Mizoram wrecked by earthquake of 5.3 magnitude; PM offers help

An earthquake of 5.3 magnitude hit Mizoram in the early hours of Monday (June 22), causing damage to houses and cracks on roads at several places, an official of the state Geology and Mineral Resource Department said. No casualties have been reported.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have assured Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga of all possible support from the Centre.

This makes it the third earthquake to hit the state in the last one week. An earthquake of 5.1 magnitude also hit the state on Sunday (June 21) around 4.10 pm, and another of 4.6 magnitude on June 18.

Quoting the National Centre for Seismology, the official said the earthquake happened at 4.10 am and the epicentre was at Zokhawthar in Champhai district on the India-Myanmar border.

The tremors were felt in several parts of the state, including state capital Aizawl, he said. Several houses and buildings, including a church at Zokhawthar in Khawbunga, in Champhai district have been partly damaged due to the quake, he said.

The quake also caused cracks on highways and roads at several places, he added. The full extent of the damage is yet to be ascertained, the official said. The depth of the quake was 20 km while the coordinates of the epicentre are 23.22 (latitude) and 93.24 (longitude).

Related News: Earthquake of magnitude 5.8 hits J&K, third in three days

“Spoke to the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri Zoramthanga Ji, on the situation in the wake of the earthquake there. Assured all possible support from the Centre,” the prime minister tweeted.

Spoke to the Chief Minister of Mizoram, Shri @ZoramthangaCM Ji on the situation in the wake of the earthquake there. Assured all possible support from the Centre.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 22, 2020

“I have spoken to Shri @ZoramthangaCM ji, Chief Minister of Mizoram, to review the situation after the earthquake tremors in the state. I assured him all possible support from the central government. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being,” Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in a tweet.

I have spoken to Shri @ZoramthangaCM ji, Chief Minister of Mizoram, to review the situation after the earthquake tremors in the state. I assured him all possible support from the central government. Praying for everyone’s safety and well-being.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 22, 2020