Magnitude 5.0 earthquake strikes Delhi, no casualties reported
An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 on the Richter scale struck Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) at around 4:27 am today, according to the Indian Meteorological Department. The earthquake had its epicentre near Rohtak, Haryana, and originated at a depth of 22km. So far, no casualties have been reported from the tremors which lasted around a minute.
What are earthquakes?
An earthquake occurs when two blocks of the Earth's surface slip past one another resulting in shaking. The blocks' movement is caused by the sudden release of energy in the crust of the Earth creating seismic waves. The place below the Earth's surface where the quake starts is known as hypocenter; the location directly above the hypocenter, on the surface, is called epicenter.
Why are earthquakes occurring more frequently?
Several geological processes are triggering the reactive seismic waves to create earthquakes, faults, trenches and subduction zones. According to the scientists, the Earth is badly cracked and fractured partly due to its geology and primarily because of the intense heat within its interior. Geological features like mantle plumes, tectonic plates, faults, vents, volcanic systems, etc. also try to regulate that heat resulting kinetic energy.
