Al Ain: High intensity earthquakes in Iran are quite capable of triggering a widespread humanitarian and environmental disasters due to the nuclear reactor in Bushehr which sits on the edge of a major tectonic fault line, said the UAE geologists.
The Tuesday’s earthquake of 6.3 magnitudes at the Russian-built nuclear plant, has raised concern among the people living in the GCC countries. The reactor is located much closer to all the GCC capitals than the Iranian capital of Tehran.“It is a source of concern” said Dr Abdul Rehman Fowler, Professor of structural geology and tectonics at the UAE University (UAEU). The reason is that the Iranian government is not open about its nuclear programme and the country sits on the boundaries of more than one tectonic plate. It is considered as one of the world’s major seismic fault zone.
He said earthquakes and nuclear safety are two different matters. Iran is, however, not a signatory of the international treaties. Its nuclear facilities and safeguards are largely unknown and viewed as not at par with the international safety standards, he said.
Professor Fowler said nuclear disasters affect vast areas and “That’s what making people nervous in the [GCC] region.” Nuclear facilities are normally built in seismically safe and secure areas. Iran, however, has not much choice as the whole of it is seismically very active, he said.
Earthquakes in Iran are a frequent phenomenon, with widespread destruction and loss of life, and they can affect its nuclear installations with devastating effects over a vast area.
Abdullah Saleh, a UAE geologist in Al Ain, said the GCC peoples’ concern is genuine. Iran has a major seismic fault zone called Zagros Belt. The belt passes through the Southern Iran. “In this region, Arabian tectonic plate has been pushing against the Eurasian plate at a rate of approximately 3 centimetres per year,” he said.
Following the Fukushima’s nuclear disaster in 2011 in Japan, he said, people are more concerned about nuclear plants and seismic activities in their region. Iran has the obligation to ensure maximum safety to the people of its neighbouring countries by following the international safety and safeguard standards, said Saleh. Keeping the current situation in view, it can be said that a degree of risk is involved in the Iranian approach.
