Ethiopia Faces Increased Earthquake Activity, Raising Concerns Over Dam Safety
Ethiopia was struck by a third earthquake on Sunday, measuring 4.7 in magnitude, raising concerns over the safety of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) due to increased seismic activity. A prominent geologist stressed the importance of monitoring the dam as historical data reveals a surge in earthquake frequency, posing potential threats to the dam’s integrity.
Ethiopia experienced a third earthquake on Sunday, registering a magnitude of 4.7 at a depth of 10 km, situated approximately 570 km from the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). This event marks the 16th earthquake in the region within five weeks and the 31st recorded this year. Notably, 38 earthquakes have been observed in 2023, with the most significant reaching a magnitude of 5.6. Abbas Sharaqi, a geologist and water resource expert at Cairo University, emphasized the need for vigilant monitoring of the GERD, especially since the area has seen heightened seismic activity recently. While he noted that the current earthquakes, which have mainly registered between magnitudes 4 and 5, do not pose immediate threats to the dam, he acknowledged that future, more potent seismic occurrences could endanger the structure, which currently holds around 60 billion cubic meters of water. This volume far exceeds the original U.S. design capacity of 11.1 billion cubic meters, raising concerns about the potential consequences of a dam failure. The series of tremors continues, with two additional earthquakes occurring just prior on Saturday, also with magnitudes of 4.6. These recent seismic events, part of the Ethiopian Rift Valley phenomena, have prompted experts to call for closer scrutiny to prevent catastrophic outcomes, particularly if the seismic intensity increases around the dam site.
Ethiopia’s seismic activity has notably increased in recent weeks, with a pattern of earthquakes predominantly centered around the Ethiopian Rift Valley. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) is a critical infrastructure project located in this geologically active region, designed to generate hydropower and support Egypt’s economic development. The dam’s large storage capacity raises serious concerns about its vulnerability to seismic events, drawing attention from geological and engineering experts about the operational safety of such a massive reservoir in an earthquake-prone area.
In summary, the recent earthquakes in Ethiopia highlight the urgent need for monitoring the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam amid rising seismic activity. While the current events do not pose an immediate risk to the dam, the potential for stronger earthquakes in the future could lead to severe consequences, especially given the substantial volume of water it currently holds. Experts advocate for enhanced vigilance to safeguard this vital infrastructure.
Original Source: ozarab.media
