Magnitude 4.0 Earthquake in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk
Delayed Disaster Alerts from Gyeongbuk and Gyeongju City
On the 30th, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, disturbed the sleep of the entire nation. Some have raised complaints questioning whether it is appropriate to send regional disaster alerts to the entire country. Additionally, criticism has been directed at Gyeongbuk Province and Gyeongju City for their delayed response, as they sent disaster safety messages more than 30 minutes after the earthquake occurred.
At 5:29 a.m. that day, Gyeongbuk Province sent a disaster message to the Gyeongbuk area stating, "At around 04:55 today, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred 19 km southeast of Dongnam-dong, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Please be cautious of building collapses and large fires." This was more than 30 minutes after the earthquake struck Gyeongju.
Gyeongju City sent a disaster message even later, at 5:43 a.m., advising evacuation measures: "When shaking occurs, take shelter under a table; when going outside a building, use the stairs; evacuate to a wide outdoor area."
According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, at around 4:55 a.m. that day, a magnitude 4.0 earthquake occurred 19 km southeast of Gyeongju City, Gyeongbuk (Munmu Daewang-myeon, Gyeongju). The depth of the epicenter is estimated to be 12 km below the surface.
The Korea Meteorological Administration stated that this earthquake was the largest magnitude among regional earthquakes on the Korean Peninsula this year. Including surrounding sea areas, it was the second largest after the magnitude 4.5 earthquake that occurred 52 km northeast of Donghae City, Gangwon, on May 15. So far this year, there have been 99 earthquakes of magnitude 2.0 or higher on the Korean Peninsula and surrounding sea areas.
At 4:55:25 AM on the 30th, the Korea Meteorological Administration reported an earthquake of magnitude 4.3 occurred 19 km southeast of Dongnam-dong, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk. [Image source=Yonhap News Agency·Korea Meteorological Administration website]
Following the earthquake, reports of earthquake experiences were received mainly from the Gyeongbuk area. Fortunately, no damage reports related to the earthquake have been confirmed so far.
Meanwhile, emergency disaster messages were sent nationwide just 8 seconds after the earthquake. This is in accordance with the earthquake disaster message broadcasting regulations, intended to quickly inform the public to prepare for evacuation and aftershock damage. According to the regulations, if an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or higher occurs inland (or magnitude 4.5 or higher in sea areas), emergency disaster messages are sent nationwide regardless of the location of the earthquake.
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