Recent earthquakes across globe fall within normal range: expert

China

Recent earthquakes across globe fall within normal range: expert

2025-04-01 12:58 Last Updated At：19:27

A Chinese expert has sought to allay fears after a spate of seismic events across the Asia-Pacific raised public concern over the frequency of earthquakes, noting the recent activity falls within the normal expected range.

The recent weeks have seen a series of major earthquakes around the world, including the devastating 7.9-magnitude quake which struck Myanmar on Friday, killing over 2,000 people as search and rescue operations continue.

However, Wang Yun, director of the Natural Disaster Early Warning Research Center at Sichuan University, said in a video interview with the China Global Television Network (CGTN), that there is nothing out of the ordinary about the frequency of these quakes.

"The recent earthquakes, whether in Myanmar, Tonga, or parts of China like Xinjiang or Yunnan, all occurred in well-known seismic zones. These regions are generally expected to experience quakes, and even magnitude 7 or above events fall within the normal range. Statistically, the frequency and strength of earthquakes we've seen so far this year are consistent with previous years," said Wang.

Wang said the reason why people perceive an increase in earthquake frequency recently is they are exposed to earthquake-related news especially when the devastating Myanmar earthquake have already caught their attentions.

"Nowadays, people are more exposed to news of disasters, especially when a deadly quake like Myanmar's makes headlines. People's increased awareness also makes them more sensitive to seismic news," he said.

According to Xu Xiwei, a professor from the Beijing-based China University of Geosciences, whether earthquakes are frequent or whether the earth has entered a seismically active period cannot be determined by human perception or the number of small to moderate earthquakes.

The frequency of earthquakes should be assessed by comparing it to the normal average value of earthquake frequency and energy release in a specific region or globally over a certain period, Xu said in a phone interview with China Central Television (CCTV).

Citing earthquake statistics since 1900, Xu noted that over the past century, the world has experienced an average of 150 earthquakes of magnitude six or above, 18 earthquakes of magnitude seven or above, and one earthquake of magnitude eight per year.

From a statistical perspective, the 17 earthquakes of magnitude six or above recorded worldwide so far this year are insufficient to indicate that the world has entered a seismically active or frequent period, he added.

South Sudan struggles to clear mines left by civil war

Years of war in South Sudan have left the East African country littered with landmines that may take more years to remove.

South Sudan had hoped to clear all anti-personnel minefields and cluster munitions in the country by this year.

However, the government says efforts are complicated by a lack of funding, continued insecurity and flooding in the country.

The United Nations says more than 5,000 South Sudanese have been killed or injured by landmines and unexploded ordnance since South Sudan's independence 15 years ago.

"In our country mine action is not only for clearing land but also for protecting civilians, supporting peacekeeping mobility, enabling humanitarian operations and creating safe conditions for returns, recovery and socio-economic growth," said Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, chairperson of the South Sudan National Mine Action Authority.

South Sudan has fertile land that could be crucial to achieving the government's goal of national food self-sufficiency.

However, for far too long, landmines and other unexploded munitions have severely hindered farming activities.

"We are implementing critical interventions including survey, clearance, [safe destruction of explosive ordnance] and explosive ordnance risk education," said Albino Akol Atak, South Sudan's Minister of Humanitarian Affairs.

The government says the risk education initiatives equip farmers and community members with the knowledge and skills to identify potential threats and adopt safe practices.

The United Nations Mine Action Service in South Sudan says it has now destroyed more than one million explosive devices and 4.2 million bullets.

Families torn apart by landmines can be found all over South Sudan. The UN says the threat from the remnants of the country's long civil war is still huge.

"People living in these areas, even there is no accident, nothing happens, it doesn't mean that the hazard is out, so anything they see, anything they get, they still need to report it through the normal reporting system, informing the government," said Clement Aswali, a United Nations Mine Action Operations specialist.

South Sudan's government says most of the country's landmines are left over from the 21-year war between the then northern and Southern Sudanese people which ended in 2005. However, another war between 2013 and 2018 also left behind dangerous explosives.