Andhra Coast Jolted by Offshore Quake, IMD Forecasts More Rain Ahead

Residents of Visakhapatnam were jolted awake early on Sunday after a magnitude 4.5 earthquake struck the Bay of Bengal off the Andhra Pradesh coast. The tremors, though mild, were felt in several parts of the city and nearby areas, prompting many people to briefly step out of their homes.

According to official seismic agencies, the earthquake occurred at 5:05:46 a.m. IST at a depth of 10 km . The epicenter was located in the Bay of Bengal, about 225 km off the Kakinada coast , at coordinates 16.805°N and 84.381°E . The shallow offshore quake was recorded and reviewed by the national earthquake monitoring network soon after the event.

Authorities said no casualties, injuries, property damage or other losses were reported. The tremors lasted only a few seconds and did not trigger panic among residents. Officials also confirmed that there was no tsunami threat arising from the earthquake, and normal life resumed quickly across the city.

The Bay of Bengal occasionally experiences seismic activity, and experts continue to monitor such events through a network of observation stations. Sunday's tremor served as a reminder that even moderate offshore earthquakes can be felt along the Andhra coastline.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast continued monsoon activity over Andhra Pradesh during the next 24 hours. Under the influence of moist easterly winds from the Bay of Bengal, North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Yanam, South Coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema are likely to receive light to moderate rain or thundershowers at isolated places on Monday. Many coastal districts are expected to witness cloudy skies, while a few areas may experience brief spells of rain accompanied by gusty winds.

As Andhra Pradesh enters another active phase of the monsoon, Sunday brought a rare combination of a pre-dawn earthquake and a renewed weather alert, leaving residents with an unusual start to the week.