Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN1080
2004-02-11 14:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

QUAKE SHAKES AMMAN; NO DAMAGE REPORTED

Tags:  SENV AMGT EAID JO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

111451Z Feb 04
UNCLAS AMMAN 001080 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/RA LAWSON, OES/PCI PAYNE
STATE PASS USAID/OFDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AMGT EAID JO
SUBJECT: QUAKE SHAKES AMMAN; NO DAMAGE REPORTED

Ref: 03 Amman 6522

UNCLAS AMMAN 001080

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/RA LAWSON, OES/PCI PAYNE
STATE PASS USAID/OFDA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV AMGT EAID JO
SUBJECT: QUAKE SHAKES AMMAN; NO DAMAGE REPORTED

Ref: 03 Amman 6522


1. At 1015 local, on Wednesday, February 11, a 4.9
magnitude earthquake surprised many of Jordan's inhabitants
and prompted many to vacate buildings. The Jordan
Seismological Observatory of the Natural Resources
Authority and the Public Security Directorate told us that
there has been no damage reported in Amman or elsewhere in
the Kingdom. No injuries have been attributed to the
earthquake.


2. The epicenter of the quake, which lasted for several
seconds, was at the northeast edge of the Dead Sea, partly
explaining why Amman, only 35 miles (or a half hour's
drive) from the location, felt it more than such occasional
events of similar magnitude often based further south in
Wadi Araba. The Seismological Observatory confirmed that
there were seven aftershocks, all registering below 2.0 on
the Richter scale. While Jordanian seismologists believe
there will be additional small aftershocks, they were quick
to point out that this series of events represents "normal
activity" for the Rift Valley.


3. The quake, registered at 31.679 degrees North and 35.585
degrees East, was at a depth of 20.9 kilometers, according
to the Seismological Observatory. Local seismologists
corroborated their findings with their Israeli counterparts
at the Geophysical Institute of Israel, something they do
routinely in such instances. The U.S. Geological Survey,
in information posted on its website, registered the
earthquake at 5.2 magnitude, with a depth of 15 kilometers
and location of 31.631 degrees North, 35.469 degrees East.


4. In response to the event, the Jordanian government
closed public schools for the remainder of the day, but
other commercial and government activity continues as
normal. We are hearing that some potentially vulnerable
high-rise buildings are being evacuated. Regional Science
Officer's contacts within the Palestinian Authority in Gaza
told us that their government offices were ordered closed
for the rest of the day, as a precaution against additional
aftershocks.


5. Post did not evacuate the chancery. Personnel inspected
embassy facilities, residences and the American Community
School for damage, but found none. The telephone tree was
activated to inform members of the official community that
the event was an earthquake and dispel rumors. NEA Admin
counselors, meeting at one of Jordan's Dead Sea hotels,
were evacuated until such time as hotel management
conducted a building assessment and declared it safe to
return inside.


6. COMMENT: The Rift Valley is well known to have
significant seismic activity, some of which reaches
magnitudes high enough to rattle citizens of the region.
Only last month, Jordan recorded another earthquake of
about 4.7 magnitude at the southern end of the Dead Sea,
but that was not felt in Amman. Such frequent activity
underscores the need for appropriate building codes to
reduce earthquake losses, an objective of one of our Middle
East Regional Cooperation projects between Israel and
Jordan. The recent UNESCO/USGS regional conference on
Reducing Earthquake Losses in the Eastern Mediterranean
Region, hosted in Aqaba, could not have been more timely.
Reftel reports on earthquake risk in Jordan generally.

Gnehm