The Saurashtra region of Gujarat was rocked by multiple seismic tremors, known by experts as an "earthquake swarm." On the night of Thu, Jan 8 to the afternoon of Fri, Jan 9, 2026, the inhabitants of Upleta, Dhoraji, and Jetpur talukas were made to panic while the ground underneath them shook continuously.
The Institute of Seismological Research (ISR) in Gandhinagar, according to Rajkot Collector Om Prakash, officially registered 12 tremors with magnitudes between 2.6 and 3.8, and local monitoring systems detected a total of 21 tremors ranging from 1.4 up to 3.8 in magnitude.
The Timeline of Panic
Its first major jolt, which measured at a 3.3 magnitude, happened at 8:43 PM on Thursday at the heart of the city, near Upleta town. This first shock forced hundreds of families out of their homes. The tremors did not end, however; the ground continued quaking intermittently through the night and into Friday afternoon.
In some villages, fear was so strong that residents left the houses and simply settled for the night and the next day in open fields to avoid any building collapses.
Administrative Response:
School closures and safety checks. Officials say so far that there have been no casualties or significant property damage, though the administration is taking no chances.
Safety Measures in Place:
- School Holidays: All the anganwadis and schools operating out of "old or rickety" buildings in the affected talukas were given a day-long holiday.
- Infrastructure Evaluation: Talathis (village accountants) and Sarpanchs are responsible for the assessment of dilapidated structures.
- Public Advisory: Collector Om Prakash has informed citizens residing in vulnerable or old homes to vacate the building and move into safer modern houses or open spaces for a time.
Expert Analysis: What Is an ‘Earthquake Swarm’?
Current activity east-northeast of Upleta is a textbook example of an earthquake swarm, the ISR seismologists explained. Unlike a regular quake with a distinct mainshock followed by aftershocks, a swarm is a series of low to moderate magnitude events occurring in a short period.
Why is it happening?
Experts suspect the action is due to water seepage into existing underground fractures. This seepage generates “pore pressure” that causes strain down the earth’s crust. As that strain is unburdened, it occurs as small, frequent tremors. Seismologists told the public that swarms seldom cause big, destructive earthquakes, but the psychological harm to local residents is still widespread.
Current Situation
Falling frequency of the tremors seemed to be gradually slowing down as of Friday evening, but the district administration continued to be on standby. Fault lines near Upleta are under observation by disaster management staff for any increase in seismic activity.
