Professor of Remote Sensing and Earth Systems Science at the Chapman University in the US, Hesham al-Askary, commented on an earthquake that struck central Ethiopia on Saturday which measured six degrees on Richter scale, and its potential impact on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD).
During a telephone interview on the al-Hadath al-Youm channel, Askary explained that the new earthquake adds to the series of concerns about the GERD, especially regarding the geological risks that result from the construction of huge dams in tectonically active areas.
He added that though this earthquake was about 500 kilometers away from the GERD area, the real concern arises from the frequency of these earthquakes and how they will impact not only the dam itself, but the stability of the region and the water resources of downstream countries.
According to Askary, a link exists between the construction of dams and earthquakes as changes due to the the pressure resulting from storing huge amounts of water.
The professor explained that the largest dam in terms of water storage is located in Ghana, which caused noticeable seismic activity after it was filled, noting that Ghana is not a seismic zone.
He added that he does not want to conclusively say this latest Ethiopian earthquake is related to periods of filling the GERD, but noted that frequent earthquakes 500 kilometers away do appear to occur whenever the dam is filled.
“Is there a relationship? Science has not had its say yet, and we are still searching and investigating,” he said.
