Photo: riseq.seismo.gov.in
People in North Coastal Andhra Pradesh were shocked by tremors that lasted for a few seconds in the early hours of Tuesday (November 4, 2025). Confirming this, officials said that the tremors were the result of an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 recorded near G. Madugula in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. This may be the epicentre of the tremors in the North Coastal Andhra Pradesh region.
“On November 5, 2025, at 4.19.41 am, an earthquake of magnitude 3.7 was recorded at a depth of 10 km. This is a minor earthquake of low intensity. Cracks in roads and buildings usually start appearing in earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or above, but it depends largely on several factors. In the case of G. Madugula, it may not be that big. Due to this, tremors were felt only in the surrounding areas like Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam” India Meteorological Department (IMD) Director (Amaravati) S. Stella told The Hindu.
She further said that the road damage can occur with a magnitude of 5.3 and above, but this is not guaranteed and depends largely on factors such as distance from the epicentre and the specific earthquake intensity. An earthquake of magnitude 5.0-5.4 causes mild damage. Earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 are destructive in a limited area and earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 cause more significant damage over a wider area.
A faculty-cum-researcher from the Department of Earth Sciences, Andhra University, said that the extent of cracking of buildings or roads, sometimes even fatal incidents, depends on several factors, including the depth of the earthquake, local soil conditions and the quality of the building structures.
R. Jagadeesh, owner of Eye Care in Maddilapalem and a resident of PM Palem, said, “I felt a few jolts in my bed. I woke up immediately and got up. I did not feel much.”
There were no reports of people coming out of their homes, but on Tuesday morning, people in areas like Madhurawada, Maharanipeta, Rushikonda, Kailasapuram, Visalakshinagar, Murali Nagar, Gajuwaka, Gopalapatnam, Simhachalam, Akkayyapalem and Beach Road faced the same experience.
Incidentally, the tremors was associated with a thunder and lightning, which created panic among a few residents. “For a moment I was under the impression that the tremors have resulted in a blast in one of the major industrial units in the city,” said Mr. Srinivas, who resides on the Beach Road.
Published – November 04, 2025 09:51 am IST
