Some of you may not have even noticed, but Lebanon has experienced an earthquake earlier this week. According to the secretary-general of the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS), Lebanon has experienced six tremors since Saturday night, signalizing the beginning of a limited seismic attack. The earthquake which was felt the most was at the Sidon coast as it broke the ground there. The residents are frightened to experience a tremor similar to the one hit in 1956 leaving some with no homes.
"Earthquakes happen everywhere and every day in Lebanon," according to Ata Elias, assistant professor at the American University of Beirut's (AUB) Department of Geology. But these are not to be of major concern as they are barely felt. Moreover, the Mediterranean, especially the Eastern one, is surrounded by major faults.
Let's go back to 551 Beirut earthquake; an earthquake which has occurred in July 9, 551. It has triggered a Tsunami affecting the coastal towns of Byzantine Phoenicia, killing around 30,000 lives. Not to scare anyone; however, a Tsunami generating earthquake, similar to 551 lies around 6 kilometers off the Lebanese coast as to a report published by an international team of geophysicists.
Lebanon is a highly vulnerable area, it is intersected by the Yammouneh fault and Mount Lebanon Thrust fault lines, which produce hundreds of minute shocks a year. According to professor Elias, "The Yammouneh fault produces major earthquakes about every 1,000 years; the Mount Lebanon Thrust every 1,500 to 1,750 years." So if the last Tsunami happened in year 551, do the math...
So the question is, what measures of precautions is being taken? Are architects ensuring that new buildings are properly designed to withstand such tremors? Does no one believe that if we are in such danger, awareness campaigns must be promoted? Fingers crossed, hoping that God shall protect our country against any harm, be it natural, political or any other.
By : Stephany B.
