Earthquakes in Andhra Pradesh, India

State - Andhra Pradesh, India
Capital - Hyderabad
Population - 75,727,541 (2001)

Million+ Cities
Hyderabad - pop. 3,449,878

Population per district (Top 5)
East Godavari - pop. 4,901,420
Guntur - pop. 4,465,144
Krishna - pop. 4,187,841
Vishakhapatnam - pop. 3,832,336
Hyderabad - pop. 3,829,753

Earthquake History
Earthquakes in the recent past have occurred along and off the Andhra Pradesh coast and in regions in the Godavari river valley. Mild tremors have also hit the capital city of Hyderabad such as in September 2000. In the north, faults associated with the Godavari Graben show movement (3) during the Holocene epoch. Another NW-SE trending active fault called the Kaddam Fault runs in a section of the northern Andhra Pradesh and continues in the same direction towards Bhusawal in north Maharashtra. The other prominent active fault is the Gundlakamma Fault which trends in a NW-SE direction from near Ongole on the coast running inland in the same direction for about 100 kilometres. Several smaller faults have been found in the delta region and along the coast near Vishakhapatnam. However, it must be stated that proximity to faults does not necessarily translate into a higher hazard as compared to areas located further away, as damage from earthquakes depends on numerous factors such as subsurface geology as well as adherence to the building codes.

Seismic Hazard

The seismic hazard map of India was updated in 2000 (6) by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). According to the new map, the state of Andhra Pradesh lies in Zones II and III. The south-eastern districts of Chitoor, Cudappah and Nellore have been placed in Zone III. Sections of Anantapur district which formerly lay in Zones II and III of the 1984 BIS map now lies in Zone II. Districts that lie in the Godavari and Krishna river valleys, including the Godavari-Krishna delta region lie in Zone III. The city of Hyderabad lies in Zone II. Since the earthquake database in India is still incomplete, especially with regards to earthquakes prior to the historical period (before 1800 A.D.), these zones offer a rough guide of the earthquake hazard in any particular region and need to be regularly updated (See also: GSHAP Hazard Map for Andhra Pradesh).

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Andhra Pradesh
13 April 1969 - Kichanapalle-Gollagudem area, Andhra Pradesh, Mw 5.7 (2).
17.810 N, 80.670 E, D=025.0 kms, OT=15:24:55 UTC (3)
This event is often referred to as the Bhadrachalam earthquake of 1969. It is among the strongest earthquakes in the southern peninsula. The shock caused considerable damage in and around Bhadrachalam. The maximum observed intensity was VII (7). The quake interrupted the functioning of the Kinnersani reservoir for a while. It was felt all over south India, including at Hyderabad, where people ran out into the streets in panic.

Significant Earthquakes  in Andhra Pradesh
The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region which either had observed intensities of V or higher (historical events) or had known magnitudes of M5.0 or more (instrumented events). General locations are provided for historical events for which "generalized" epicentral co-ordinates are available. Some events which were significant for other reasons are also included. This list will be updated whenever newer information is available. Please note that Magnitude and Intensity are NOT THE SAME. All events are within the state or union territory covered on this page unless stated otherwise.

Acronyms Used:
D=Depth, OT=Origin Time, Mw=Moment Magnitude, Ms=Surface Wave magnitude, Mb=Body Wave Magnitude, ML=Local Magnitude, M?=Magnitude Type unknown

18 October 1800 - Ongole-Kanuparti area, Andhra Pradesh.
15.600 N, 80.100 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity VI (11).

31 December 1820 - Nellore-Kovur area, Andhra Pradesh.
14.500 N, 80.000 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

06 January 1827 - Vishakhapatnam area, Andhra Pradesh.
17.700 N, 83.400 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

12 October 1858 - Srikakulam-Srikurmam area, Andhra Pradesh.
18.300 N, 84.000 E (12)
Maximum observed intensity V (12).

21 July 1859 - Guntur-Tenali area, Andhra Pradesh.
16.299 N, 80.500 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity VI (11).

02 August 1859 - Guntur-Tenali area, Andhra Pradesh.
16.299 N, 80.500 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

09 August 1859 - Guntur-Tenali area, Andhra Pradesh.
16.299 N, 80.500 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

02 February 1860 - Tirupati area, Andhra Pradesh.
13.700 N, 79.400 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

24 July 1861 - Raichur area, Karnataka.
16.400 N, 77.300 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

13 January 1862 - Raichur area, Karnataka.
16.400 N, 77.300 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

11 March 1867 - Paruchuru area, Andhra Pradesh.
16.000 N, 80.300 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11). This region lies between Chirala and Chilakalurupet.

01 September 1869 - Bay of Bengal.
14.500 N, 80.800 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity VI (11). This earthquake is believed (11) to be located off the coast of Andhra Pradesh, to the east of Nellore.

02 September 1869 - Nellore-Kovur area, Andhra Pradesh.
14.500 N, 80.000 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (11).

19 December 1869 - Kakinada-Vakalapudi area, Andhra Pradesh.
17.000 N, 82.300 E (12)
Maximum observed intensity V (12).

19 December 1870 - Vishakhapatnam area, Andhra Pradesh.
17.700 N, 83.400 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity V (3).

22 November 1872 - Mahadeopur-Sironcha area, Andhra Pradesh.
18.860 N, 80.100 E (12)
Maximum observed intensity VI (3).

October 1876 - Secunderabad-Hyderabad area, Andhra Pradesh.
17.450 N, 78.450 E (12)
Maximum observed intensity VI (12). Felt throughout Secunderabad and caused widespread alarm (16). Windows panes were broken (16) in some houses and a few houses in and outside the cantonment were damaged (16). Doors and windows rattled under the impact of the quake which lasted 55-60 seconds (16).

