Exclusive Interview with Zhang Xiaodong, Deputy Director of the China Earthquake Networks Center: Weak Earthquake Monitoring Capacity in Yushu
Reported by Ye Jianguo of The China Economic Weekly | Beijing
At around 7:49 am on April 14, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake (preliminarily determined) occurred in Yushu County, Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province.
This was the largest earthquake to hit the Yushu region in recent years. Yushu is an area prone to earthquakes and has a record of earthquakes with magnitudes above 7. The most recent earthquake that occurred in this area was on July 18, 2006, with a magnitude of 5.6, accompanied by multiple aftershocks.
The China Earthquake Networks Center stated that the occurrence of this earthquake signifies that our country may be entering a new period of increased seismic activity. In 2008, there was significant seismic activity in mainland China, with 99 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher throughout the year, which is 4-5 times more than during normal activity years (on average, mainland China experiences about 20 earthquakes of magnitude 5 or higher per year). In 2009, the level of seismic activity in mainland China was significantly lower than in 2008, with only two earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher. Moreover, after the 6.4-magnitude earthquake in Haixi, Qinghai on August 28, 2009, there had been no earthquakes of magnitude 6 or higher for more than 7 months consecutively.