Tremors continue to shake UAE
Two light earth tremors hit Masafi Friday evening, according to the National Meteorology and Earthquake Centre, the latest in a string of mild earthquakes to strike the UAE in just over a week.
The centre said the first occurred at exactly 20.05 local time, while the second occurred around thirty minutes later, reported state news agency Wam.
The two tremors, each measuring 2.8 on the Richter scale, did not cause any damage, although both were felt by residents of the affected areas as the epicentre was less then two kilometres from the surface of the earth, the centre said.
Five moderate earthquakes hit the UAE's east coast in the space of two days at the beginning of last week, the most powerful of which measured 4.4.
The tremors follow a warning by the Kuwait-based Regional Organisation for the Protection of the Marine Environment (Ropme) that it is "only a matter of time" before a major quake hits the Gulf region.
However, European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) Secretary-General Remy Bossu told ArabianBusiness.com last week at the succession of mild earth tremors were not necessarily a warning that larger earthquakes were on the way.
“These UAE events are minor ones and can occur any time and nearly everywhere,” Bossu said.
He said minor earthquakes were often grouped together in area and time, and it was not abnormal to observe several events in such a short space of time.
Doha desisn Standards are so low that alll the high rise buildings are going to collapse in case of an Earth Quake.
I mean, if we have all the construction going right now, I'm sure the building codes must be strict as far as earthquake proofing (if there is such a thing) is to be considered. In my country, buildings have what they call a rolling foundation, where the base of the buildings are sort of hinged on large "springs" that roll the buildings' bottoms counter-acting the direction of the earthquake. So although it shakes left to right stronger as you are in higher floors, the building itself is intact and won't crumble down in a piled up "pancake" style rubble.
Furthermore, with the "competition" of buildings here in the ME for height, it scares me to think that with all the expensive prices these buildings have, I hope that they have considered safety not only from earthquakes but from fire as well.
Scarlett is right in observing that there are mostly no roof fire escape or what they call "rescue floors" when a fire an earthquake occurs. In Hong Kong, buildings are easily reaching 65 floors and yet you can see that there is a proper fire and evac plan which includes a whole floor where people can converge coming from the upper floors and with safety gear in place, they can be assisted safely down or up (via helicopter) on the roof.
One building that gives me the creeps whenever I see it is the "zig-zag" building near Ritz. I'm just afraid that a 4 or 5 scale earthquake might "zig-zag" it down.
I don't mean to scare people who invested in it. But seriously, wouldn't you think twice if you saw it and have gone through an earthquake experience before? I hope the building owners/developers educate the investors of that building as to its safety capabilities so as to give everyone a peace of mind.
I have experienced tremors in U.A.E. on the richter scale 2 in the year 2006. All of Sharjah and most of Dubai was out on street. But buildings are earthquake resistant. (Or so they said in the newspaper next day). I have personally experienced earthquake (richter scale 6.5) and it is not a nice feeling.
but never anything (touch wood) that has caused great damage.
Earthquake insurance is compulsory, not surprisingly as we live in what is categorised as one of the highest risk areas in Turkey.
Oddly, it doesn't bother us.
Tremors do appear to come in bursts within localities as we witness from the regular monitoring in Tukey
Thanks for your suggestions..
I got the best answers from some folks..1. Check in Qatar living classified..I will sell it once jump from 31st floor2. Lulu hyper market in Coconut oils section.. (I guess only Indians can understand this one) Lots of love
You can bu"y that in "The Oyster" , The sales and marketing centre of The Pearl Qatar"
if anything happens, all of QL will be down at the bottom with a blanket stretched tight..all you have to do is make sure you have good aim when you jump...
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. --Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
syamsat in this case maybe u need to save superman phone number and save in dial 1. hihihi
Everybody is right and Everybody is wrong, its depend where you stand
I stay in West bay in 30th floor of a tower.... where can I buy a parachute? (no serious replies plz)
Doha to have 800 Towers in 10 years.
The towers are very close, if one catches fire, most probably it would spread to adjacent towers.
Also wind effect. The towers are very close that if you have a wind like 30 KM/hr it will make an effect of 80-100 kms between them.
Let aside the bad fixing of those outside windows. You would hear whisle all the time and you would be lucky if they do not fly somewhere and you can witness "gone with the winds"
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one thing that majorly worries me about the high rises is that there are no accomodations for high rise fires...should one occur, there is no way to put it out and those folks that would be trapped on the higher floors would be such a disaster...That was one of the questions I addressed when finding out where to live here in Doha...I told hubby no way would I live on anything higher than the 2nd floor of any building.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. --Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
Am afraid builders are not taking anything into consideration. Not only earthquakes.
Contractors main concern is to finish the job and collect their money. Landlords concern is to finish quickly and start collecting rents.
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Just my point and the people who are building do not take earthquakes into consideration as it normally does not happen in this part of the world/
since a lot of buildings are created on land that has been "made" by man, ie west bay and the pearl..as to what would happen if a quake hit..one of a large magnitude..scary to think of the disaster that could result.
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. --Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)
I experienced 5 Earthquakes in my life time and is not a good feeling to have your body shaking without a foot hold.... I have experience earthquakes in Africa , Alaska 2 times, Washington State and California. The Red Pope of Qatar LivingBut as Muhammad Ali once said, 'It's not bragging, if you can back it up'."
I don't care for earthquakes especially if you consider the way buildings have been built in the Gulf region I don't think they were built to stand earthquakes. I deid expereince a couple of earthquakes and they were not nice with dishes falling off the shelves etc. etc.
I hate to say this, THEY ARE ILL PREPARED FOR A MAGNITUDE OF 5 OR 6 EARTHQUAKE! they could easily tumble those high buildings and towers. The Red Pope of Qatar LivingBut as Muhammad Ali once said, 'It's not bragging, if you can back it up'."
wow there is earthquake in UAE?? so cool... i mean hope nobody got hurt specially thinkin of the sky creepers in abu sayed road in dubai. wht happen with burj tower if there is 7:8 Richter scale hit UAE??/
Earthquake is nothing new for me, in Indonesia almost every week will be earthquake as we live in the Ring of Fire. Poor my people who lost so much because the earthquake. my deepest symphaty and prays goes to them.
Everybody is right and Everybody is wrong, its depend where you stand
If it were up to me, I would look for a tent in the desert. It is not nice to end my life under concrete blocks. And guess what. One would find things he had been for ages looking for among the debris. Things like a pair of socks or a piece of paper of a missing cheque book.
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earthquakes are SOO weird to experience...only done that once in Utah..thought it was a huge truck rumbling by until it got worse...
Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be. --Abraham Lincoln (1809 - 1865)