02 April 1905 - Ongole area, Andhra Pradesh.
Maximum observed intensity of VII (8,13). 1 person was injured in a stampede. Many buildings in the town of Ongole were damaged. Tremors were also felt at Markapur (MM IV-V) and Chennai (MM III).

17 April 1917 - Bay of Bengal, Ms 5.5 (11).
18.000 N, 84.000 E, OT=13:31:45 UTC (11)
Maximum observed intensity VII (11). This event was centred in the Bay of Bengal, to the south of Srikakulam and to the east of Vizianagaram in Andhra Pradesh.

19 July 1918 - Bay of Bengal, Ms 5.5 (3).
15.900 N, 83.700 E, OT=00:25:22.0 UTC (3)
This earthquake occurred in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The epicentre lies roughly 197 kilometres east-south-east of Kakinada and 209 kilometres south of Vishakhapatnam.

12 October 1959 - Vallempalle-Chinna Ganjam area, Andhra Pradesh, Ms 5.0 (3).
15.680 N, 80.070 E, OT=19:25:59 UTC (3)
Maximum observed intensity VI (3) at Gainavaran (18). This event is often stated as having a magnitude of 6.0 (12).

08 October 1960 - Paruchuru area, Andhra Pradesh, Ms 4.3 (3).
16.000 N, 80.300 E (3)
Maximum observed intensity V (3, 11). This region lies between Chirala and Chilakalurupet.

10 April 1966 - Alluru area, Andhra Pradesh, M? 4.5 (11).
14.700 N, 80.000 E (11)
Maximum observed intensity VI (11). This region lies to the north of Nellore.

27 March 1967 - Ongole-Kanuparti, Andhra Pradesh, Mb 5.2 (3).
15.620 N, 80.160 E, D=015.0 kms, OT=08:09:45 UTC (3)
This earthquake is the strongest instrumented event in the Ongole area. It was felt as far as Vijayawada. Focal mechanisms show strike-slip faulting while other studies indicate thrust faulting. If one were to select the strike-slip solution it would strike parallel to the Gundlakamma Fault in the area.

13 April 1969 - Kichanapalle-Gollagudem area, Andhra Pradesh, Mw 5.7 (2).
17.810 N, 80.670 E, D=025.0 kms, OT=15:24:55 UTC (3)
This event is often referred to as the Bhadrachalam earthquake of 1969. It is among the strongest earthquakes in the southern peninsula. The shock caused considerable damage in and around Bhadrachalam. The maximum observed intensity was VII (7). The quake interrupted the functioning of the Kinnersani reservoir for a while. It was felt all over south India, including at Hyderabad, where people ran out into the streets in panic.

28 July 1971 - Inamanamelluru area, Andhra Pradesh, Mb 4.9 (3).
15.600 N, 80.100 E, OT=00:07:00 UTC (3)
Maximum observed intensity V (11). This region lies between Ongole and Chinna Ganjam.

05 July 1974 - Bay of Bengal, Mb 5.2 (5).
14.800 N, 81.700 E, D=023.0 kms, OT=20:09:34 UTC
This earthquake occurred in the Bay of Bengal, off the coast of Andhra Pradesh. The epicentre lies roughly 167 kilometres south-east of Nizampatnam and 188 kilometres east of Nellore

30 March 1980 - Chodavaram area, Andhra Pradesh, Mb 4.4 (3).
17.500 N, 81.400 E, D=054.0 kms, OT=13:31:53 UTC (3)
Maximum observed intensity V (3). This region lies to the north of Rajamundry.

08 April 1982 - Bay of Bengal, Mw 5.2 (15).
18.510 N, 86.310 E, D=024.0 kms, OT=02:41:16 UTC (3)
This event was centred in the Bay of Bengal. The epicentre was located roughly 150 kilometres south of Puri, Orissa and 188 kms east of Baruva, Andhra Pradesh.

30 June 1983 - Masaipet-Tupran area, Andhra Pradesh, Mb 4.9 (3).
17.900 N, 78.500 E, D=033.0 kms, OT=06:59:31 UTC (3)
Maximum intensity V near Medchal (17). This region lies to the north of Hyderabad. This earthquake shows a strike-slip mechanism (3). Felt (16) over 4,50,000 square miles. Some portions of tiled roofs and a mud wall collapsed (16) at Kishtpur and Bandamailaram. Tremors were felt for 20 seconds in the epicentral region and for up to 10 seconds in Hyderabad and Secunderabad (16).

01 July 1985 - Bay of Bengal, Mw 5.4 (15)
18.367 N, 87.188 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=02:23:52 UTC (14)
This event was centred in the Bay of Bengal. The epicentre was located roughly 214 kilometres south-east of Puri, Orissa and 280 kms east of Baruva, Andhra Pradesh.

16 September 2000 - Hyderabad area, Andhra Pradesh, ML 2.8
17.707 N, 78.295 E, D=015.0 kms, OT=19:20:22 UTC
A mild earthquake struck the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad on 17 September 2000 at 00:50 AM local time. It had a magnitude of ML=2.8.

26 December 2004 - Sumatra-Andaman Earthquake, Mw 9.1
03.298 N, 95.778 E, D=010.0 kms, OT=00:58:50 UTC
A "very great" earthquake struck the North Indian Ocean & the Bay of Bengal at 00:58 UTC on 26 December 2004. 2,30,210 people were are estimated to have been killed in the Indian Ocean-wide tsunami generated by this earthquake, including at least 105 in Andhra Pradesh.