Magnitude 2.9 earthquake hits Faridabad: What was the loud blasting sound?

A mild earthquake struck Faridabad as residents reported a loud, blast-like sound. Its shallow origin may explain the boom, though measurements are needed to confirm the cause.The shallow depth could help explain why some residents experienced the earthquake as a loud rumble. New Delhi,Nov 5, 2026 19:04 ISTA mild earthquake measuring 2.9 on the Richter scale struck Faridabad in Haryana on Thursday evening, November 5, 2026.However, what caught the attention of residents was not just the tremor but a loud, blast-like sound that many reported hearing around the time of the earthquake.According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS), the earthquake occurred at 6:33 pm IST, with its epicentre located at latitude 28.386° North and longitude 77.258° East. The quake originated at a shallow depth of just 5 km.The shallow depth could help explain why some residents experienced the earthquake as a loud rumble or blast-like noise, despite its relatively low magnitude. EQ of M: 2.9, On: 05/11/2026 18:33:20 IST, Lat: 28.386 N, Long: 77.258 E, Depth: 5 Km, Location: Faridabad, Haryana. For more information Download the BhooKamp App https://t.co/5gCOtjdtw0 @DrJitendraSingh @OfficeOfDrJS @tummalasrini @GSuresh_NCS @ndmaindia https://t.co/mkxGY5EntU— National Center for Seismology (@NCS_Earthquake) November 5, 2026 The United States Geological Survey (USGS) explains that small, shallow earthquakes can generate high-frequency vibrations that travel to the surface and produce audible booming sounds.These sounds may resemble distant gunfire, thunder or explosions. In some cases, the sound can even be heard before people feel the stronger shaking because the faster-moving P-waves arrive before the slower S-waves.WHY DOES A SHALLOW EARTHQUAKE SOUND LOUDER? The depth of an earthquake plays an important role in how its energy is experienced at the surface. When an earthquake originates close to the surface, its seismic waves have a shorter distance to travel before reaching the ground above it.This means some high-frequency vibrations can retain enough energy to produce an audible rumble or boom.In contrast, as seismic waves travel through greater depths and distances, high-frequency energy tends to weaken. This can make deeper earthquakes less likely to produce the same kind of sharp, explosive sound for people at the surface.CAN A MAGNITUDE 2.9 EARTHQUAKE PRODUCE SUCH A SOUND?Yes. A low-magnitude earthquake does not necessarily mean that it will be completely silent.A study published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America found that earthquakes in the magnitude 2–3 range can generate audible sounds through their initial compressional waves.However, the sound experienced by residents depends on several factors, including their distance from the epicentre, the depth of the earthquake, local geological conditions and the frequency of the seismic waves.It is therefore plausible that the Faridabad earthquake's shallow depth of 5 km contributed to the loud, blasting-like sounds reported by residents. However, the depth alone cannot establish the exact cause of the sound without acoustic and seismic measurements.The important distinction is that the sound was not necessarily an actual explosion. It could have been the sound of seismic energy travelling through the ground and transferring into the air.- Ends