YANBU: The contradictory statements of officials from the Saudi Geological Society (SGS) and the Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) have left Al-Ais residents confused over whether it is safe to live in the quake-hit region.
Saad Al-Mohlafi, deputy director of the National Observation Center, said water in most wells in Al-Ais is unsuitable for human consumption. He also said that the presence of radon gas in the air after tremors was natural.
He, however, added that such gas would not remain in the air for long. He said more surveys and studies were required to determine the intensity of radon gas in Al-Ais’ waters.
Ahmed Al-Attas, acting president of SGS, said observation centers have noticed a sudden rise in radon gas, adding that it would have a harmful effect on people living in the area. Al-Ais residents have expressed their dismay over the controversial statements and said they have lost confidence. Madinah Gov. Prince Abdul Aziz bin Majed stressed the need to appoint a spokesman to brief the public on developments in the area.
In a related development, Khaled Yaseen, acting director of Health Affairs in the Madinah province, urged all hospitals and health centers in the province to receive the people of Al-Ais and provide them with necessary health care services. He inspected King Fahd Hospital in Madinah last night to follow up on services being rendered to patients.
Normalcy gradually returned to Al-Ais yesterday after a substantial reduction in the number of tremors. Some government departments in the area resumed operating after stopping work for more than a week.
The Civil Defense department has ordered the re-deployment of its firefighting and rescue equipment in the center of Al-Ais after being moved to Faqaali, 50 km away. Some shops selling foodstuffs and other consumer goods have opened, reflecting renewed life in the deserted quake-hit region.
The new developments follow an SGS announcement recently that seismic activity in the epicenter of Harrah Al-Shaqah has dwindled considerably. The SGS detected only two tremors (3.04 and 3.05 on the Richter scale, and a depth of 67.9 km) during the past 24 hours that ended at 2 pm yesterday. The SGS also said that it had not found any gases indicating any volcanic eruption. “We are still following seismic activity in the area and changes in wave formations caused by the tremors,” it said.
(With input from Yusuf Muhammad)
