Econintersect: On Sunday, September 18, a 6.8 earthquake shattered the Sikkim region of northeast India near the borders with China (Tibet) and Nepal. This followed a weaker 4.2 magnitude tremor which shook the New Delhi region on September 7. The first quake did not produce significant injuries but the latest has produced dozens of fatalities across regions of the three countries.
The Sikkim earthquake was also not far from the border with Bhutan, but there have been no casualty reports from that country. Both quakes occurred at the boundary of the India plate with the Eurasian plate, the ongoing tectonic interaction that is still thrusting the Himalayas further above sea level, increasing the elevations of the highest points on the planet The following map shows the Sikkim state:
Reports of damages, injuries and death are sporadic as heavy rains and earth slides have hindered rescue workers, equipment and supplies from reaching many hard hit areas. The latest news from Earthquake Report (3:02 am local time September 20) is that at least 74 deaths have occurred in the three countries. China and Nepal each reported seven have died.
The following are some of the pictures that have been released from both India and Nepal.
Location not indentified.
A man looks on from a damaged house after an earthquake in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of in Katmandu, Nepal, Sunday, Sept. 18, 2011. A strong earthquake shook northeastern India and Nepal on Sunday night, killing at least 16 people, damaging buildings and sending lawmakers in Nepal’s capital running into the streets.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)
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Damaged house in Bhaktapur, on the outskirts of in Katmandu, Nepal.
Unidentified location in Nepal.
Survivors sort through rubble near Katmandu, Nepal.
Residents stand near the debris of a building which collapsed following an earthquake in Gangtok, India, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Rescue workers in helicopters and earth movers raced Monday to reach Indian villages cut off by mudslides after a powerful earthquake damaged thousands of homes in the remote Himalayan region, officials said. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
Nepalese police look for victims in a house collapsed after Sunday’s earthquake in Bhaktapur about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. Rescue workers raced Monday to clear roads blocked by mudslides as they attempted to reach remote villages cut off after the powerful earthquake damaged more than 100,000 homes in northeastern India, Nepal and Tibet. (AP Photo)
Nepalese people try to take out a motorbike buried under the debris of a house damaged by Sunday’s earthquake in Bhaktapur about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) from Katmandu, Nepal, Monday, Sept. 19, 2011. (AP Photo)
Sources: CBS News MagNewsReader and Earthquake Report
