Earthquakes in Gulf of Aden [Archives:2006/940/Local News]

SANA'A, April 23 ) Two earthquakes struck Aden Gulf Friday, April 21, according to the Seismograph Center located in Dhamar governorate.

In its report issued Saturday morning, the center confirmed that the first earthquake to hit Aden Gulf territorial waters was estimated at 5.3 on the Richter scale, whereas the second was estimated at 5.1 on the Richter scale. The report did not refer to any damages but predicted seismic events reflected in Aden Gulf and Al-Mandab Strait which may lead to noticeable sea disturbance and high waves. The center called on all fishermen to be careful.

Center director Jamal Shulan confirmed that the two earthquakes were far (150-200 km.) from Yemeni beaches. He noted that Aden's Gulf witnesses many seismic events due to the region's tectonic biological structure.

The center recorded 2,485 seismic events in 2005 – 943 on Yemeni regional lands and 1,342 in Gulf of Aden and Red Sea territorial waters, in addition to 200 seismic events outside the above mentioned regions. The Civil Report said Yemen experienced extensive seismic activities during 2005, compared to previous years, in regions like Sana'a, Hajja, Al-Mahwit, Al-Beidha, Yafa and Sa'ada.

Yemen's worst earthquake occurred in December 1982, killing thousands and leaving another thousand homeless.
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