Earthquake in Dubai – Sep- 10 – 2008

Dubai earthquake - image source Khaleejtimes

While I’m writing this post earthquake hits Dubai near DIFC – Dubai International Financial Center, a friend of mine called me that they are evacuating the the building because of the earthquake in Dubai. There are still no official news that theres a earthquake, but I confirmed it to my friend that it is true and all residents near DIFC are announced to evacuate their houses.. will post more info soon…

According to Gulfnews

Dubai: Severe tremors were felt in Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman and other parts of the emirates at around 3pm forcing people to flee from homes and office.

The jolts were caused by a powerful earthquake measures 6.2 that occurred in the south-west of the Iranian port city of Bandar Abbas. The epicentre of the quake was 43m west of the Qishm Island in the Arabian Gulf.

According to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre, the depth of the quake was some 50km in the earth.

The jolts were so severe that they were felt by the people living in the first and second floors of the building. Police and Civil Defence department has not reported any material damage or causalities.

The quake sent a wave of panic among the residents and most them rushed out in the open and safe places. The National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology (NCMS) is currently been working on collecting details of the earthquake.

People living and working in Al Quasis, Bur Dubai and Dubai Media City said that the tremors lasted for a few seconds. Residents in Sharjah reported their buildings swaying.

Jamal Abdullah, director at the Earthquake Observatory in the American University of Sharjah (AUS), said, ìThese tremors seem very similar to the ones experienced in November 2005. This is not new activity and could have been caused by the Zagrous fault that lies between the Arabian and Eurasian plates

“My office is in Al Quasis. I was so scared. All the 28 people working in our office ran out of the building,” said one worker.