Rodrigues Hit by 5.0 Magnitude Earthquake, Recurring Events Expected

A 5.0 magnitude earthquake struck the region 218 kilometers northeast of Rodrigues, at a depth of 10 kilometers, at 7:44 am on Monday. The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Centre issued a statement in the afternoon, June 12, to reassure the public that there was no risk of a tsunami for Rodrigues or Mauritius.

Experts explained that this region of the Indian Ocean has been prone to earthquakes, with an average of 14-16 seismic events occurring annually.

According to geomorphologist-hydrogeologist Prem Saddul, it is more accurate to use the term “telluric tremor” instead of “earthquake”. He explained that these telluric tremors are vibrations caused by seismic waves in the Earth’s crust.

The region is located near the intersection of the African, Antarctic, and Indo-Australian tectonic plates, where magma movements cause friction between the plates.

This friction leads to telluric tremors, which are important for monitoring volcanic activity in La Réunion.

Suresh Boodhoo, former director-general of the Vacoas Meteorological Station, agreed that the African plate meets the Australian plate in this region, causing friction.

He emphasized that this is not a new phenomenon and that there have always been seismic events in the ocean.

The intensity of these telluric tremors can range from 3 to 5 on the Richter scale, posing no danger to residents of Rodrigues.

According to Saddul, if the tremors are close to the coast, residents may only notice slight movement of suspended lamps.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has recorded three seismic events near Rodrigues since the beginning of this year, including one on March 21 and another on March 27.

The most intense event recorded in recent years was a 6.7 magnitude quake on December 5, 2021, at a depth of 415 kilometers northeast of Port-Mathurin.

Most earthquakes occur at a depth of around 10 kilometers in the ocean and are common occurrences around the world. The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre has cataloged over 100 seismic events globally.

Countries such as Mexico, France, Turkey, and Indonesia have also experienced minor earthquakes in recent years.

Source: l’Express