The Meteorological Administration announced that a 4.6 earthquake on the Richter scale occurred at around 3:21 am on the 19th in the far sea of the West Sea. Photo showing the epicenter. Materials Meteorological Agency
The Meteorological Administration announced that a 4.6 earthquake on the Richter scale occurred at around 3:21 am on the 19th in the far sea of the West Sea.
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration and the Earthquake Administration of China (CEA), an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.6 and a depth of 12 km occurred in the distant sea of the west sea (35.79 degrees north latitude and 123.97 degrees east longitude) at 3:21:28 am.
This point is about 220km away from the interior of the Korean Peninsula. The nearest place inland is 200 km away.
The earthquake was analyzed by CEA data because it was outside the earthquake observation network of the Meteorological Agency.
An official from the Meteorological Administration said, “Information is being shared in real time,” and “We are also analyzing and arranging the data produced by the Meteorological Administration.” In addition, he explained, “This earthquake did not meet the standard, but provided information to solve the curiosity of the people who felt the vibration at dawn.”
Earthquake-dongs were also detected in Gwangju, Jeonnam, and North Korea due to the West Sea earthquake.
Inquiries and reports from residents followed as the earthquake broke out on the west coast near the inland of Jeollanam-do and North Korea. The Jeonbuk-do Fire Headquarters received 7 reports of earthquakes as of 7 am on that day, and the Jeonnam-do Fire Headquarters also received 8 reports, centering on Mokpo and Yeongwang. Thirteen earthquake-related reports were also received by the Gwangju City Fire Department.
“I woke up suddenly because the bed shook while sleeping. I thought it was a dream, and I slept again, but it was an earthquake.”, “I felt a vibration while lying in bed and reported it to the fire department.”
An official from the Gwangju Regional Meteorological Agency said, “It seems to be due to the effect of the earthquake in the sea area located between China and Korea. For overseas earthquakes of 5.5 or more, earthquake information is announced.”
In various internet communities such as social media, stories of earthquakes were detected in Seoul, Busan, Gumi, and Daejeon, such as “the bed was shaken”.
On the other hand, earthquake values were not observed in the seismic detector installed at the Yeongwang Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant, the only one on the west coast, located about 200 km away from the epicenter. Nuclear power plant facilities are also in normal operation without any special issues. An official at Hanbit Nuclear Power Plant said, “We are monitoring natural disasters such as earthquakes 24 hours a day,” and “We are doing our best to operate the nuclear power plant in thorough preparation for this.”
Reporter Han Young-hye [email protected]