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4.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Tibet, Second Tremor in a Day

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck Tibet at a depth of 40 kilometers, as reported by the National Center for Seismology. This event followed another tremor of magnitude 4.5 that occurred earlier in the day at a shallower, more dangerous depth of 20-25 km. The region is highly seismically active due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which formed the Himalayas. Shallow earthquakes in this area pose a significant risk as their seismic waves cause stronger ground shaking and greater potential damage.

Key Points: Earthquake Hits Tibet: 4.4 Magnitude Tremor Follows 4.5 Quake

  • 4.4 magnitude quake at 40 km depth
  • Follows a 4.5 magnitude tremor earlier
  • Shallow quakes cause stronger ground shaking
  • Region lies on major tectonic fault line
  • Tibetan Plateau is seismically active
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 4.4 strikes Tibet

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake struck Tibet at a depth of 40 km, following a 4.5 magnitude tremor earlier. Learn about the region's seismic risks.

"Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. - Geological Analysis"

Tibet, February 6

An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 struck Tibet on Friday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology said.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 40 km.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.4, On: 06/02/2026 07:19:41 IST, Lat: 33.23 N, Long: 83.31 E, Depth: 40 Km, Location: Tibet."

Earlier in the day, another earthquake of magnitude 4.5 struck the region at a shallow depth of 20 km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 4.5, On: 06/02/2026 02:30:30 IST, Lat: 33.27 N, Long: 83.39 E, Depth: 25 Km, Location: Tibet."

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes travel shorter distances to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking, greater structural damage, and higher casualties.

The Tibetan Plateau is characterised by seismic activity due to tectonic plate collisions.

Tibet and Nepal lie along a major geological fault line where the Indian tectonic plate converges with the Eurasian plate, resulting in frequent earthquakes. The region is seismically active due to tectonic uplift that can become sufficiently strong to alter the elevations of the Himalayan peaks.

The Tibetan Plateau attains its high elevation due to crustal thickening caused by the collision of the Indian and Eurasian plates, which created the Himalayas. Faulting within the plateau is associated with strike-slip and normal mechanisms. The plateau extends east-west, as evidenced by north-south-striking grabens, strike-slip faulting, and GPS data.

In the northern region, strike-slip faulting is the dominant tectonic style, while in the south, the dominant tectonic domain is east-west extension on north-south-trending normal faults.

Seven north-south-trending rifts and normal faults were first identified in southern Tibet in the late 1970s and early 1980s using satellite imagery. They began formation when extension occurred some 4 to 8 million years ago.

The largest earthquakes in Tibet, with magnitudes of 8.0 or similar, occur along strike-slip faults. Normal-faulting earthquakes are smaller in magnitude; in 2008, five normal-faulting earthquakes with magnitudes of 5.9 to 7.1 occurred across the plateau.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The science behind this is fascinating but also scary. The article explains the tectonic plates so well. It's a constant reminder that we live on a dynamic planet. Hope there was no loss of life or property.
R
Rohit P
Shallow depth of 20km for the earlier one is concerning. As the article says, shallow quakes cause more damage. Our authorities should use this data to review building codes in our own Himalayan regions. Safety first!
S
Sarah B
While the technical details are important, I wish the article had more information about the human impact. Were any villages affected? Do they have adequate emergency services? The focus feels a bit too geological.
V
Vikram M
This seismic activity is a part of life in the Himalayas. Our ancestors built accordingly. Modern construction needs to respect that wisdom. Hope everyone in the region is safe. Jai Hind.
K
Karthik V
The National Center for Seismology does good work with timely updates. Important for people in North India to be aware, as tremors can sometimes be felt here too. Stay prepared, folks.

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