magnitude earthquake struck Sikkim early Friday morning, according to officials. The National Center for Seismology reported that the quake’s epicenter was located just 2 km from Soreng town in West Sikkim and occurred at 6:57 AM at a depth of 10 km.
Sikkim lies within the high-risk seismic zone IV of India’s seismic zoning map. The state, positioned along the Himalayan range, is intersected by two significant thrust faults—the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT) and the Main Central Thrust (MCT).
Though the tremors were mild, they prompted residents to gather outside their homes as a precautionary measure against potential aftershocks.
Sikkim has experienced significant seismic activity in the past; on September 18, 2011, a powerful 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit the region, resulting in over 100 fatalities and extensive damage.
