Archive · 13 Aug 2026
5.5-Magnitude Earthquake Jolts Leh, Ladakh; Fresh 4.3 Tremor Follows
An earthquake is when the ground suddenly shakes.
Early Thursday morning, a strong earthquake shook Leh, a town in the Ladakh mountain region.
The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5, which means it was fairly strong.
It happened very close to the ground's surface, only about 10 kilometres down.
Later that morning, another smaller shake with a magnitude of 4.3 happened in the same area.
Scientists say shallow earthquakes can feel stronger because the shaking doesn't have to travel as far to reach the surface.
The good news is that nobody was reported hurt and no major damage was reported.
A group called the National Centre for Seismology watches for earthquakes and shared the details on the social media site X. Scientists have not yet said whether the second shake was an aftershock of the first one.
A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Leh, Ladakh early Thursday morning at a shallow depth of 10 km.
A fresh 4.3-magnitude tremor was later recorded in the Leh region at 9:54:12 am IST, also at 10 km depth.
The NCS listed the first epicentre at 36.881 N, 74.402 E, about 302 km NNW of Kargil, Ladakh.
No immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage have been reported.
The NCS announced the quake on X but has not confirmed whether the 4.3 tremor was an aftershock.
- Who
- The National Centre for Seismology (NCS), which reported both tremors affecting the people of Leh, Ladakh.
- What
- A 5.5-magnitude earthquake at a shallow 10 km depth, followed by a 4.3-magnitude tremor in the same region.
- When
- Thursday morning, 13 August 2026 — 5.5 quake at 06:05:15 IST and 4.3 tremor at 9:54:12 am IST.
- Where
- Leh, Ladakh; the first epicentre was at 36.881 N, 74.402 E, 302 km NNW of Kargil.
- Why
- The specific cause was not stated, but shallow earthquakes produce stronger shaking because seismic waves travel a shorter distance to the surface.
- Magnitude
- 5.5 (first quake), 4.3 (follow-up tremor)
- Location
- Leh, Ladakh
- Date and Time
- 13 August 2026 — 06:05:15 IST and 9:54:12 am IST
- Depth
- 10 km (shallow) for both tremors
- Epicentre
- 36.881 N, 74.402 E; 302 km NNW of Kargil
- Reported By
- National Centre for Seismology (NCS)
- Casualties
- None reported
- Structural Damage
- No major damage reported
