Yesterday’s quakes in Indian Ocean not a dangerous sign: Geologist

• Movement of the Indo-Australian plate caused the tremors

By Yohan Perera and Chathuranga Samarawickrama 

The series of earthquakes recorded in the Indian Ocean yesterday morning is not a warning signal of a large impending disaster, a leading geologist in the country said yesterday. 

The four earthquakes were recorded in the Indian Ocean off the Maldives Islands at a depth of 10km, the Seismic Data and Tsunami Alert Centre confirmed that four earthquakes with 4.8, 5.2, 5.8, and 5.0 magnitudes were recorded yesterday. 

“A movement of Indo-Australian plate has caused it. The quakes have occurred deep under the sea. Therefore, it does not have a capacity to displace water. It is not a matter to be alarmed about,” Professor Athula Senaratne from the Department of Geology, Peradeniya University told Daily Mirror. 

“However, Sri Lanka should be watchful of earthquakes which might occur in the Far Eastern Side of the Indian Ocean.  An earthquake which occurs near Banda Aceh in Indonesia and near Andaman Islands. An earthquake which takes place in this area could definitely result in a tsunami,” he added.  Asked about the tremors which have been occurring in the areas of Kirinde, Monaragala and Wellawaya recently, Professor Senaratne said it has been found out that even minor tremors could occur in these areas frequently. The last tremor near Sri Lanka was recorded on November 14, 2023, in the seas off Colombo. It has been off 6.2 magnitude according to the National Centre of Seismology India. The worst earthquake that Sri Lanka has experienced has taken place in Colombo in the year 1615. Around 2,000 people have died in it.