Gyeongju Earthquake
S.M.Byun
The earthquake occurred on September 12, 2016 near Gyeongju. It was the strongest ever recorded in the country since 1978, measuring 5.4 on the moment magnitude scale. It occurred about 50 minutes after a 5.1-magnitude quake hit the city at 7:44 p.m. The epicenter for the first quake was the Naenam Elementary School in Gyeongju. The second quake’s epicenter was 1.4 kilometers away, according to the Daegu Regional Meteorological Administration. Tremors spread throughout the country, including Seoul, terrifying people who felt them. They were even detected in Kyushu, Japan.
The government has ordered people in the quake-hit areas to evacuate to safe areas. The Ministry of Public Safety and Security organized a Disaster Management Office, an emergency team that monitors damage and takes necessary emergency measures.
Moreover, this earthquake caused many damages. The Gyeongju area, which was the capital of the Silla dynasty for about 10 centuries, has many traditional houses with tile roofs. However, no total or partial collapse of houses occurred.
Experts say there also have been more than 20 tremors of magnitude 2 or higher on the Korean Peninsula this year. Statistically, however, it has been extremely rare for the country to experience quakes with magnitudes of 5 or stronger.
The Gyeongju earthquakes alerted many Koreans to clearly recognize that the Korean peninsula is no longer in the “safe zone.” It is important to pay more attention to prepare for a next big destructive event that may hit the peninsula in the future.