Met Office says 5.4 earthquake near Chagos, 933 km from Addu, poses no threat to Maldives

An earthquake struck 933 km south of Addu on Wednesday evening, according to the Maldives Meteorological Service (Met Office).

The quake occurred in the Chagos region of the central Indian Ocean, an area known for frequent mid-ocean ridge seismic activity. The tremor measured 5.4 magnitude and was recorded at 06:01 pm. These types of quakes typically occur along deep oceanic ridges and are not associated with tsunami-generating faults.

The Met Office confirmed that the earthquake poses no threat to the Maldives, noting that the location and depth of the event make it unlikely to have any impact on the country.

The Met Office had earlier issued a statement on Sunday addressing viral social media posts claiming an earthquake would strike the Maldives. The agency reiterated that while scientists can identify regions where earthquakes are likely over long periods, there is no scientific method to predict earthquakes in advance.

The agency said it continuously monitors global seismic data and will immediately share information if any earthquake occurs near the Maldives.

It is noteworthy that the Met Office routinely releases such updates whenever earthquakes occur in the Indian Ocean region. These advisories typically include an assessment of whether the Maldives will be affected.