Expert warns of powerful earthquakes in Strait of Hormuz
Al Watan staff
KUWAIT: A leading Kuwaiti expert on earthquakes has warned that the Gulf region may face a devastating earthquake that could measure 7.0 on the Richter scale and cause a devastating tsunami.
Dr. Feryal BuRabee said the prospect of such an eventuality is great, particularly since repeated earthquakes have been reported in the Hormuz Strait.
Stressing that such a forecast must be taken seriously; the expert said the shallowness of the area where the earthquakes took place makes the possibility of repeat earthquake very likely.
"Though there were no huge losses from the 6.0 degree earthquake that took place on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, experts should realize that such a sequential order of earthquakes began since early August and still continues to date," said BuRabee.
She recalled that an earthquake measuring 5.7, which is part of this sequential order of quakes, took place on Sept. 17.
BuRabee pointed out that an 8.3 earthquake that hit the Strait of Hormuz in 1945 caused a tsunami that destroyed a number of areas. The Kuwaiti expert called for the establishment of a regional early warning system that alarms the Gulf of any possible tsunamis. She stated that it would be difficult to accurately specify the date of such a high magnitude earthquake.
An earthquake that measured 5.7 on the Richter scale recently took place near AlÜAmarah city in Iraq, at latitude 32.4 degrees and 47.4 degrees longitude, and was 10 kilometers in depth.
Residents of some areas in Kuwait have reported that they observed the movement of furniture and lights, especially the ones living in higher floors. The earthquake was strong, but no destruction was caused as its magnitude was less than six degrees.
A number of oil officials meanwhile have stressed that Kuwaiti oil facilities were not harmed by the earthquake that took place early Thursday morning about 300 kilometers off Kuwait''s northern borders even though it was felt in various Kuwaiti districts. A 4.3 earthquake that hit the Saudi border with Kuwait on Aug. 17, 2007 was felt by the majority of residents in the country.
Last updated on Sunday 21/9/2008
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