Manama A Kuwaiti geologist has warned that the location of the recently-opened Bushehr nuclear reactor in Iran in an earthquake zone could mean catastrophic radiation leak consequences in the event of a major tremor.
"The ominous results will be similar to those of the Chernobyl disaster for the whole region," Dr Jasem Al Awadi, a Professor of Geology and the Environment at Kuwait University's science faculty, said.
The reactor is only 276 kilometres across the Gulf from Kuwait and this puts Kuwait at serious risk if a radioactive leak should occur, the expert said. Kuwait would also be quickly affected by a leak because of the northwesterly winds that are predominant in the region throughout much of the year, he said, according to Kuwait Times daily.
Seismic activity
According to Al Awadi, the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research's seismological centre has detected daily seismic activity in the coastal area of western Iran bordering the Gulf.
"This is caused by this site being the meeting point of three continental plates — the Arabian, African and Eurasian plates," he said.
Al Awadi said he wondered whether International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards were followed.
