Andamans hit by three successive quakes

PORT BLAIR: The Andaman and Nicobar Islands were again jolted by three successive tremors on Saturday, just a day after three quakes shook the islands, official sources said.

Deputy Commissioner of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, S N Jha said, the latest tremor measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale was felt at 6.26 p.m. on Saturday.

Jha said the epicentre of the quake was located 132 km south-west of Port Blair, 35 km beneath the sea.

He said two earthquakes of moderate intensity measuring 5.1 and 5.3 on the Richter scale shook the islands earlier on Saturday at 8.56 a.m. and 10 a.m. respectively.

No damage to property or loss of life was reported, he said.

This was the 6th tremor felt since on Friday after the islands were hit by three earthquakes measuring 6.7, 6.1 and 6.6 on the Richter scale on Friday.

The successive quakes have triggered panic among the people in the island ravaged by December 26, 2004 killer stunami.