Scare in Nicobar as quake jolts islands

Andaman and Nicobar Islands Chief Secretary D S Negi, speaking to The Indian Express over phone from Port Blair, said the epicentre of the quake, experienced at 9.12 pm, was 70 km west of Car Nicobar.

According to Negi, Saturday saw the highest tide of the season but that had nothing to do with the quake. He said they had established contact with the islands and Campbell Bay and there had been no loss of life or property.

Lt Governor Ram Kapse said in Port Blair that there had been no loss of death or destruction. But an alert, he said, had been sounded across the island and people asked to stay away from sea shores.

Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said that the IMD had alerted all departments concerned within minutes of the quake.

‘‘Normally there is no possibility of a tsunami unless it is over 7.5. But in this case there was also no noticeable increase in the sea level,’’ said Sibal, adding that tremors were felt in Chennai, Vizag and even as far as Thailand.

But the quake triggered cautionary warnings from around the world. The US Geological Survey, quoting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, issued a warning after the earthquake, saying that no tsunami threat existed but said there was the possibility of ‘‘local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within a few hundred kilometres of the earthquake epicentre.’’