All Internet Eyes On Medina Village Of Ais: A Potential Earthquake Or Volcanic Eruption

25 May 2009

MADINAH: The little known town of Al-Ais and its surrounding villages in northwestern Saudi Arabia have shot to fame overnight receiving 600,000 Google hits following reports of a potential earthquake or volcanic eruption in the region.

Members of the public have been flocking to the Internet to find information about the Saudi towns and villages that were evacuated after being rocked by mild tremors over several weeks. The evacuations were carried out as a precautionary measure.

An earthquake or volcano eruption in Saudi Arabia, a leading energy supplier, has the potential to send fuel prices surging, worsening the global economy, which is already reeling under a severe recession.

The epicenter of the tremors, Harrat Al-Shaqah (also known as Harrat Al-Lunayyir), is an extinct volcano, which recently showed signs of coming alive. Several rifts, some of them measuring up to 900 meters in length, have appeared on Harrat Al-Shaqah.

Local residents, who became worried as the area has been experiencing frequent tremors since mid-April, started panicking on Sunday when the tremors became more intense.

Subsequently, the Civil Defense ordered the evacuation of residents of settlements within a 40 km radius of the epicenter and have set up camps to house them.Some 800 people have already been evacuated from the Al-Qarasa, Al-Hadama and Al-Amid districts and put in hotels or apartment blocks in Yanbu and Madinah.

The online traffic not only included members of the public from other regions of the Kingdom, but also evacuees who were put up in relief camps.

Several television channels and newspapers sent reporters and camera crew to cover developments in the region. The media also began publishing sensational reports, particularly since Tuesday, when a tremor measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale was recorded. This received international media attention with online bloggers discussing the issue.

The situation in Al-Ais also featured in Friday sermons across the Kingdom last week.

Meanwhile, the Education Department in Yanbu has taken steps to temporarily enroll some 500 children evacuated from the Al-Ais area in schools in the city, the Saudi Press Agency reported yesterday.

Madinah governor tours quake-prone Al-Ais

Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed reassured the people affected by a series of tremors during an inspection tour of the shaken zone in Madinah province.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from many villages around Al-Ais town where tremors measuring more than 5 on the Richter scale have been registered since Sunday.

Geologists are concerned that the quakes are a sign that dormant volcanoes in the area may become active. The evacuees have been rehabilitated in Yanbu and Madinah cities. No deaths or injuries have been reported.

Prince Abdul Aziz inspected the preparedness of the Civil Defense and security officials in terms of men and equipment to counter potential dangers. “The government is keen to guarantee the safety and security of both the citizens and expatriates and have prepared shelters,” Prince Abdul Aziz said during a visit to Al-Ais, 240 km northwest of Madinah.

While discussing the situation with the chief of the Al-Ais administrative division Ali Al-Bariakit and others, Prince Abdul Aziz assured that all related government departments were geared to face any emergency. He urged government officials to continue their service to the local people.

“Our sons and brothers in Yanbu governorate (under which Al-Ais comes) are part of the Kingdom’s people who always put their trust in Allah Almighty and the government has been fully prepared with all its potentials, which is the right of every citizen,” the governor said.

The prince promised all care to the affected people while visiting a camp in Al-Faqaeli, 60 km west of Al-Ais. Madinah Mayor Abdul Aziz Al-Hussayen and Civil Defense Director of Madinah Maj. Gen. Saleh Al-Muahwwis accompanied the prince.

The prince said the assistance ordered by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, are being distributed to the affected people.

Following a meeting of the Civil Defense emergency committee at the Royal Commission in Yanbu, Prince Abdul Aziz said earthquakes will be taken into account when preparing new construction plans in the industrial city. The meeting, which was presided by the prince, discussed emergency plans to deal with the situation.

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) said no emission of volcanic gases has been observed since Wednesday in Harrah Al-Shaqah, the epicenter of the earthquake and the location of extinct volcanoes. It said six minor tremors were recorded at Harrah Al-Shaqah in the 24 hours until 2 p.m. yesterday.

“Our tracking devices did not detect on Wednesday any gas emissions indicating the eruption of lava. However, we are closely observing the extinct volcanoes in the region for any sign of renewed activities,” said Ahmad Al-Attas, acting head of the SGS.

Al-Attas said the devices monitor the mountains and adjacent areas, and send data to the National Center for Earthquake and Volcanoes in Jeddah for analysis every 12 hours. “If signs of volcanic activities are found in the analysis, the concerned authorities will be informed and required steps taken,” he said.

EsinIslam.Com