The month of November is going through worries. Several earthquakes were recorded in different parts of the world this month. 18 earthquakes and many other minor tremors have been recorded so far.
This past Thursday, there was an earthquake measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale in the north-eastern state of Meghalaya, India. Experts at the National Center for Seismology said the quake was felt around 3.46 am at a distance of 37 km from Tura in Meghalaya. The epicenter of the earthquake was about 5 km below the surface.
18 earthquakes in 24 days
The total number of earthquakes recorded in different parts of the world in the last 24 days is 18. A magnitude 3.6 earthquake hit Nashik in Maharashtra. Similarly, major earthquakes occurred in Malango, Solomon Islands (magnitude 7), Deus province in Turkey (magnitude 6.1), and Baja California, Mexico (magnitude 6.2). The most severe earthquake occurred in the Indonesian island of Java. Although the Richter scale intensity was recorded at 5.6, the earthquake caused heavy damage. About 260 people lost their lives in the earthquake. Many people were seriously injured.
Meanwhile, an earthquake was also recorded off the coast of Crete, Greece. After this, a tsunami warning has also been issued in the area. A similar warning is also in place off the coast of the Solomon Islands. Current events point to the question of whether the frequency of earthquakes is increasing.
According to data from the United States Geological Survey’s Earthquake Hazards Program, 12 earthquakes were recorded in November last year. According to the survey, significant earthquakes are a combination of magnitude, human experience, and PAGER (Prompt Assessment of Global Earthquakes) alert level.
Earthquakes have increased this year compared to 2021. It has been said that 12 earthquakes were recorded last November. But the number of earthquakes recorded in the last 24 days is 18. This figure excludes minor earthquakes in Meghalaya and Uttarakhand’s Pithorgarh on November 9.
An earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale hit Nepal. Following this, an earthquake was recorded in Uttarakhand on November 9. Six people were killed in this earthquake. Many houses collapsed. The earthquake occurred in Nepal on November 9 at 1.57 am. Three consecutive earthquakes were recorded here in five hours. The intensity of the earthquake was felt to increase every hour. The latest earthquakes were felt in Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and parts of Uttar Pradesh.
Earthquakes are increasing
There is no doubt that the number of earthquakes in the world is increasing. But do these signs point to a major earthquake? According to a 2017 report in the international media Guardian, the increase in mining, nuclear explosion, and groundwater exploitation is the main cause of man-made earthquakes. All 728 earthquakes in the last 149 years have been attributed to human activities.
Scientists say that the coldness experienced by the Earth causes the contraction of its outermost layer, the Earth’s crust. This phenomenon is said to cause volcanic eruptions and earthquakes as a result.
Meanwhile, US agencies say that low-frequency tremors in the ground are normal and are false signs that a major earthquake is coming. According to the US agency report, the increase in the number is due to the introduction of more systems to record the movements of the earth. However, experts are of the opinion that the possibility of a major earthquake cannot be completely ruled out.
Warnings
After the November earthquake in Nepal, experts said that there is still a possibility of a major earthquake in the Himalayan region and preparations should be started to reduce the damage caused by it.
Ajay Paul, senior geophysicist at the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, says the Himalayas were formed as a result of the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates. The Eurasian plate is under constant pressure on the Indian plate. As a result, the energy stored underneath is released in the form of earthquakes, Paul said.
Earthquakes are a regular and continuous process due to the accumulation of energy under the plate that includes the Himalayas. The entire Himalayan region is prone to earthquakes. And the possibility of a major earthquake cannot be ruled out. Paul also said that the intensity of the earthquake that may occur in the future will be 7 or more on the Richter scale.
At the same time, experts say that the possibility of an earthquake cannot be ruled out in Delhi, which is an extremely seismic zone. Earthquakes measuring around 6.0 on the Richter scale will cause heavy damage in Delhi. Professor Chandan Ghosh says that many buildings will collapse.
Tokyo, Japan is another earthquake prone area. The last earthquake that hit the city was in 1923. Experts say the next earthquake will happen in about a century. Experts say there is a 70 percent chance of an earthquake measuring 7 on the Richter scale hitting Tokyo before 2050.
Tokyo is the most densely populated city. Therefore, the country will have to make heavy preparations to face this disaster. The Japanese call that tragic day X-Day. It is reported that about 9,700 people will die in an earthquake of that magnitude.
About 1,50,000 people will be injured. 3.39 million people will have to be displaced after the disaster. At the same time, more than 30,000 buildings will be damaged, says journalist Daniel Hurst in a Guardian report released in 2019.
Similar predictions have been made about the US. Parts of California’s San Andreas Fault have not ruptured in more than 200 years. These suggest that a high-magnitude earthquake, commonly referred to as the ‘Big One’, could be triggered, the Business Insider report said.
Meanwhile, according to a 2015 forecast by the USGS, California has a seven percent chance of a magnitude 8 earthquake in the next 30 years. California is located between two major tectonic plates. California lies between the Pacific Plate, which is moving to the northwest, and the North American Plate, which is moving to the southeast.
According to a study by seismologists, an earthquake in California could cause the state’s old buildings to fall to the ground and destroy roads, electric, telephone and water lines. And it will lead to hundreds of fires. The report also says that they will be very difficult to control.
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In addition, the study indicates that the earthquake in California will destroy the pipes that carry water, electricity and gas to Los Angeles, and only after months of work will they recover. Although most modern buildings can survive an earthquake, some are likely to be rendered unusable. According to a report in Smithsonian Magazine, aftershocks will affect the state significantly.
The report indicates that 2,000 people will be killed and 50,000 injured in this disaster. Damages will be around $200 billion. Therefore, experts are of the opinion that the current situation should not be underestimated and that systems should be prepared to prevent a major earthquake.
The earthquake that occurred in Java, Indonesia last day also caused huge national losses. Every year, thousands of earthquakes are reported in Indonesia. While some are minor earthquakes, others can seriously affect the country. According to currently available data, a total of 10,570 earthquakes occurred in Indonesia in 2021. This is a significant increase compared to 2020. 8,264 earthquakes were recorded in 2020.
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