6.8 magnitude earthquake hits Myanmar, strong tremors in West Bengal, Bihar and North-East

New Delhi: An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter Scale struck Myanmar on Wednesday with  strong tremors being felt in West Bengal. Tremors were also felt in Kolkata, Malda, Birbhum, West Bengal and in parts of Bihar and North-East. Witnesses in Patna said the tremors were felt for 10-12 seconds at around 4:09 pm. Offices were evacuated in Kolkata and Metro services were temporarily suspended. There were no reports of damage or casualties so far. "There is no report of major damage in Tripura, Mizoram, Assam and adjoining areas of the northeast yet. However, we are yet to get complete information from all affected areas of the northeast region," Disaster Management Coordinator Sarat Das told IANS, citing reports from District Magistrates across the region. According to the Indian Meteorological Department in New Delhi, the epicentre of the earthquake was at a point 190 km south of Myanmar's historic Mandalay city and about 19 km west of Chauk town. The depth of the earthquake was 90 km. "Though the estimate of damage has not been done, this is strong magnitude quake that causes great damage to life and property," an official said. The tremors lasted at least for 12-15 seconds. "We witnessed the tables, ceiling fans and water bottles shaking. Most people ran out of their homes and offices," said a policeman posted in the Capital complex area of Agartala. A 5.5 magnitude earthquake in the Myanmar-India border region rocked Assam, Tripura, Mizoram, Meghalaya and some other parts of northeast India on Tuesday morning. Seismologists consider India's mountainous northeast region as the sixth major earthquake-prone belt in the world. The northeast has seen some of the biggest quakes in history. In 1897, a Shillong-epicentred quake measured 8.2 on the Richter scale, while in 1950, an earthquake in Assam measuring 8.7 on the Richter Scale forced the mighty Brahmaputra river to change its course. In September 2011, Sikkim suffered heavy damage after a quake hit the Himalayan state. (With IANS inputs)