Jizan is located in a hazardous seismic “red zone” and is prone to earthquakes at any time, according to Dr. Abdullah Al-Amri, Chairman of the Seismic Activity Center at King Saud University and Dr. Ali Areeshi, Dean of Consultancy Research at the university. At a seminar titled “Seismic activity in Jizan region and mechanisms to deal with it,” organized by the Deanship of Library Affairs at Jizan University Thursday, the two researchers said that the region is located in a mountain belt, part of the Sarawat Mountains, and Tihama, a strip on the Red Sea coast. The region is known for seismic activity and has been classified in the red zone by geologists, meaning there is a high risk of earthquakes. The volcanic craters and hot springs in the area are evidence of volcanic eruptions in the past and are used by geologists to monitor seismic activity and dormant volcanoes. Al-Amri said there is a possibility of earthquakes at any time and place in Jizan region. He stressed that it is impossible to predict precisely when an earthquake will occur anywhere in the world except by looking at the occurrence of other natural phenomena. However, through sound planning, scientific studies, monitoring centers and cooperation between related authorities, hazards can be reduced when earthquakes take place.
