The “explosion-like” sounds, accompanied by tremors, heard a day ago in Anakkallu area of ​​Malappuram district, were apparently caused by friction and cracking of rocks close to the earth’s surface, informed the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. (KSDMA) said on Thursday.

Thiruvananthapuram: The “bang” sounds, accompanied by tremors, heard in Anakkallu area of ​​Malappuram district a day ago, were apparently caused by friction and cracking of rocks close to the earth’s surface, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority. (KSDMA) said on Thursday.

According to a joint statement issued by the KSDMA and the District Disaster Management Authority in Malappuram, an inspection of the site where noise and vibration occurred was carried out by the district geologist, the geologist of the Ground Water Department and the district hazard analyst. on October 17, 18 and 29.

Based on the inspection, the KSDMA concluded that the noise and vibrations were “caused by friction and cracking of rocks close to the earth’s surface”, a phenomenon that has been reported before in many parts of Kerala, and that in general they were not dangerous.

This phenomenon is usually caused by subtle natural changes in the earth. They are also caused by the shifting of rocks due to the utilization of groundwater and when air contained in small cavities within the earth escapes through tube wells, KSDMA said in the statement.

He said that a decision has been taken to subject the site to a geophysical survey to understand the structure of the area more precisely and for that the KSDMA has contacted the NIT, Kozhikode.

Regarding the damage that some buildings suffered due to vibrations, he said that they were due to their “age and structural weakness.”

The authority said that depending on the extent and pattern of cracks sustained by buildings, an engineer may be able to repair the damage for continued use.

Nearly 300 people were shifted to safety after they heard “explosion-like” sounds accompanied by tremors in Anakkallu area in Malappuram district on Tuesday night.

The first sound was reportedly heard at 9:15 p.m. on Tuesday, followed by two more at 10:15 p.m. and 10:45 p.m., along with light tremors, and apparently within a 2 kilometer radius, causing panic among local residents.

Local residents said they repeatedly heard alarming sounds similar to those heard in granite quarries in their area, accompanied by continuous tremors.

Cracks were also found in some houses in the area, they said.