An earth tremor measuring 3.9 on the Richter scale was registered in the Al-Eis region of Harat Al-Shaqqa on Wednesday. Hani Zahran, Director of the National Center for Seismology, said the tremor occurred at 7.10 P.M. at a depth of 6.9 km but that the local population in the area was unaffected. According to Saleh Al-Mahwous of the Civil Defense in Madina, no damage was caused to property. “All Civil Defense units in Al-Eis are on full alert around the clock,” Al-Mahwous said. “They have available the most up-to-date equipment to handle all types of emergency.” Nearly 30,000 residents of Al-Eis, which pertains to the administrative region of Yanbu, were forced to abandon their homes in May last year when continual subterranean volcanic activity and earth tremors of over 5 on the Richter scale hit the area. A huge evacuation operation was put into effect and it was several months before locals were permitted to return. Tremors of a similar magnitude were also felt in the west of Madina as late as August.
