Some of the Immediate Damages and Preliminary Observations on the 22 June, 2020 Champhai Earthquake, India

Abstract

Earthquakes are amongst the worst geological hazards. There is no way to prevent earthquakes fromhappening. The devastating impacts of such event on the other hand can be greatly reduced by gaining ascientific grasp of their nature, origin, frequency, magnitude and understanding regional tectonics. In theMizoram region of North East India, the majority of the plate motion in the Indo-Burmese Wedge isaccommodated by dextral slip along the Churachandpur Mao Fault (CMF). Several great and majorearthquakes had occurred in the past in North East India. The Vaphai earthquake which occurred at 04:10am on 22 June, 2020 in Mizoram caused many immediate damages and destructions in Mizoram especiallywithin Champhai district. At least 20 aftershocks were recorded the following months and this createdwidespread panic and fear amongst the local population. Many dwelling houses, community assets, schools,government buildings, livestock and properties were damaged.