Updates on the Saudi Arabian earthquakes : Eruptions

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Updates on the Saudi Arabian earthquakes

Category: Al-Baidha • Al-Qider • Basaltic eruption • Saudi Arabia • Volcanic hazards • evacuations • seismicity • speculation
Posted on: May 18, 2009 2:07 PM, by Erik Klemetti

Al-Baidha volcano~~Al-Qider volcano~~ in Saudi Arabia. Image courtesy of Ahmed Al-Hussaini.

I've been searching for more information on the Saudi Arabian earthquake swarm reported last week. A number of Eruptions readers have also added some on-the-ground info as well.

UPDATE 12:30PM Pacific: Here is a brief update via Reuters India. They mention that five villages are being evacuated as a precaution. Beyond that, not much new information and it does feature this line that makes me shudder: "The region lies on a fault line, according to SGS, which declined to comment on current magma levels, but newspapers reported that in the past few days magma levels had risen to 4 km (2.5 miles) below the surface from 8 km." Magma levels? Magma is not like the water table. Ack! Again, I'm not sure how the SGS knows definitively that magma is rising.

I'll divide what we know into three groups:

The facts:

Earthquakes are happening in western Saudi Arabia, some as strong has M4.5.

Earthquake depths are believed to be in the upper 10 km of the crust.

The earthquakes are occurring in a region of known Quaternary volcanism - and also near a divergent plate boundary.

The earthquakes are causing a stir with people living near the epicenters with up to 40% of the residents of Al-Eis leaving their homes. There has been some damage to homes near the epicenter.

Lava flows in the area around Al-Qider Volcano, Saudi Arabia. Image courtesy of Ahmed Al-Hussaini.

The conjectures

The earthquakes are related to magma moving according the Saudi officials.

The earthquakes are purely tectonic-related according to "experts"

Rumors (Not to say these aren't true, but I have yet to find corroboration - thanks to the commenters who left this information)

Earthquakes are being felt as far away as the coastal city of Yanbu, Madinah (250 km distant) and Tabuk (400 km to the north).

Groaning noises, peculiar odors and wells drying up near the epicenters(?)

Fisherman has noticed a change in sea level(?)

increasing number of earthquakes in the area

And that is what we know. Nothing conclusive about the source of these earthquakes and not a lot of news out there in the MSM. If you find anything, feel free to post it here and we can all keep on eye on the events in western Saudi Arabia.

Al-Qider ~~Al-Baidha~~ Mountain in Saudi Arabia. Image courtesy of Ahmed Al-Hussaini.

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Comments (22)

That top picture is amazing.

Posted by: Kim Hannula | May 18, 2009 3:23 PM

so what would the tectonic explanation be for basaltic volcanism away from the supposed spreading center in Red Sea ???

Posted by: robert somerville | May 18, 2009 8:08 PM

Hi Erik,

I just want to note that the first picture is for Al-Baidha Mountain which is an extinct volcano, and the third picture is for Al-Qider volcano.

Posted by: Ahmed Al-Hussaini | May 18, 2009 9:08 PM

Thanks for the corrections Ahmed. They should be fixed by now.

Posted by: Erik Klemetti | May 18, 2009 9:13 PM

That top volcano looks like a smaller version of Olympus Mons!

Posted by: mike | May 18, 2009 10:53 PM

It's confirmed today that water temperatures in near water wells had rised

Smoke is coming out from some places

Also, animals started to act madly

about half an hour ago an earthquake occured and could be felt firmly in Um Lijj ( 80km to the west, coastal city )and in Yanbu ( around 150km to the south-west ), in fact it caused a noticed movement in home furnitures

Posted by: Ahmed Al-Hussaini | May 19, 2009 3:18 AM

The last shock was rated at M4.9

more information here

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009gvaj.php

Posted by: Ahmed | May 19, 2009 3:52 AM

Links for you.

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=122677&d=19&m=5&y=2009

http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=122516&d=15&m=5&y=2009

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hl=en&tab=wl&q=Al%20Aiss%20Saudi%20arabia

Posted by: Perry | May 19, 2009 7:59 AM

If anyone has not read this link Ian put up earlier - please do so - it is extremely helpful background information.

The huge number of scoria's and records of volcanic and phreatic activity which you can read about at the link below means that we are more likely to see something volcanic or phreatic than if it were unrest at a huge caldera system.
http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/200602/volcanic.arabia.htm

You also must click on the “see the volcanoes” photo that is in the top right of the article text at the same link. The photos are great - and will add greatly to an understanding of what geology lovers might hope to see from this eruption.

The link was provided by Hypocentre - a.k.a. Dr Ian G. Stimpson (Seismologist) in the earlier Saudi Arabia volcano post.

Posted by: Thomas Donlon | May 19, 2009 12:07 PM

http://www.a1saudiarabia.com/Evacuation-begins-as-tremors-continue/

At this link they say that now magma has now risen to 3 km below the surface. (The article is from a few days ago - maybe it is at 2 km now?)

