MINISTRY MONITORS EARTHQUAKES MORE CLOSELY AFTER WORLDWIDE TREMORS

The Ministry of Lands and Minerals Resources is closely monitoring earthquake activities in the country after the bigger tremors globally lately.

As of yesterday morning four earthquakes were reported around the globe which included 7.1 magnitude tremor in Mexico accounting for more than 200 deaths.

Closest to Fiji, a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck off the Vanuatu archipelago in the Pacific Ocean yesterday morning.

The Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Malakai Finau said the Department of Mineral Resources was treating these earthquakes seriously. Mr Finau said the Department was monitoring these events as well as dissemination of notifications. “MRD now operates on a 24/7 basis in monitoring earthquakes as an indication of how serious it takes its role in this,” Mr Finau said.

“The increased monitoring and detection in the region had contributed to this leading to the increased notification to the public.”

In addition Mr Finau acknowledged the presence of a dedicated team which monitored earthquakes and disseminated notification on a 24/7 basis in response to the increased activity.

Mr Finau said there was a need to worry for these earthquakes but his team was geared for the earliest possible detection. “There seems to be an increase in the number of devastating earthquakes occurring globally and we need to improve our preparedness collectively in response to these including all stakeholders.”

ARISHMA DEVI-NARAYAN Edited by Rusiate Mataika