Daijiworld Media Network - Sri Vijaya Puram

Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct 29: Tremors were felt in parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on Thursday after an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 struck the Andaman Sea, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS).

There were no immediate reports of loss of life or damage to property, officials said.

The earthquake occurred at around 3.19 pm, with its epicentre located approximately 218 km north-northwest of Bamboo Flat. The quake originated at a shallow depth of 10 km, prompting authorities to alert the agencies concerned and activate standard emergency protocols.

An official said the authorities were closely monitoring the situation and had taken the necessary precautionary measures following the tremors.

As a precaution, tourists and fishermen have been advised not to venture into the sea, a District Emergency Operation Centre (DEOC) official in Sri Vijaya Puram said.

Several teams in the region are monitoring seismic activity to assess any further developments. Officials also received reports of mild tremors from some areas of North and Middle Andaman.

The DEOC official said the islands were better prepared to respond to natural disasters, as authorities regularly conduct mock drills to strengthen emergency preparedness and response mechanisms.

Officials added that the earthquake's epicentre was far from the coastline and no damage had been reported in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands so far.