The calm of the early morning was disrupted when a 4.8 magnitude earthquake struck southwestern South Korea, centered near the coastal town of Buan, North Jeolla Province.
Occurring at a shallow depth of 8 kilometers, the tremor was felt across the region, causing alarm among the residents and prompting immediate action from emergency services.
Immediate Response and Damage Assessment (Photo : Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
As the strongest earthquake to hit South Korea this year, the tremor prompted nearly 80 calls to the North Jeolla Province fire department, with residents reporting shaking and damage to property.
The National Fire Agency confirmed eight minor cases of property damage in Buan and the nearby city of Iksan, including cracked walls at homes and a warehouse, broken wall tiles, and at least one shattered window.
President Yoon Suk Yeol ordered a swift damage assessment and safety checks to ensure the well-being of the affected populace.
Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo echoed the president's directive, emphasizing the need for preparedness against potential aftershocks and the safety of residents and critical infrastructure.
Community Impact and Safety Measures
The earthquake's impact, while not causing any serious injuries, was significant enough to disrupt daily life. The tremor was strong enough to knock items off store shelves and cause visible damage to buildings.
Local officials, including Jo Hae-jin from the North Jeolla Province fire department, reported that the damage was mostly minor, with a fractured wall at a warehouse and a broken window among the confirmed cases.
In response to the earthquake, Prime Minister Han Duck-Soo instructed officials to prepare for safely evacuating residents and protecting key infrastructure such as power plants and transportation networks.
The South Korean Nuclear Safety and Security Commission conducted emergency inspections and reported no abnormalities at the country's nuclear power plants, ensuring the public that the earthquake had not compromised nuclear safety.
The community of Buan, known for its fishing industry, has shown resilience in the face of the earthquake.
Local authorities have been working closely with residents to address the damages and provide support where needed.
The government's focus is now on recovery and ensuring the structural integrity of buildings in the affected areas.
Earthquakes with a magnitude of 3.0 or greater, which are generally perceptible to people, occur about 10 times per year.
The trend of earthquake activity in Korea has varied over the years. It was relatively high from 1978 to 1982, quieter from 1983 to 1991, and has been more active again from 1992 to the present.
The largest recorded earthquake on the Korean Peninsula had a magnitude of 5.3 and occurred in 1980.
In recent years, a notable event was in 2016 when a relatively large number of earthquakes occurred near South Korea.
However, the average number of significant earthquake events (magnitude 4.0 or higher) has been about eight per year over the past decade.
It's important to note that while these numbers indicate a low frequency of earthquakes, the country still takes precautions and has systems in place to monitor seismic activity and respond to any incidents promptly.