5.5 magnitude hit Nepal yesterday at 10:05 pm. There is a common question among people, i.e., Was that normal?
According to Nepal Seismological Centre, it was a usual aftershock of Gorkha Earthquake rocked in April 2015. However, it shook not only the rupture zone but also many other parts of Nepal as well as southern India.
Though this aftershock does not carry any message of threat at present, its epicentre 'Sindhupalchowk' gives a signal that this area is storing energy enough to trigger several such moderate aftershocks in future. Because this area has experienced many aftershocks with the size of 5 whereas other parts of the rupture zone are facing jolts with the size of around 4 only.
Moderate aftershocks are similar to the miner aftershocks except the fact that they can destroy already damaged infrastructures. They may also cause injuries to the people who run in panic during the quake.
People nearby the aftershock zone should be given special caution training. General earthquake education should be given to the public so that they do not have to sacrifice their sleep for no serious reason like yesterday.
Discovered by Don Prince
