4.7 magnitude earthquake hits Hingoli, minor cracks reported but no casualties

An earthquake of 4.7 magnitude struck parts of Hingoli district in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region on Saturday morning, with tremors also felt in neighbouring districts of Nanded and Parbhani , officials said. Authorities confirmed that no casualties have been reported so far , though minor structural damage has been observed in a few places.

According to officials, the tremor occurred at around 8:45 am . Data from the National Centre for Seismology showed that the epicentre was located at Shirli village in Vasmat taluka of Hingoli district. The earthquake originated at a depth of 10 kilometres below the ground , allowing tremors to be felt across nearby areas.

Hingoli Collector Rahul Gupta said preliminary reports indicated cracks in some houses and community halls in Pangra Shinde village . Images received from the village showed minor fissures in structures following the tremor. District administration teams have been sent to the site to assess the extent of the damage and prepare a detailed report.

Tremors were also experienced in Nanded city and surrounding rural areas , including the talukas of Ardhapur, Hadgaon and Himayatnagar , as well as parts of Parbhani district . Residents in several places briefly stepped out of their homes, offices and educational institutions after sensing the shaking.

Authorities in Nanded and Parbhani have placed emergency response teams on standby as a precaution while officials continue to monitor the situation for any aftershocks. Local administrations have urged residents to remain calm and follow safety protocols.

As a precautionary measure, officials advised residents living in houses with tin-sheet roofs to remove heavy stones placed on top for support and instead secure the sheets with bolts. People have also been asked to move to open spaces and alert the administration through emergency helplines if further tremors or unusual sounds are noticed.

Recounting the moment, a college teacher in Nanded said she was sitting in the staffroom when she suddenly felt the tremor and heard an unfamiliar sound before realising it was a mild earthquake.

The Marathwada region has witnessed occasional mild seismic activity in recent years. In July 2024, a 4.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in nearby districts including Nanded and Hingoli, though it caused no significant damage. Officials said the situation after Saturday’s tremor remains under observation.