The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) reported that the national network stations for monitoring seismic tremors recorded two earthquakes with intensities ranging between 3.0 and 3.5 on the Richter scale in Harrat Al-Shaqqah at a depth between 5.5 to 9.5 km in a 24-hour period from Wednesday noon in addition to dozens of earthquakes with an intensity of less than 3 on the Richter scale. The SGS reassured citizens that news reported in some local newspapers indicating an imminent volcanic eruption was an erroneous interpretation by some journalists of the Survey's statement issued on Wednesday, adding that such press statements cause fear and panic among citizens. In another development, geologists discovered the detachment of a large chunk of a mountain in Harrat Al-Shaqqah from the main mountain mass as the result of the widening of the faults in its base. They warned residents of the area not to come near the faults area in the lava fields (Harrah). Dr. Abdul Aziz Bin La'boon, Professor of Geology and member of the Saudi Earth Sciences Society said the molten rocks under the ground tried to push their way to the surface through the channels used by old volcanoes that erupted earlier, but due to their old age the rocks had solidified, so the current molten rocks are trying to find a new way out.
