M4.0 earthquake hits Gyeongju at dawn: ``Safe zone used to be'' = South Korea

On the morning of the 30th, a magnitude (M) 4.0 earthquake occurred in Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. This is the largest land earthquake to occur on the Korean Peninsula this year.
. After the main shock, there were at least five aftershocks. Due to its geological structure, the Korean Peninsula is located inside the Eurasian Plate and is classified as an "earthquake safe zone" compared to countries such as Japan, but the frequency of earthquakes has recently increased.
It has been pointed out that no matter how you look at it, you don't feel safe. The Korea Meteorological Administration announced that an M4.0 earthquake occurred at 4:55:25 a.m. in an area 19 km east-southeast of Gyeongju City, North Gyeongsang Province. Earthquake
The source was 35.79 north latitude, 129.42 east longitude, and the epicenter depth was 12 km. The cause of the earthquake was analyzed as north-south or east-west transform fault movement. transform fault
Unlike normal or reverse faults, in which plates are pulled or pushed, they are earthquakes in which the boundary surface moves horizontally. Immediately after the outbreak, the Japan Meteorological Agency sent emergency warnings not only to Gyeongbuk and neighboring areas, but also to Seoul and other parts of the country.
An emergency disaster message was sent out asking people to be careful about falling objects and aftershocks. This earthquake is the largest inland earthquake on the Korean Peninsula reported this year. recorded on a seismograph
Gyeongbuk had the highest maximum seismic intensity of 5 (Korean standards). Almost everyone felt the shaking, and dishes and windows were broken. Nearby area Ulsan (Ulsan) has a seismic intensity of 4, and Gyeongsangnamdo (Gyeongsangnam)
Busan (Do) and Busan recorded 3. Furthermore, this earthquake occurred in an area close to where the 2016 Gyeongju (M5.8) and 2017 Pohang (M5.4) earthquakes occurred, and
The people's anxiety increased. According to the Ministry of Public Administration and Safety, as of 11 a.m., 132 reports of people feeling a tremor had been received nationwide. In Busan, a man in his 60s was surprised by the sound of an emergency disaster message.
An accident occurred in which a person fell from a bed and was injured. A future concern is that earthquakes are on the rise. This year, 99 earthquakes of M2.0 or higher were reported to have occurred in the Korean Peninsula and surrounding waters.
Ta. This is the fourth year in which earthquakes have occurred most frequently since the Japan Meteorological Agency began its earthquake reporting service in 1978. According to the Japan Meteorological Agency Earthquake Report, there were △68 earthquakes of M2.0 or higher in South Korea in 2020, and △2
70 cases in 2021, 77 cases in 2022. This year (99 cases) is an increase of more than 20% from last year (77 cases). The recent increase in earthquakes on the Korean Peninsula is due to the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred in 2011.
Some experts believe that this is due to the influence of However, a Japan Meteorological Agency official said, ``There were claims that the Gyeongju earthquake in 2016 and the Pohang earthquake in 2017 occurred as a result of the Great East Japan Earthquake, but this is not the case.''
There is no unanimous opinion in the academic world as to whether this is having an impact.''The frequency of earthquakes fluctuates every year, so we need to confirm the exact cause a little more.''
Experts urged that earthquake-resistant designs, including those of nuclear power plants, should be strengthened and earthquake safety measures should be taken. Professor Emeritus Yoo In-chan of the Department of Geology at Kyungbuk University said, ``There are invisible things underground in South Korea.
Various faults are developing, and as the climate changes, so too will the underground structure.''Even in areas where no earthquakes have occurred, earthquakes are occurring, so we need to be prepared.''