An earthquake occurred in the Novosibirsk region. According to the GUMES in the region, residents of the four villages of the Iskitim region felt tremors of magnitude 4.5. As noted, the epicenter of the earthquake was 15 km from the city of Iskitim. According to the Vesti Novosibirsk publication, the nearest village to this area is the village of Devkino.

The Altai-Sayan branch of the Unified Geophysical Service of the Russian Academy of Sciences recorded a seismic event on October 29 at 08:36 (04:36 Moscow time), three kilometers east of the village of Harino, Iskitim District, Novosibirsk Region.

“Echoes of seismic events were felt in a 10-kilometer zone on the territory of four settlements of the Iskitim region: Harino, Devkino, Ust-Chem, Belovo,” the message of the Russian Emergencies Ministry said.

In addition, the department noted that several people contacted the emergency services at 112. There is no evidence of any destruction or casualties.

“Three working groups have begun examining socially significant objects, buildings and structures,” the Ministry of Emergencies explained.

Possible reasons

Viktor Bokov, head of the prediction laboratory at the Gradient Geophysical Research Center, told RT that tremors of small magnitude are “an ordinary event for this region.” Similar earthquakes have occurred before, they have a certain regularity. There are several reasons for this seismic activity.

“All this is based on a powerful change in atmospheric pressure and a change in circulation. We observed this process and foresaw that it would shake. But the earthquake is moderate, so we did not raise the alarm, ”said Viktor Bokov.

According to him, one should not expect any serious consequences in the region, since the strength of the shocks was insignificant. Visible damage usually occurs when the force of vibration of the soil is equal to or greater than 6 points.

“An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 is not scary, maybe not everyone will notice, it will shake a little chandelier and dishes. But this will not affect much any infrastructures, ”concluded the head of the forecast laboratory of the Gradient Geophysical Research Center.

"The roar, the noise, and everything shook"

Eyewitnesses to the earthquake report that no significant damage occurred, but many residents felt the tremors.

“Such a rumble, noise, and everything trembled: the glass trembled, the windows, the iron safe trembled for me, the girls in accounting had cabinets, a mirror on the wall. It felt, of course, decently, ”Galina Stepanova, a specialist in the administration of the Ust-Chem village council, told the Novosibirsk Online publication.

A resident of Iskitim, who lives in a private house on Beregovoi Street, noted that the shocks were comparable in strength to explosions in a nearby quarry being developed.

“It rocked much more than from technological explosions in the limestone quarry, which is a kilometer from home. The floor shuddered underfoot, and the cabinet next to it swayed. And the dog was frightened yet, ”he told the publication.

  • Iskitim district of the Novosibirsk region.
  • RIA News
  • © Alexander Kryazhev

In Novosibirsk itself, seismic activity was practically not felt. As a resident of the central district of the city said, she felt only a “slight swing”, similar to dizziness.

Vesti Novosibirsk reports with reference to social media posts that local residents felt the tremors and their echoes.

The last major seismic event occurred in the region in mid-September. An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 occurred 30 km north of the village of Aktash in the Altai Republic. No damage was recorded. According to the press service of the Biysk administration, the city residents felt the impetus that occurred in the Ulagansky district of the Altai Republic. No harm done.