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Mild earthquake in two districts

City Bureau

No reports of damage to property; chances of aftershock ruled out

Thiruvananthapuram: A mild tremor was felt in parts of Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam districts around 6.50 p.m. on Friday, triggering alarm among citizens and sending the administration into overdrive. There were no reports of casualties or damage to property.

The seismology unit at the India Meteorological Department (IMD) pegged the tremor at 3.4 on the Richter scale. The epicentre, according to preliminary calculations, was off the coast near Attingal, northwest of the capital city.

Frantic residents in some parts of the city said they had experienced the tremor. The District Collectorate, taluk offices, police, Fire and Rescue Services and disaster management cells were flooded with calls following the incident.

A high-level meeting, convened by Revenue Minister K.P. Rajendran to assess the situation, issued directions to officials to remain vigilant. Mr. Rajendran said the tremor was felt in most parts of Thiruvananthapuram district and up to Chathannoor in Kollam district.

“Experts at the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) have confirmed that it was a mild tremor. There is no cause for alarm. The government machinery is geared up to meet any eventuality,” he said.

CESS Director M. Baba said there was no chance of an aftershock for a tremor of this magnitude. “Several such tremors occur every year,” he said.

The intensity of the tremor appears to have been more in coastal areas such as Kazhakkoottam and Varkala. Some citizens said they experienced a heavy jolt for several seconds while others felt vibrations.

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