struck northeast India near the country's borders with Myanmar and Bangladesh in the city of
Imphal, capital of Manipur state early on January 4, 2016. The early morning tremor was strongly felt
across northeast India and in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, where television reports said at least 24
people were taken to hospital after being injured in the scramble that ensued.
An earthquake measuring 6.7 magnitude hit northeast India near its border with Myanmar and
Bangladesh early Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed. At least eight people were
killed and 100 injured by falling debris in Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur state, police said.
The quake struck at 4:35 a.m. local time (6:05 p.m. ET on Sunday), about 20 mi es northwest of
Imphal, the capital of Manipur.
An intensity shake map released by the US Geological Survey (USGS) on 03 January
2016 shows the location where a preliminary 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck 33km WNW Of
Imphal, India, 04 January 2016 (local time). EPA/USGS / HANDOUT (Photo: EPA)
Media reports said five people were killed by the earthquake in neighboring Bangladesh, but there
was no immediate confirmation from authorities.
Strong tremors were felt across the region, the BBC reported. Witness accounts reported a quake
that was unlike anything they had felt before, NBC News reported with residents awakened by
shouting relatives and an intense shaking that lasted from 35 seconds to two minutes.
Bob Swaggerty, who felt the quake in Dimapur, about 125 miles north of Imphal, told USA TODA Y
that it lasted about 45 seconds. "We felt the Nepal earthquake last year, this was the strongest I have
ever felt,- he said.
Swaggerty and his family were awakened after feeling and hearing the quake. -I ran out to our
balcony where it was shaking so violently I was just waiting for it to come down," he said. "Many
screams in the distance.
He added, - My son said he doesn't want to live in this house anymore."
@timesofindialSl Strong tremors felt in Kolkata too, though everyone is sleeping and hardly I see
anyone on the road.
— Naveen Kumar Singh (@Na7vs) lanuary 3, 2016/61
Nearly 200 miles south of the quake's epicenter, in Siaha, India, one account described a building
that sounded as if it was crumbling, NBC reported.
In Imphal, there were initial reports Of damage to a popular market, The Associated Press reported.
The tremor left large cracks in several walls and a portion of the building collapsed, police said.
India's Meteorological Department said the epicenter of the quake was in Tamenglong region of
Manipur state. It struck at a depth of 17 kilometers (about 10 miles) in the India-Myanmar border region. USGS said the depth was 55 kilometers (about 34 miles).
People panicked and rushed out of their homes in Guwahati, the capital of neighboring Assam state,
as they felt massive shaking at least twice within 60 seconds, AP reported.
Patients are told to stay outside as Imphal Hospital suffered huge cracks in the building.
Imphal quake jolts Assam reports @afrida78d101 Cracks Surface at Guwahati
Medical College Hospital @NewsMl llpic.twitter.com/XjybxTjqbK1121
— Sourav Sanyal (@SSanyal) January 4, 2016/131
"The ground swayed for almost a minute, jolting people awake in their homes," said one Imphal
resident, Apem Arthur. The area is dotted with small houses. There are few tall buildings in the
region, she said.
@timesofindia1141 tremors felt in Eastern and Central Nepal too.
— (@Rascalgk) January 3, 2014151
The tremors were also felt in Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal state.
USGS initially reported a 6.8 magnitude before revising the assessment to 6.7 about an hour later.
USGS map shows major 6.7 earthquake west of#lmpha11161 India in #ManipuÅ171 State.
CARE is monitoring this emergency.
— CARE (care.org) (@CARE) January 4, 20161191
Contributing: The Associated press
Response:
This article uses many sources of social media to gain information of this recent earth quake in India and others in South East Asia. This is because it is coming from a US news source which does not have any direct affiliation with the countries being affected. The writer has a few statements from the authorities which could be because there are very few statements, or that they have more bias towards the people directly in the quake who were tweeting/posting on social media. Every source they use seems to be directly from the media. The facts are most likely not interesting enough for this report, so it is being dramatized by the media posts. This article does provide information on the event, but it is not substantial facts from authorities.
Toppo, Greg.
"Major Earthquake Hits Northeast India." USA Today. USA Today, 4 Jan. 2016. Web. 4 Jan. 2016. <http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/01/03/india-earthquake-myanmar-border/78241542/>.
One thing I appreciate about this article is that it's not from a large scale news corporation, but from various media sources. However, it is like a double edged sword, because due to the fact that it is from a media source, such as instagram or Twitter, it has no credibility. That makes me even question the article in the first place. However, the article response, even though how concise it was, it still was accurate in which it talked about the dramatization from the social media posts. One problem I find though, is that the response fails to inform the reader of what is going on with detail. It gives a shallow, detailless description of what is going on in South East Asia. Could you mention where in South East Asia? Or perhaps what cities, or maybe the aid going toward these places. Current World Issues is meant to define what is going on in the world, and how that information can be used to help. However, with this response, it seems just a shrug over. There is no emotion, or emphisis. When i read the response, the largest question in my mind is; "Why? Why is this important." I feel that if the response answered that question, it would be quite more informative.
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