UAE | General
Residents panic as mild tremor jolts parts of UAE
A mild tremor hit Dubai and some parts of the northern emirates at around midnight on Saturday, sending a wave of panic among the people living in high-rise buildings.
- By Aftab Kazmi, Bureau Chief
- Published: 15:39 October 26, 2008
Al Ain: A mild tremor hit Dubai and some parts of the northern emirates at around midnight on Saturday, sending a wave of panic among the people living in high-rise buildings.
The tremors, felt for few seconds, were caused by shockwaves coming from the epicentre of the earthquake in Southern Iran, said seismologists.
It was 5.1 magnitude earthquake that struck at 12:47am (UAE local time), according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The epicentre was located some 135km away from Ras Al Khaimah and the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. It was some 45km deep inside the earth, making it less destructive.
Earthquakes with similar magnitude that come closer to the earth surface are normally more destructive to the infrastructure and human lives. The US Geological Survey recorded different readings of the earthquake saying it was magnitude 5 on the Richter scale that occurred some 57.3km deep in the earth.
Tectonic plate
A Dubai resident, Francis, said he felt the tremor while he was relaxing at his home in Karama. He said they were mild jolts. "I believe it could be an aftershock of the earthquake that occurred in Southern Iran," he said. Abdul Rasheed, a Sharjah resident, said he also felt the tremors. "I was watching television at that time and jumped up from my chair thinking it might get severe," he said. The jolts, however, faded away within a few seconds, he said.
The area around Bandar Abbas is seismological very active and has experienced dozens of earth quakes since September 11 this year, when a powerful 6.2 on the Richter scale struck some 43km in the west of Qishm Island. Its shocks were felt deep inside the UAE.
The epicentre is located on the Arabian Tectonic plate in the Arabian Gulf, said a UAE seismologist, adding that "most of the earthquakes felt in the emirates are actually associated with the earthquakes in Iran."
Share this article
Popular in UAE
-
Your pictures
Readers' pictures
A Selection of the best Gulf News reader pictures this week
Latest news
- Teacher jailed for indecent behaviour
- Building the blocks of education, step by step
- Forum seeks more reforms to human trafficking law
- Crackdown urged on drink driving
- Disability is no handicap for this Emirati
- UAE Residency department to offer quicker service
- UAE maintains economic status on global stage
- Shaikh Khalifa revamps security council
- Exhibition to showcase UAE art in New York
- Police officer injured during raid on brothels
- Waiters tamper with orders, cheat customers
- Lebanese expats celebrate independence day
- Gulf News wins international design awards
- Queen praises UAE's role
- Sharjah intensifies food inspections for Eid
Community Reports
-
Noise pollution must be regulated
Residents are finding it difficult to sleep well at night owing to ongoing construction work
-
Protect our children's health
Dust and dirt from a nearby road are causing problems to those frequenting Al Nasseriya park, Sharjah.
-
Keeping out curious cats in Abu Dhabi
Felines trapped in electrical substations create a nuisance
-
Construction site turned into dump
Sharjah residents using abandoned spot to dispose of waste
