KUWAIT CITY, April 1: Seismologist Dr. Ferial Burbaie said the earthquake, which struck the eastern part of Saudi Arabia -- 250 kilometers from Kuwait -- at 11:42 pm on March 31 was the third in the southern Arabian Gulf region, at close proximity to each other and with the same magnitude (4 on the Richter scale). In an exclusive statement to the newspaper, Burbaie disclosed that the latest earthquake had a depth of 10 kilometers and was located at approximately nine kilometers within a 100-kilometer radius.

Burbaie explained that noticeable damage usually occurs when the magnitude of the earthquake exceeds 4.5 on the Richter scale, which is equivalent to 345 billion joules, roughly equivalent to the explosive energy of 84 tons of TNT or 0.006 times the energy released by a nuclear bomb dropped on Hiroshima. Asked about the possibility of Kuwait being exposed to such earthquakes and whether Kuwaiti monitoring equipment is capable of detecting them; Burbaie stated that prediction is impossible, but it is possible to reduce the risks when they occur. Geological and statistical studies indicate that the strongest earthquake in Kuwait cannot exceed a magnitude of 5.5, which is classified as a moderate earthquake compared to earthquakes in Iran, Japan, the Philippines and Alaska. On mitigating the risk of earthquakes, Burbaie stated that “taking precautions, preparing and raising awareness are the only guaranteed ways to significantly mitigate the risk of earthquakes.” These precautions have three main axes as follows: First: Identify and study the locations and frequency of earthquakes by establishing seismic monitoring networks. The Kuwaiti National Earthquake Monitoring Network was established and has been operating regularly since 1997.

Second: Constructing buildings and facilities according to designs that are resistant to earthquakes during their occurrence. This is implemented through the Seismic Building Code, which is applied to all buildings in Kuwait. Third: Educating community members about the best behavior before, during and after earthquakes; as many human losses in some communities are the result of panic. The second edition of the booklet, “Have You Prepared Your Family to Face the Dangers of Earthquakes,” was published in 2024. It aims to raise awareness among community members and inform them about earthquakes in a simple, easy-to-understand manner; emphasizing that this phenomenon can be lived with and its risks can be reduced greatly. Burbaie disclosed that she coauthored a book on family preparedness for earthquake risks with researcher Sheikha Amthal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. The book contains accurate information about these risks.