A magnitude 4 earthquake struck New Delhi in the early hours of February 17, 2025, with its epicenter at a shallow depth of 5 km. Given Delhi’s seismic vulnerability (Zone IV – fairly high seismicity), this raises concerns about the city’s earthquake preparedness.
Understanding Shallow Earthquakes
- Shallow earthquakes occur at a depth between 0 and 70 km, intermediate earthquakes occur at 70-300 km and deep earthquakes at 300-700 km.
- Shallow earthquakes are more damaging than deeper ones as their seismic waves lose less energy before reaching the surface.
- Most quakes occur at shallow depths, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
- An instance of the devastating effect of a shallow earthquake would be the 5.6 magnitude earthquake in Indonesia in Novermber 2022 that left more than 160 dead and hundreds injured as buildings crumbled and terrified residents ran for their lives on the main island of Java.
Key Concerns for Delhi
- The Delhi-Hardwar Ridge, a major geological fault, contributes to the region’s seismicity.
- The Indian plate’s collision with the Eurasian plate over the past 50 million years creates stored tectonic energy, which, when released, results in earthquakes.
Potential Triggers for February 17 Delhi Earthquake
- Tectonic Movements – The collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates remains the primary cause of seismic activity in North India.
- Groundwater Extraction – Excessive groundwater depletion reduces pressure in underground rock formations, potentially triggering fault movements. Similar cases have been reported near the Dead Sea Transform Fault (2013, 2018).
(Sources: Down To Earth & The Hindu)
