Kozhikode: On August 9, 2024, minor tremors were reported in Wayanad, Kerala, affecting residents in Kurichiarmala, Pinangod, Edakkal, Moorikkappu, Ambukuthimala, and Ambalavayal areas around 10:15 a.m. The tremors were most strongly felt in Nenmeni village. Following the reports of these tremors, Kerala’s Revenue Department officials advised several residents of Nenmeni village to relocate to safer areas temporarily.
Ambalavayal Government Lower Primary School was closed for the day in response to the tremors. Scientists and staff at the Ambalavayal Regional Agriculture Research Station confirmed the tremors and noted that the loud noises caused panic among residents, with some tile-thatched roofs and ceramic plates damaged. There were also reports of similar minor tremors and unusual sounds from Koodaranhi, Mukkom, and Manasseri regions in Kozhikode district.
Despite no unusual readings on the Richter scale reported by the District-Level Disaster Management Authority and the State Emergency Operations Centre, other departments began reviewing the situation. Some unconfirmed reports suggested a possible soil piping phenomenon. In response to the tremors and the recent landslide in the Chooralmala-Mundakkai regions, senior Revenue Department officials visited the affected areas to assess the situation and provide emergency support.
The thundering sounds heard around 10:15 a.m. in the Ambalavayal-Edakkal region, located 15 to 20 kilometers from the landslide-affected areas, caused considerable alarm. Reports of similar sounds were also noted in adjacent districts of Kozhikode and Palakkad. Residents in the Ambalavayal-Edakkal area fled their homes and sought shelter in an existing relief camp. While some initially mistook the sounds for thunder, others believed they originated from beneath the earth’s surface, with many reporting that their window panes shook.
A team of experts from the Centre is currently visiting the Wayanad region to evaluate the impact of the tremors and the ongoing landslides.
