Bhubaneswar: North coastal regions of the State Tuesday morning recorded some kind of shaking as a quake with magnitude of around 5.1-5.3 hits the Bay of Bengal, 223 KM east south east of Paradip at the morning hours of 6:10am.
Even as both – India’s National Seismology Centre and United States Geological Survey – agree on the time the quake struck Bay of Bengal, both apex agencies differ in other vital technical details.
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Here is the technical detail and the differences observed.
NATIONAL SESIMOLOGY CENTRE
US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS)
A glance at the technical details released by two apex quake monitoring agencies shed light on the major difference.
While the National Seismology Centre (NSC) measures the depth of the quake to 91KM below earth surface, the USGS measured the depth at just 10km from the surface of earth.
If the NSC data is looked upon, it indicates a deep (when depth exceeds 70km) earthquake. However, the USGS data terms it a shallow earthquake.
The moot question that haunts is the Tuesday bay of Bengal Quake is a shallow or deep quake?
BAY OF BENGAL SEEING FREQUENT QUAKES?
Studies show seismicity in the Bay of Bengal is attributed to the compressional forces at the Himalayan Front. The recent year data shows Bay of Bengal has witnessed only mild to moderate quakes.
- In 2024, Bay of Bengal has had 215 quakes of magnitudes above 2 and up to 5.4
- 6 quakes above magnitude 5
- 98 quakes between magnitude 4 and 5
- 101 quakes between magnitude 3 and 4
- 10 quakes between magnitude 2 and 3
A look at the above data shows Bay of Bengal last year has witnessed majorly mild earthquakes
Since 2025, Bay of Bengal has had 17 quakes of magnitudes above 3 and up to 5.2:
- 3 quakes above magnitude 5
- 11 quakes between magnitude 4
- 53 quakes between magnitude 3 and 4
- In the past 24 hours, Bay of Bengal has had 5 quakes of magnitudes above 3 and up to 5.2
The 2025 data also shows BoB witnessed only mild earthquakes so far this year.
EARTHQUAKES SHIFTING CLOSER TO ODISHA?
Here is a look at the earthquakes recorded in the Bay of Bengal during the recent time.
- FEB 24 – Near Myanmar
- FEB 23 – Near Nicobar Islands
- FEB 22 – Near Myanmar
- FEB 21 – Near Myanmar
- FEB 16 – Near Nicobar island
- 1month ago around Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- 1 month ago, Around Port Blair.
- 1 month ago, Around Andaman Nicobar Islands
- 1 month ago, Place: Port Blair
- 1 month ago, Nicobar Islands
- 2 months ago, Nicobar Island
- 2 months ago, Place Nicobar Islands
A glance at the above data shows active seismic region in Bay of Bengal is lying close to Myanmar and Nicobar Islands regions.
Studies have also confirmed this.
As per a 2014 comprehensive study on seismicity in Bay of Bengal has said the following. (see the images given below)
“A widely dispersed diffuse seismicity provides evidence that the intraplate region of the entire Bay of Bengal and peninsular India of the Indian plate are seismically active of which the Gangetic delta and the eastern flank of the Ninety East Ridge show somewhat higher seismicity in comparison to the thickly populated epicenters at the eastern plate boundary.”
The study has clearly mentioned that eastern plate boundary that consists of thickly populated epicenters like Odisha and West Bengal.
A glance at the data from 1906 shows mild quake has not hit Bay of Bengal closer to Odisha. The earthquake registered closer to Odisha borders hint at the rising seismicity in the eastern epicenters.
