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Eight strong quakes hit Andaman, Nicobar
Source: PTI
December 29, 2004

Devastated by Sunday's tsunami waves, which killed thousands, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands continue to be rattled by aftershocks on Wednesday as eight temblors measuring between 5.1 and 6.1 on the Richter scale hit the region.

Most of the aftershocks had their epicentre near the Car Nicobar Islands, which saw widespread destruction caused by giant waves triggered by a quake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale off Indonesia's coast on Sunday.

Nearly 60 aftershocks have rocked the region since then. The first of Wednesday's aftershocks, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale, rocked the islands shortly after 0700 IST. It was followed within 10 minutes by a 6.1 temblor, the Indian Meteorological Department said in Delhi.

While the epicentre of the first quake was near Camotra in the Little Nicobar Islands, the second was centred near Car Nicobar Islands.

Another quake, measuring 5.4, occurred at 0744 IST off the west coast of Andaman. Between 1127 and 1201 IST, four more quakes - all with their epicentre near Car Nicobar Islands and measuring between 5.1 and 5.8 in intensity - were recorded.

At 1540 IST, another aftershock centred near the same island and measuring 5.0, shook the region.

A quake of similar intensity had been recorded at 2241 IST on Tuesday off Little Andaman Island. Same night, another quake, which measured 5.3 on the Richter Scale and with its epicentre 4.5 degree north latitude and 94.5 degree east longitude near the west coast of nearby Indonesia, occurred at around 2019 IST.

A Met official said aftershocks of Sunday's giant quake were likely to be experienced for sometime.

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