Light Earthquake Strikes Palestine
On the morning of August 7th a light earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2-4.5 on Richter Scale struck Palestine. The earthquake hit at 11:52:25 a.m. and its hypocenter was 10 km (6.2 miles) below the surface of the earth. Located at 32.506oN and 34.214oE, the earthquake was 71 km northwest of Tel Aviv, 80 km west-southwest of Haifa, 103 km west-northwest of Nablus and 125 km northwest of Jerusalem.
Dr. Jalal Dabbeek, Director of the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Center at An-Najah, mentioned that the earthquake’s hypocenter was very shallow, less than 15 km below the surface of the earth and despite the earthquake is classified as light, most of the people living in the West Bank recorded feeling the earthquake, this is because its focus was very shallow.
Earthquakes with a magnitude less than 5 on Richter Scale are classified as light and should not cause any damage for buildings and constructions. It is important to mention that the area has been subject to several light earthquakes over the last few years; however, Dr. Dabbeek said there is a strong possibility for a major earthquake to take place in the future depending on the nature of the area, its location and its seismic cycle.
According to the seismic map, the area that includes the Dead Sea, north Palestine, the Galilee Panhandle, as well as the borders between Lebanon and Syria is considered a seismic region that has been subject to major earthquakes over the course of history.
Dr. Dabbeek also emphasized the necessity to consider disasters as a national priority that is based on a solid, executable institutional basis according to clear regulations in order to reduce seismic hazards and risks. This includes the reduction of buildings’ vulnerability to earthquakes and enhancing the institutions’ and people’s resilience to earthquakes.
For more information about the earthquakes to which the area is vulnerable please refer to the Seismic Bulletin issued by the Earth Sciences and Seismic Engineering Center on the University’s website:
