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Minor earth tremors: Continuous monitoring by GSMB 

28 Aug 2021

By Yumiko Perera  A minor earth tremor of magnitude 2.5 was reported earlier last week (24) in the Yala Block 1 area, The Sunday Morning learnt.   Meanwhile, a tremor measuring a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter Scale had also been reported from the Bay of Bengal on the same day, approximately 600 km north of the Jaffna Peninsula.   While Geological Survey and Mines Bureau (GSMB) Chairman Anura Walpola confirmed that a tremor was experienced in the Hambantota area shortly after 9.15 p.m., the tremor had not caused any property damage, The Sunday Morning learnt.   Meanwhile, speaking with The Sunday Morning, GSMB Geophysicist Nilmini Thaldena elaborated on the system that is in place to monitor similar occurrences.   "We have four permanent stations through which we monitor similar activity, and apart from these four permanent stations, when the tremors occurred in Digana last year, we took steps to collaborate with a German company and set up 10 temporary stations in the vicinity where the tremors occurred to further monitor the activity in these areas, and we are constantly monitoring these areas," Thaldena noted.  She further went on to say that while earthquakes or tremors cannot be predicted, the GSMB conducts constant monitoring in case of potential tsunami threats, etc.  Speaking with The Sunday Morning, Disaster Management Centre (DMC) Deputy Director and Media Spokesman Pradeep Kodippili stated they continue to correspond with the GSMB, and warn the general public promptly, in case of similar occurrences.    Meanwhile, a magnitude 5.0 tremor was recorded in the Indian Ocean on 16 August, approximately 1,200 km from the south of Sri Lanka, which also did not pose a threat to the country, The Sunday Morning learnt.  


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