From: Intlxpatr & Al Watan

KUWAIT: A leading Kuwaiti expert on earthquakes has warned that the Gulf region may face a devastating earthquake that could measure 7.0 on the Richter scale and cause a devastating tsunami.

Dr. Feryal BuRabee said the prospect of such an eventuality is great, particularly since repeated earthquakes have been reported in the Hormuz Straits.

Stressing that such a forecast must be taken seriously; the expert said the shallowness of the area where the earthquakes took place makes the possibility of repeat earthquake very likely.

“Though there were no huge losses from the 6.0 degree earthquake that took place on Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2008, experts should realize that such a sequential order of earthquakes began since early August and still continues to date,” said BuRabee.

She recalled that an earthquake measuring 5.7, which is part of this sequential order of quakes, took place on Sept. 17.

BuRabee pointed out that an 8.3 earthquake that hit the Strait of Hormuz in 1945 caused a tsunami that destroyed a number of areas. The Kuwaiti expert called for the establishment of a regional early warning system that alarms the Gulf of any possible tsunamis. She stated that it would be difficult to accurately specify the date of such a high magnitude earthquake.