A 5.8 Richter scale magnitude earthquake yesterday hit the southeast of Sri Lanka in the Indian Ocean, triggering widespread tremors across the country, including Colombo, the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said.
The bureau’s Acting Director General Ajith Prema told the Sunday Times that the earthquake was felt in many areas such as Colombo, Battaramulla, Pepiliyana, Galle, and Akuressa.
The earthquake took place at 12.59 p.m., some 1,200 km southeast of Hambantota.
“The earthquake took place at a depth of 10 kilometers. Therefore, there is no threat of a tsunami or impact on Sri Lanka,” he said.
Mr Prema said they were expecting aftershocks as the initial earthquake recorded a 5.8 magnitude on the Richter scale. He added they were monitoring the situation to see if there would be aftershocks and further tremors.
The acting DG said Sri Lanka had been experiencing mild earth tremors during recent times but had not experienced strong earthquakes yet.
He said yesterday’s earthquake was a strong one as it was felt by Sri Lankans who are residing 1,260 km away from the epicentre. He added that geologists and scientists believed that a new plate margin was being created in the Indian Ocean’s south and southeastern regions, extending up to Australia. Therefore they believed tremors and earthquakes took place due to this phenomenon.
(sundaytimes.lk)
