Chennai and the coastal region of Andra Pradesh were hit by an earthquake of magnitude 5.1 on August 24 afternoon. As per the National Center for Seismology, the quake was recorded at 12.35 p.m.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the depth of the earthquake was 10 kilometres.  The epicentre was in the ocean and obviously, there was no damage and as per initial assessments, it lasted for a few seconds.

IMD Chennai has confirmed that the tremors were caused by this earthquake. “We are still in the process of studying the tremors. The epicentre of the earthquake is found to be near Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh, in the Bay of Bengal region. Its magnitude is ascertained as 5.1 on the Richter scale. As a result, tremors were felt in parts of northern Tamil Nadu including Chennai,” an official in India Meteorological Department, Chennai, stated.

According to the National Center for Seismology, tremors were felt in Andhra 296 km south-southeast of Kakinada, 312 km south-southeast of Rajamundry, 339km south-east of Guntur and 386 km east-northeast of Tirupati. In Tamil Nadu, it was felt 320 km north-east of Chennai

 The earthquake was felt in the coastal areas of Chennai, including Thiruvanmiyur and Adyar. Startled by "Chennai earthquake" news, people in the city took to social media to report about the same.  Some users said that they felt the tremors in Thiruvanmiyur, Alwarpet and areas close to the sea in Chennai.

Earthquake of Magnitude:5.1, Occurred on 24-08-2021, 12:35:50 IST, Lat: 14.40 & Long: 82.91, Depth: 10 Km ,Location: 296km SSE of kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India for more information download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/6qwi4D40KO @ndmaindia @Indiametdept pic.twitter.com/dLB55CDm36

— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) August 24, 2021