KUWAIT, Aug 28 (KUNA) -- Astronomer Adel Al-Saadoun stated Thursday that the tremor that occurred at 12:52 a.m. was due to the earthquake that hit Iraq, 3000 km away from Kuwait's northern borders, measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale.
He added in a statement to the media that the center of the earthquake was near to Al-Amarah city in Iraq, at a latitude of 32.4 degrees and 47.4 degrees longitude, and 10 kilometers in depth.
He added that the citizens observed the movement of furniture and lights, and was felt especially by the residents of the higher floors, pointing out that this earthquake was considered strong but not destructive, as it was under six degrees.
He said the center of the earthquake was adjacent to the Iranian boarders and Zagros Mountain chain that usually experienced earthquakes.
On his part, astronomer Dr. Saleh Al-Ajeeri stressed that what was felt here at around 1:00 a.m. was not an earthquake as the citizens assumes, but a tremor.
He added in a statement to KUNA that Kuwait was close to Iran's plateau and thus subject to many earthquakes.
He pointed out that it was not possible for Kuwait to be exposed to earthquakes of greater than 4.5 degrees, and what is less is called a tremor.
He mentioned that most of the tremors happened in the southwestern parts of the country, which are oil areas, makes the oil excavation works one of the reasons that results in such tremors.
Copyright Kuwait News Agency 2008.
