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Number of powerful quakes increases in territory of Mingachevir reservoir

15 May 2013 14:11 (UTC +04:00)

Baku. Kamala Guliyeva – APA. The number of quakes of more than 4-magnitude increased in the territory of Mingachevir reservoir, said chief of the Department for Infrastructure Development of the Ministry of Emergency Situations Tariyel Huseynov at today’s meeting of ANAS Presidium. According to him, seismic hazard in the territories, where large water reservoirs are located, is one magnitude higher. Huseynov said that along with Mingachevir reservoir, complex researches must be conducted in also Shamkir and Yenikend reservoirs.

ANAS president Akif Alizadeh said that Mingachevir reservoir still remains as a serious threat: “Serious researches should be carried out in the reservoir, which has been operated for more than 60 years, because various geological, tectonic and geodynamical changes occurred there during these years. These studies should be jointly conducted by ANAS Republic Seismological Service Center, the Institute of Geology and the Ministry of Emergency Situations.”

Director General of the Republic Seismological Center of ANAS Gurban Yetirmishli also said Mingachevir basin remains as one of the most dangerous seismic zones in Azerbaijan: “There are quake focuses and deep fault at the bottom of this reservoir. The Mingachevir dam was closed to prevent Kura flood in 2010. At that time 70 cm of the reservoir remained unfilled. The level of water should not rise more than this, due to seismic hazard. The number of aftershocks began to increase. Following this, they began to drain off water. Several reports in this regard remained unanswered. As a seismologist I say that Mingachevir reservoir is very dangerous.”