Earthquake and Tsunami of June 26, 1941, in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal

 

The earthquake of June 26, 1941, stands as one of the most significant seismic events in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands region of India. This earthquake generated a destructive tsunami that impacted several areas, especially along the east coast of India, causing considerable damage and loss of life. Here's a comprehensive overview of the event based on the research by George Pararas-Carayannis.

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The Earthquake of June 26, 1941

• Date and Time:
  The earthquake occurred on June 26, 1941, at 11:52:03 UTC.

• Epicenter Coordinates:
  The quake’s epicenter was located at 12.50° N, 92.57° E, in the Andaman Sea Basin.

• Location in Relation to Nearby Areas:

  • Approximately 20.5 km west of Flat Island.
  • 23.6 km west-northwest of Yadita (Middle Andaman Island Group).
  • 96.7 km north-northwest of Port Blair (South Andaman Islands).
  • 617 km southwest of Yangon, Myanmar.
  • 834 km north-northwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

• Focal Depth:
  The earthquake was shallow, meaning it occurred relatively close to the Earth's surface, which often results in more intense shaking and greater surface damage.

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The Tsunami

The earthquake generated a tsunami that spread through the Andaman Sea and into the Bay of Bengal, wreaking havoc on several coastal regions. The most severe destruction occurred along the east coast of India, where the tsunami waves caused significant property damage and led to loss of life.

• Affected Areas:

  • Coastal regions of India.
  • Other locations around the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal, including parts of Myanmar and possibly parts of the Indonesian coast.

• Nature of the Tsunami:
  As is common with shallow earthquakes in ocean basins, the rapid displacement of the seafloor resulted in the creation of tsunami waves, which radiated outward and affected distant coastlines. The waves were particularly destructive due to the proximity of the earthquake's epicenter to densely populated coastal regions.

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Conclusion

The June 26, 1941, earthquake and tsunami in the Andaman Sea and Bay of Bengal is remembered as one of the strongest seismic events in the Andaman & Nicobar Islands' history. The shallow earthquake, coupled with the tsunami it generated, brought devastation to multiple regions, particularly along the east coast of India. The event serves as a reminder of the seismic activity in the Indian Ocean region and the potential dangers posed by undersea earthquakes and the tsunamis they can trigger.

For further details, you can refer to additional research by George Pararas-Carayannis, who has extensively documented seismic and tsunami events in this region.