An expert has warned South Africa to prepare for a big earthquake in future in wake of recent tremors that swept across Cape Town.
Professor Andrzej Kijko, director at the University of Pretoria’s Natural Hazard Centre, is of the opinion that Cape Town is likely to experience a big earthquake in the immediate future.
Kijko, estimates the cost of the ‘coming’ earthquake to be around R10 billion. Although the professor is not sure about the time the quake is likely to hit Western Cape, he believes it will eventually happen.
Kijko says it is not a question of if but when with Cape Town being his major concern as it was not built to withstand an earthquake.
He talked to Business Insider:
While we cannot say exactly when an earthquake will occur, what we can say is that once an earthquake happens in a particular area it will happen again at a similar magnitude… It’s only a question of when.”
“I am not very worried about Koeberg, which was very cleverly designed and can withstand a very strong earthquake. I am worried rather about Cape Town.”
He believes the recent seismic activity in South Africa could be an indicator of rising tectonic stresses underground and the 6.2 magnitude earthquake detected on Saturday could be linked with the 2.5 and 2.9 magnitude tremors that followed.
“Nothing happens without reason. Earthquakes are caused by the presence of stresses. It is very likely that the magnitude 6.2 event triggered the subsequent events that were felt in Cape Town,” Kijko said.
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The Council for Geoscience (CGS) revealed that 80% of seismic events in South Africa are caused primarily by mining activity.
The council believed the south-western Capemight experience the highest levels of tectonic-origin seismic activity.
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Cape Town should prepare for a big and expensive earthquake, Expert says