What the record shows for Andaman and Nicobar Islands
The strongest earthquake on record near Andaman and Nicobar Islands is a magnitude 7.5 in 2010, centred Nicobar Islands, India region - 16 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 2,276 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 389 km of Andaman and Nicobar Islands - roughly 114 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 13 tsunamis within 389 km of Andaman and Nicobar Islands between 1847 and 2010. The most significant was in 1936 near Off Northwest Coast, triggered by an M7.3 earthquake, which killed around 9 people.
3 volcanoes are catalogued near Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including Seulawah Agam, Peuet Sague, Telong, Bur ni. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Andaman and Nicobar Islands sit on the Sunda megathrust that ruptured in the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Earthquake risk in Andaman and Nicobar Islands - FAQ
Is Andaman and Nicobar Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 114 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 389 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.5 in 2010.
What was the biggest earthquake in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near Andaman and Nicobar Islands is M7.5, in 2010 (Nicobar Islands, India region), from USGS.
Does Andaman and Nicobar Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 13 tsunamis since 1847 (most recently 2010) within 389 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 9 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Andaman and Nicobar Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.