Quakes intensify in Azerbaijan
By Nigar Orujova
Intensification of the seismic processes, as well as the most powerful earthquakes in Azerbaijan for the past 15 years was recorded in 2014.
This was said by Gurban Yetirmishli, director of the Republican Seismological Service Center of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Sciences, on December 24.
Yetirmishli said that six earthquakes measuring over 5.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Azerbaijan in 2014.
He added that 2014 was a year of increased seismic activity and a large volume of energy released.
"More than 8,000 earthquakes were registered in Azerbaijan in 2014," Yetirmishli noted. “The earthquakes occurred at a great depth. The tremors affected a large area, but there was no damage.”
Azerbaijan is situated in a seismic zone and therefore is considered to be a seismically active region.
The most seismically active zone in the country in terms of the number of earthquakes and the energy released is Shamakhi and Ismayilli. The list also includes Ganja and Talish regions.
The country faced more than 6,000 earthquakes last year. About four of the quakes were measured on three to four magnitude on the Richter scale.
Moreover, a map of zones where strong earthquake are possible in Azerbaijan was created for the first time, Dadash Huseynov, the Geology Institute's vice-director said on December 24.
He also said that Azerbaijani scientists, together with colleagues from the National Research Council of Italy conducted a study of mineral waters of Talysh Mountains and it was found out, that in accordance with the sanitary standards, mineral water of Talysh Mountains are suitable for internal use, as well as for bathing.
An exception is the spring Byulyudyul in Yardimli region, radon content in which exceeds the norm by 1.5 times, Huseynov said.