Residents along the UAE’s east coast may not have noticed it, but the country’s seismic network certainly did. The National Centre of Meteorology (NCM) recorded a 2.3-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Fujairah on Wednesday, 4 November, and no damage has been reported.
What The NCM Recorded
The tremor was logged at 8.06pm UAE time by the NCM’s National Seismic Network, the system that tracks earthquake activity across the country. The National reported that it struck at a depth of 5 kilometres, south of Khor Fakkan. The authority also shared a graphic placing the intensity between points two and three on its chart, which Khaleej Times noted points to no real damage to property.
At this strength, a quake sits firmly in the minor category. Earthquakes below magnitude 3 are generally too weak for most people to feel, even when instruments pick them up clearly. Gulf News described the event as minor seismic activity off the UAE’s eastern coast, monitored through that same network.
A Run Of Small Tremors Off The East Coast
Wednesday’s reading comes less than three weeks after a 1.6-magnitude tremor was recorded off Dibba Al Fujairah at 9.38pm on 16 October. Gulf News reported that no damage or injuries followed that one either.
The National’s coverage fills in a little more of the picture. It lists a 3.0-magnitude quake off Dibba on 18 August and a 2.8-magnitude tremor in Masafi on 8 June. All of them were small by seismic standards, and together they show how often the NCM’s instruments pick up activity along the eastern side of the country.
Small earthquakes are not unusual in the UAE, and Fujairah’s coastline regularly features in the NCM’s reports.
Do You Need To Do Anything?
No action is needed after a tremor of this size. Still, it never hurts to know the basics. If you ever feel shaking while indoors, drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy table and hold on until it passes. Stay away from windows and glass, and avoid rushing towards the lifts. Once the shaking stops, head outside only if it is safe to do so. If you would like to be better prepared, keep a torch, a charged power bank and your important documents somewhere easy to reach at home.
For anything official, check the NCM’s own channels. For now, the east coast has simply logged another small reading in a series of them, and life carries on as usual.
Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ MicroStockHub (Representative Image)
FAQs
How strong was the earthquake off Fujairah?
The NCM recorded a 2.3-magnitude earthquake off Fujairah’s coast at 8.06pm UAE time on Wednesday, 4 November. The National reported that it occurred at a depth of 5 kilometres, south of Khor Fakkan.
Has Fujairah had other tremors recently?
Yes. The NCM recorded a 1.6-magnitude tremor off Dibba Al Fujairah on 16 October at 9.38pm. The National also lists a 3.0-magnitude quake off Dibba on 18 August and a 2.8-magnitude tremor in Masafi on 8 June.
