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Gurban Yetirmishli: There are areas in Azerbaijanâ€™s capital, where a part of the building falls on the 9-magnitude zone, the other part on the 8-magnitude zone

21 July 2011 12:17 (UTC +04:00)

Later in 1989 it was updated, after the Spitak earthquake it was raised by one magnitude in 1991. In the Soviet times Spitak was shown as a 7-magnitude zone, the quake was measured at 9 magnitudes. Automatically, 7-magnitude zone was made 8 magnitude zone, 8 magnitudes were made 9 magnitudes,â€ director general Republic Seismological Service Center of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences Gurban Yetirmishli told APA.

He said there were no modern equipment and stations when that map was drawn, studies were not conducted accurately.

â€œAccording to the requirements of that time this map was sufficient. But technology and science are developing. Now our telemetric stations receive waves from all parts of the world every second. Therefore, there is a need to redraw the seismic zoning map of Azerbaijan. Consultations are being held on this map. The studies conducted by Republic Seismological Service Center, Geology Institute, Ecology and Natural Resources Ministry, Ministry of Emergency Situations are used. New seismic zoning map of Azerbaijan must be drawn. This is not easy. Extra studies must be conducted. New, temporary stations must be established. Along with the data of seismic stations, we also need the data of geophysical stations. I hope we will be able to draw this map,â€ he said.

Gurban Yetirmishli noted that among the zones described in the map as 9-magnitude, there are 10-magnitude zones.

â€œBaku is described as 8-magnitude zone in the seismic zoning map. But when we study separate zones for construction, we find out that there is 9-magnitude zone in Baku. There are areas, where a part of the building falls on the 9-magnitude zone, the other part on the 8-magnitude zone. This depends much on the complexity of the geological structure, the level of the ground waters, condition of layers, their kinds, physical, mechanical features,â€ he said.