Experts Deny Rumours Of Pending
Big Earthquake
The Red Sismológica Nacional (RSN) denies rumours that experts are
predicting a big earthquake in Costa Rica and with the epicentre in
the immediate area of the volcán Poás. The RSN, however, is
remindful that the area is an earthquake prone zone and that
prevention is always necessary.
The RSB is made up of local experts from the Sismología,
Vulcanología, Geología e Ingeniería Civil de la Universidad de Costa
Rica (UCR) and the Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE).
The rumour is based on the 6.2 quake of January 8 that left 23 dead,
seven still missing and more than 2.000 in refugee camps and 500
homes completely destroyed. The epicentre of that quake was located
near Cinchona de Vara Blanca, a short distance from the Poás.
In the area surrounding the Poás has suffered seven earthquakes -
1772, 1851, 1888, 1911, 1955 and 2009 - all between 5.8 and 6.2 on
the Richter Scale.
All have caused damage to the area, causing landslides and
avalanches of mud, destroying homes and fatalities.
The RSN says that studies by ICE show that the area is an active
seismic zone and that records studied for the period between 1985
and 2006 shows that the earthquakes of low magnitude are frequent,
though only some are felt by residents of the area.
Preceding the January 8 earthquake, the RSN says that the day before
they recorded 40 "events" all registering between 2.5 and 4.6, then
the 6.2 and following by hundreds of aftershocks the days following,
all between 3.5 and 4.5.
Between January 12 and 13, more tremors caused panic, the latest
originating in the Toro and Fraijanes-Carrizal areas and followed by
six more events in the area of Cacho Negro, near Cariblanco.
The RSN says that minor tremors will continue to occur in the local
fault system that can last for weeks and even years. The prediction
is that the magnitude of the tremors will diminish with tiem, but
cannot rule out bigger tremors.
The RSN experts can only say that Costa Rica is a very geologically
active (landslides, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, etc.).
and we must live with this condition. In the seismic history of the
country since the Conquest have fewer than 500 people died due to
earthquakes. More than half that amount die each year in traffic
accidents in Costa Rica. |
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