HistoryData
disaster2017

January 2017 Earthqake in India and Bangladesh

January 3, 2017

A magnitude 5.7 earthquake near Ambassa, Tripura killed three people across India and Bangladesh and damaged over 6,700 buildings.

Quick Facts

Year
2017
Category
disaster

Key Facts

Magnitude
5.7 Mw
Depth
32.0 km
Total deaths
3 (1 India, 2 Bangladesh)
Buildings damaged (Tripura)
6,727
Houses damaged by landslides
at least 50
Maximum intensity
6–7 EMS

By the Numbers

5.7Mw
Magnitude
32km
Depth
3
Total deaths
6,727
Buildings damaged (Tripura)

Location

Map of Ambassa, IndiaMap of Ambassa, IndiaAmbassa, India

Cause → Event → Consequence

Cause

The earthquake originated at a depth of 32 km in a seismically active zone of northeastern India, a region where tectonic stresses from the Indian Plate's collision with the Eurasian Plate frequently generate significant seismic activity.

Event

On 3 January 2017 at 2:39 pm local time, a magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck 20 km east-northeast of Ambassa in Tripura, India, with a maximum observed intensity of 6–7 EMS. Shaking was felt across northeastern India as far as Kolkata and in neighboring Bangladesh.

Consequence

The earthquake killed one person in India and two in Bangladesh, injured at least eight, and damaged 6,727 buildings in the Tripura districts of Dhalai and Unakoti. Landslides blocked roads, and liquefaction occurred along the Manu and Dhalai rivers in Tripura and Bangladesh.

Human Cost

Death toll visualizationEach dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths.

Each dot represents approximately 10,000 deaths. Total estimated: 3 (earthquake)

earthquakeMagnitude 5.7 Mw
TripuraDhalai districtUnakoti districtBangladeshKamalganj area

Timeline Context

Timeline around 20172017201420152016201820192020Copa Mundial 2028 — 10th and last FIFA Confederations Cup, held in Russia in 2017Carnegiea gigantea — species of plant2017 Istanbul nightclub attack — terrorist mass shooting that occurred at a nightclub in the Beşiktaş district of Istanbul, Turkey, on 1 January 20172017 Formula One World Championship — 68th season of FIA Formula One World Championship2017 Africa Cup of Nations — football championship of AfricaJanuary 2017 — month of 20172017–18 UEFA Europa League — 47th season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA2017 World Championships in Athletics — 2017 edition of the World Championships in Athletics2017-tripura-earthquake-2017