COLOMBO – A shallow magnitude 4.3 earthquake had been reported near Colombo, early Monday (16) evening. Volcano Discover, citing India’s National Centre for Seismology (NCS), said the quake hit at 6:15 p.m. local time on Monday at a shallow depth of 10 km.
It said shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface, and based on the preliminary seismic data, the website said the quake was probably felt by many people in the area of the epicentre.
However, it said the quake should not have caused significant damage, other than objects falling from shelves and broken windows.
The site, which monitors seismic movements across the world, said Monday’s quake would have been felt as a light shaking in Horana South, located 6 km from the epicentre. The shaking might have also been felt in Kalutara, located 22 km from the epicentre, Maharagama, 26 km away, Moratuwa, 27 km away, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, 31 km away, Battaramulla South, 31 km away, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, 31 km away, Pitakotte, 32 km away, Kotikawatta, 34 km away, and Colombo, 39 km away.
There were no reports of the quake in local media, but Volcano Discovery said it would automatically update magnitude and depth if these change and follow up if other significant news about the quake becomes available.
-ENCL