More information on the earthquake of Southern India

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This is a copy of the release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: A major earthquake occurred in Gujarat, India about 65 miles (110km) north-northeast of Jamnagar, India or about 180 miles (290 km) southeast of Hyderabad, Pakistan at 8:16 AM MST today, Jan 25, 2001 (Jan 26 at 8:46 AM local time in India.) A preliminary magnitude of 7.9 was computed for this earthquake.  The magnitude and location may change slightly as additional data are received from other seismograph stations. According to preliminary reports, some buildings collapsed in the state of Gujarat. The earthquake was felt at Mumbai (Bombay) and Delhi, as well as Karachi and Peshawar, Pakistan and in parts of Nepal. On June 16, 1819 an earthquake in this same general area killed 1500-2000 people.

The earthquake occurred along an approximately East-West trending thrust fault at shallow (< 25 km) depth. Thrust faults occur when one portion of the earth's crust is pushed up over an adjacent portion. The strain that caused this earthquake is due to the Indian plate pushing northward into the Eurasian plate.

At least 11,000 people are reported killed.

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