Strong earthquake on Holy Saturday. Where the 5.6 earthquake was felt

The National Research – Development Institute for Earth Physics announces that on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at 08:52:33 (local time of Romania), a significant earthquake occurred with a magnitude of mb 5.6, at a depth of 10.0 km.

5.6 earthquake

“On May 4, 2024, at 08:52:33 (Romanian local time), a significant earthquake occurred in the NORTH OF ASCENSION ISLAND with a magnitude of mb 5.6, at a depth of 10.0 km,” INCDFP reported.

Earthquakes occur when energy stored in the earth’s crust is suddenly released, generating vibrations that propagate through the ground and can cause significant damage to buildings, infrastructure and human life.

Details about earthquakes

The origin of earthquakes can be attributed to tectonic movements, which are caused by forces acting on the lithospheric plates on the Earth’s surface. When these plates collide, slide, or overlap each other, stresses build up in the crust, and when these stresses become too great, they are released in the form of earthquakes.

The intensity of an earthquake is measured by the Richter scale or the seismic moment magnitude scale (MMS). On the Richter scale, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4 or less is often considered mild, and one with a magnitude of 7 or greater is considered a major earthquake, capable of causing significant damage.

Countries located in seismically active zones are more prone to earthquakes than others. For example, the “Pacific Ring of Fire” is an area where seismic activity is intense, and countries in this region, such as Japan, Chile and Indonesia, are often affected by strong earthquakes.

Tough challenge for scientists

Earthquakes can cause a number of devastating effects, including the collapse of buildings and bridges, landslides, tsunamis (if occurring under the ocean) and loss of life. In addition, they can cause panic and chaos in communities and affect critical infrastructure such as water, electricity and communication networks.

Despite technological advances, it is very difficult for scientists to know exactly when a major earthquake will occur. However, advanced early warning systems can provide an alert seconds or minutes before an earthquake strikes, giving people time to protect themselves and take shelter.

So earthquakes are powerful and unpredictable natural phenomena that can have devastating consequences for communities and infrastructure. Understanding the causes and effects of these events and taking appropriate preparedness and protection measures are essential to minimizing their impact on society.