Panic ripples across UAE after quake

Dubai/Sharjah/Ras Al Khaimah/Abu Dhabi/Fujairah Residents of the northern region in the UAE were most affected by the aftershock of the earthquake that hit Iran on Wednesday.

The jolts that shook Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah and some other parts of the emirates were caused by a powerful earthquake measuring 6.2 on the Richter scale that struck the south-west part of the Iranian city of Bandar Abbas.

Dubai

Hundreds working at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) crowded on the grass pitch below the Gate building, after being evacuated.

"I was on a business call when my chair started moving. It took me a few seconds to register that it was an earthquake. A woman shouted 'get out of here now' and we all started to evacuate as the alarm went off," said Humaid Mansoor, an Emirati who works at DIFC.

Several people were evacuated in Dubai Media City when tremors caused buildings to shake.

Sharjah

"Panic is the first word I would use to describe the incident. I felt dizzy and the whole building was shaking," said Rekha Menon, a resident at Al Nahda area in Sharjah.

Sumayya Habib, who lives in Al Rolla area, said that the tremor was so mild that she failed to notice it until she received a call from her husband.

Ras Al Khaimah

Residents ran helter-skelter when tremors shook their houses. Ahmad Hareb, an Emirati, said the people in Ras Al Khaimah were gripped with fear that their old houses will crumble due to the intensity of the tremors.

Abu Dhabi

Many residents on high rise buildings rushed out of their apartments, following mild tremors felt in the capital. "I rushed out from my apartment on 10th floor of the building when the doors and windows started to shake around 3pm," said Anirudh, a resident on Liwa Street.

Fujairah

Residents in Fujairah city, Khor Fakkan and Dibba reported feeling the tremors but there were no reports of damage or injuries. The strongest tremors were felt in Fujairah city.

Timeline
(Compiled by Gulf News Archive)

Tremors in the past

February 3, 2008 - A series of tremors hit Ras Al Khaimah and the Masafi area. The first quake measured 4.4 on the Richter Scale.

February 2 - An earthquake measuring 3.4 hit Dibba and Fujairah at 5.44am. No injuries or damage were reported.

September 13, 2007 - An earthquake hit Ras Al Khaimah and its surroundings, measuring 4.6 on the Richter scale.

March 10 - A moderate tremor and three aftershocks hit the East Coast, triggering panic.

June 29, 2006 - An earthquake rocked southern Iran, recorded as between 5.4 and 5.6 and jolted the Gulf region at about 1am.

February 22, 2005 - Mild tremors were felt at 11.31am as a result of a quake measuring 5.9 in Iran.

November 26 - Dubai felt tremors from an earthquake in southern Iran, measuring 6.1.

January 6, 2003 - Tremors were recorded in Masafi at 6.31am.

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