Environment/Science
Environment/Science
Earthquake: Facebook activates safety check tool for Northeast India

05 Jan 2016, 06:45 am Print

California, Jan 4 (JEN) Popular social networking site Facebook on Monday activated Safety Check for people in Northeast India and parts of Bangladesh and Myanmar due to the earthquake which rocked the region on Monday.

 Facebook head Mark Zuckerberg wrote on his Facebook page: "A major earthquake just struck northeastern India and we've activated Safety Check to help people in the area let friends and family know they're safe."

"Tremors were also felt in Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal. If you appear to be nearby, we'll send you a notification to access Safety Check so you can share that you're safe and see that people you care about are safe as well. My thoughts are with everyone in the affected areas. May you and your loved ones stay safe and healthy," he said.

At least 12 people were killed and more than 130  injured when an earthquake measuring 6.7 on the Richter Scale hit Manipur and Assam in the Northeast on the wee hours of Monday, officials said.

The Manipur government said that at least 10 people were killed alone in Imphal town so far.

The deaths occurred from building collapses in Imphal town, the state capital.

Two  deaths were reported from Guwahati in Assam.

Several structures, including government buildings, shopping malls and residential buildings  collapsed in the quake in Imphal town.

The epicentre of the quake, which was felt at 4:35 hrs and at a depth of 17 km, was located  at latitude 24.8 degrees north and  longitude 93.5 degrees east, the  India Meteorological Department (IMD)  website said.

The IMD has called the earthquake as 'moderate'.