India’s Andaman Islands Earthquake: Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands Map

A strong earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday, just off the Andaman Islands. India’s Andaman Islands earthquake registered at 7.6 magnitude and set off tsunami warnings throughout that part of Asia. Read about it below and see Andaman and Nicobar Islands maps and a video.

Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands Map

The huge 7.6 magnitude earthquake that struck in the Indian Ocean on Tuesday morning set off a panic of people fleeing their homes. This is an area that was devastated by the 2004 Asian tsunami that was triggered by an earthquake off the Indonesian island of Sumatra. That tsunami hit all of the countries around the Indian Ocean and killed more than 220,000 people. Those countries include India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center of the US National Weather Service canceled the warning later. Officials reported that the sea level readings didn’t indicate a significant tsunami was created by the earthquake.

The quake hit at 1:55 am (1955 GMT Monday) about 163 miles north of Port Blair and about 20 miles deep into the ocean. Port Blair is the main town of the Andaman and Nicobar islands. There are no immediate reports coming out of their police control center of major damage or casualties.

The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the eastern most territory of India. The district is composed of 550 Islands, Islets and rocks. Only 26 are inhabited with a population of just over 350,000. The island chain is flanked by the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. The islands are considered to have been a primary migratory route out of Africa through India and on to points throughout the rest of the world. There are 4 primitive tribes that inhabit the Andamans. The tribal people are recognized as having Negrito origins and are Great Andamanese, Onges, Jarawas and Sentinelese. The Nicobars are inhabited by the Nicobarese and Shompens, both of Mongoloid origins.