The article linked in my above comment indicate that they had seismic monitoring equipment in the area. So, I guess they are tracking via the quakes, the movement of magma up a conduit or maybe they think magma is making a new conduit as it rises.

Posted by: Thomas Donlon | May 19, 2009 12:46 PM

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Maps/10/40_25.php

They just got a 5.6 magnitude quake there within the last hour. The eruption seems to be on its way (to me, anyway).

Posted by: Thomas Donlon | May 19, 2009 1:59 PM

A tremor just happened and rated at M5.6

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_all.php

was preceded by a M4.6 tremor about 40 minutes ago

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2009gva7.php

Posted by: Ahmed | May 19, 2009 2:00 PM

I am somewhat shocked how little media attention this has been getting so far. However, it is hard to tell what is going on or what might happen. The 5.6 and 4.6 earthquakes people are reporting here were estimated at 10 km and 35 km, respectively. That is much deeper than the supposed 3-4 km depth that magma might moved according to the Saudi Geological Survey. The ground reports might suggest that there are other signs pointing towards eruptions, but again, I have yet to see corroborating reports to back these up.

We'll see what happens in the next few days ... I'll continue to try to find more info. And keep the comments coming!

Posted by: Erik Klemetti | May 19, 2009 2:09 PM

Google Earth plots these earthquakes. It's interesting to see their distribution over a vast lava field. I never realized how volcanic this area has been. It's impressive.

Posted by: Chris | May 19, 2009 3:46 PM

I would like to confirm that the tremor was felt as far as Yanbu. Yesterday evening two tremors were felt in Yanbu.

Posted by: Waris | May 20, 2009 5:35 AM

I think the reason why how little media attention we have about it is our country policy because they just don't want people freakin out.
and it's really freakin me out because this is the first time we got an earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are coming in the way !!!

Posted by: Nehal | May 20, 2009 7:59 AM

USGS revised the depth of the 5.7M tremor to be only 1.4 km deep. The location (mountain peak) is around 900 m above sea level. I think there is an error.

Posted by: Klaus | May 20, 2009 5:54 PM

Indeed the tremors have been felt here in Yanbu Al Bahr. ( About 75 miles from the epicenter)

We have experienced movement of furniture/blinds/shking water,etc.....at our apartment each of the last three days.

Posted by: Weldertom | May 21, 2009 3:20 AM

http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsworld.php?id=412677

Saudi Geological Survey Explains Al-Ais Tremors. May 21 2009

MADINAH, May 21 (Bernama)-- The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS), explained Wednesday that the SGS air inspection conducted recently at "Al Harrat AS-Shaqqah" (Lava field) and the surrounding areas, revealed the existence of what it described as ground groves at the seismic activity area, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

He also disclosed a remarkable increase in the number of earthquakes to 46 on Tuesday; the most powerful earthquake recorded which hit the area Tuesday night was 5.39 degrees on the Richter Scale, while the rest of the tremors ranged between 3 and 4.8 degrees.

In a statement issued here Wednesday, SGS said the earth tremor measuring 4.81 on the Richter scale was at a depth of 7.7 km and occurred at 9.38 am (local time) Tuesday morning and was felt by residents in Al-Ais and its neighboring villages and that the tremor was felt in Omlug, Yanbu and the northern districts of Madinah.

The SGS reassured the variables associated with this activity in terms of the rise in temperature and concentration of radon gas in some regions of volcanic area of "Al Harrat AS-Shaqqah."

Mayor of Al-Ais Ahmed Al-Buraiket said since the beginning of the reporting of the occurrence of earthquakes at the centre of Al-Ais and neighbouring area, it generated big interest interaction among all concerned governmental bodies at Al Madinah Governorate.

Posted by: Passerby | May 21, 2009 2:18 PM

these are the latest pix available from Harrat Alshaggah after the 5.6 M earthquake.
just click on the link below to see the pix
http://www.umluj.com/vb/showthread.php?t=51052

Posted by: mohammed mahbob | May 23, 2009 3:03 PM

we have felt the sea water smell too it smella that water is getting hot and the smell is like sweet smell. This was the most noticeable thing.

Posted by: azaeem | May 24, 2009 1:41 AM

We appreciate the info you provided. Just wanted to comment about the noices and the fact that this has been predicted befor almost 1500 years ago..
the noices some residents hear ( some people who i know ) are thunder noises and actually the sea level did raise not just in the red sea but all around the world due to global warming except in the lake located in north palestine near jordanian borders, which is drying. ( also this had been predicted 1500 years ago).
Unfortuneatly, its sad to say that this volcano is soon going to errupt, and people are going to see 'river of lava' forcing residents in arabian penensula to leave and migrat up north, and an anormous amount of smoke is going to come out covering a large area of the world. I ask God, the one and only, to protect us all.
may god bless you ang guide you to the truth.
Thanks again,
Sara.

Posted by: sara | May 28, 2009 8:27 AM