The series of earth tremors that hit Accra last Wednesday night could be a precursor to a major earthquake in the national capital, the Head of Earthquake Monitoring Department of the Ghana Geological Survey Authority, Mr Nicholas Opoku, has said.

A first tremor with a magnitude of 3.5 on the Richter Scale was experienced at 10.47p.m., followed by a foreshock with a magnitude of 3.7 and the last shock with a magnitude of 4.2.

The tremors happened about 2.3 km from the coast of Dansoman and were experienced in other parts of the city.

Highest shock

Speaking to the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, Mr Opoku indicated that the main shock of 4.2 was the highest to have hit the country since 1939 when the country experienced an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5.

“We cannot predict when next an earthquake will hit the country but we know that one day a much bigger earthquake will occur,” he said.

Comparison

Mr Opoku said comparing last year’s tremor which had a magnitude of 3.2 to what happened last Wednesday, the energy increase was about 270.

“ Last year’s event shook only a limited area and only those closer to the source felt the event but with this one, it was felt by the entire Accra.

“ This means that if we are to move to 5.2, the energy is going to increase to about 1,000 and can have a much greater impact on the country,” he explained.

Emergency plan

Mr Opoku, therefore, called on all stakeholders to come on board to develop an emergency plan “to ensure that the amplitude of such waves will not cause a massive blow to the country’s infrastructure and lives.”

Background

The shocks were felt three times in a spate of 10 minutes and shook buildings, creating panic among residents.

Many residents reported on social media that they felt the earth shake.