Earthquakes in Nagaland, India

State - Nagaland, India
Capital - Kohima
Population - 1,988,636 (2001)

Population per district (Top 5)
Tuensang - pop. 414,818
Kohima - pop. 310,084
Dimapur - pop. 309,024
Mon - pop. 260,252
Mokokchung - pop. 232,085

Earthquake History
The earthquake activity in this region is due to the Indian plate diving (thrusting) beneath the Eurasian plate. This process can trigger some really hefty shocks. The state is mainly mountainous and underlain by several thrusts. Most significant are the Main Boundary Thrust (MBT), the Main Central Thrust (MCT), the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFF), and the Naga Thrust. The MBT forms the south-south-east trending Lohit thrust in the region of Nagaland and neighbouring parts of south-eastern Arunachal Pradesh. Earthquakes here are generally shallow but some intermediate focus events have also occurred.

Seismic Hazard

All districts of the state of Nagaland lie in Zone V. 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 Nagaland).
 

Largest Instrumented Earthquake in Nagaland
26 August 1950 - SE of Sibsagar (Nagaland-Assam Border region), 7.0 (TS)
06:33:06.40 UTC, 26.80N, 95.10E

Significant Earthquakes  in Nagaland
The following list briefly outlines known earthquakes in this region. 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

22 September 1930 - West of Karong (Nagaland-Manipur Border region), 6.0 (TS)
14:19:14 UTC, 25.30N, 93.80E

21 March 1937 - SW of Kohima (Manipur-Nagaland Border region), 6.0 (TS)
16:12:02 UTC, 25.50N, 94.00E

23 October 1943 - West of Jorhat (Assam) 7.2 (TS)
17:23:17 UTC, 26.80N, 94.00E

15 August 1950 - Indo-China Border Region, Mw 8.6
19:39:28.5 IST/ 14:09:28.5 UTC, 28.70N 96.60E
This "Independence Day" earthquake was the 6th largest earthquake of the 20th century. Though it hit in a mountainous region along India's international border with China, 1500 people were killed and the drainage of the region was greatly affected. The resultant floods were the cause of most of the fatalities blamed on this earthquake. The initial shock was followed by thousands of aftershocks, some of which were big earthquakes in their own rights.

15 August 1950 - Patkoi hills, Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh, 8.0 (TS)
21:42:16 UTC, 25.00N, 95.80E

26 August 1950 - SE of Sibsagar (Nagaland-Assam Border region), 7.0 (TS)
06:33:06.40 UTC, 26.80N, 95.10E

11 September 1950 - SE of Sibsagar (Nagaland-Assam Border region), 6.0 (TS)
00:18:22 UTC, 26.80N, 95.00E

30 April 1952 - SE of Kohima (Manipur-Nagaland Border region), 6.0 (TS)
01:49:?? UTC, 25.500N, 94.500E

7 November 1952 - SW of Kohima (Manipur-Nagaland Border region), 6.0 (TS)
04:33:57 UTC, 25.500N, 94.000E

3 June 1964 - Myanmar-Nagaland border region, Mb 5.4
25.880 N, 95.690 E, D=121 kms, OT=02:49:17 UTC
Felt strongly in many parts of north-east India.

29 July 1970 - Myanmar-Nagaland border region, Mw 7.0
26.020 N, 95.370 E, D=68 kms, OT=10:16:20 UTC
Minor damage in parts of Assam. Felt strongly in much of north-east India and as far as Kolkata, Munger and Ranchi.

6 August 1988 - East of Imphal (Indo-Myanmar Border region), Mw 7.2 (HRV)
00:36:24.6 UTC, 25.149N, 95.127E, 91 kms depth
Three people were killed in this earthquake. Tremors were felt over much of eastern and north-eastern India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Eastern Nepal and Myanmar. Felt as far as Kolkata and Patna. Some damage was also reported from Homalin in northern Myanmar.