Gangtok: 57 earthquakes have been recorded in Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet since February 9, of which 41 originated from Sikkim, a senior official said on Friday.
At a press conference, State Relief Commissioner of the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Renzing Quang Putiam, said seismic activity is common in the Himalayan belt, adding that the strongest earthquake recorded during this period was a magnitude 4.6 in Jyalqing on Thursday.
Minor tremors were felt across the state, but he said such events generally do not cause major concern.
Two earthquakes measuring 4.6 and 3.5 on the Richter scale struck the Himalayan state on Thursday.
The first earthquake, measuring 4.6, struck the state at 11:24 am. The epicenter of the quake was 4 km northeast of Yuksom in Jialxing District and at a depth of 10 km, according to the National Seismological Center.
The second 3.5 magnitude earthquake shook the Mangan area at 12:17 p.m. The epicenter of the earthquake was 11 km northwest of Gangtok, and at a depth of 10 km.
Officials said.
Highlighting safety measures, Bhutia urged people to remain calm and follow the “drop, cover and wait” protocol during earthquakes.
He advised people indoors to take shelter under sturdy furniture, protect their heads, and hold on to it until the vibrations stop, and then move to open spaces away from buildings, trees, and electricity poles.
He also recommended cutting off gas and electricity connections wherever possible, and warned against spreading unverified rumours.
Bhutia stressed preparedness and urged families to identify safe areas and escape routes in advance.
He noted that falling objects pose significant risks and recommended securing loose fittings and avoiding placing heavy objects on top.
Regarding institutional preparedness, he reported that since February 9, schools have been sensitized on earthquake safety in coordination with the Education Department.
Mock drills are being conducted regularly, disaster management clubs are being formed in schools under the supervision of a nodal officer for teachers, and school safety booklets have been distributed.
Regarding village-level preparedness, Bhutia said that SSDMA and district disaster management authorities continue to implement awareness programmes.
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