JEDDAH — The Saudi Geological Survey reported there was on earthquake in the Red Sea on Monday morning, Makkah newspaper reported.
Saudi Geological Survey National center for Earthquakes and Volcanoes Director Hani Zahran said the earthquake took place west of Al-Leeth Governorate and no one felt it.
“The earthquake was 3.1 on the Richter scale. This isn’t the first earthquake to happen in the Red Sea. There have been 33 tremblors during the first and eighth of March. Twelve of the earthquakes were south of the Red Sea and 165 km west of Al-Shaqiq City,” said Zahran.
He added the intensity of the earthquake varies from 1.2 on the Richter scale to 3.85.
“The earthquakes have a depth of 14 to 25 km. The cause of the earthquakes is the opening of the Red Sea. These earthquakes usually happen in close intervals. Al-Leeth Governorate experience a number of earthquakes in 2015,” said Zahran.
He added there were 50 earthquakes in Al-Leeth, the strongest of the earthquakes reached 2.9 on the Richter scale.
“Al-Leeth only had two earthquakes in 2016 so far. The earthquake, which took place on Monday and a previous earthquake of 1.02 on the Richter scale. Al-Leeth Governorate had a total of 52 earthquakes. Al-Leeth has new fractures in its terrain which explains why it underwent so many earthquakes,” said Zahran.
He added these new changes to Al-Leeth’s surface belongs to the Modern Cenozoic Era.
“There is nothing to worry about. These earthquakes do not cause any damages and do not jeopardize people’s lives. They are hardly felt,” said Zahran.
