Ethiopia... Successive Earthquakes Raise Concerns Over GERD's Safety

Ethiopia... Successive Earthquakes Raise Concerns Over GERD's Safety
Unprecedented increase in seismic activity in Ethiopia adds new dimension to GERD crisis and amplifies Egyptian concerns
November 3, 2024, 10:22 pm

سد النهضة

Geologists have sounded the alarm about the safety of the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) following the recording of a third earthquake within 24 hours in Ethiopia, a phenomenon raising growing concerns about potential implications for the controversial water facility.

Dr. Abbas Sharaki, Professor of Geology and Water Resources at Cairo University, stated in comments to "Al-Arabiya.net" and "Al-Hadath.net" that the latest earthquake measured 4.7 degrees and occurred 570 km from the dam and 400 km from the lake's eastern borders, while the previous two earthquakes occurred in the Ethiopian Rift Valley at the junction of three minor tectonic plates.

Statistics showed the recording of 16 earthquakes in Ethiopia over 5 weeks, bringing this year's total to 31 tremors ranging between 4 and 5 degrees, exceeding last year's total of 38 earthquakes, while the annual average between 2014 and 2020 was 5.3 tremors.

The Egyptian expert warned that the region could enter a phase of imminent danger to the dam if seismic activity increases and approaches the facility's location, emphasizing the necessity of precise monitoring of the dam and its reservoir extending over 200 kilometers.

The crisis between Egypt and Ethiopia continues to escalate due to Addis Ababa's intransigence in negotiations and ignoring Cairo and Khartoum's demands to reach a legally binding agreement regarding the dam's filling and operation rules.

The fourth and final round of negotiations, which resumed last year aiming to achieve an agreement within four months, ended in failure without any progress, prompting Egypt to affirm its internationally guaranteed right to protect its water and national security.

Levant-Agencies

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