Dead Sea region hit by 3.6 magnitude earthquake

The Jordan Seismological Observatory (JSO) reported on Sunday evening that a tremor measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale was felt in the Dead Sea area. 

The earthquake, which struck at 11:15 PM local time in Amman, occurred at a depth of 9km.

Jordan’s geographical location at the convergence of the Arabian and African tectonic plates renders it prone to seismic activity. 

The movement of these tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface can result in a range of earthquake magnitudes, from minor tremors to potentially destructive quakes.

In response to the recent seismic activity, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources announced a tender for the acquisition of two advanced seismic monitoring devices. 

JSO Director, Ghassan Suwaidan, emphasized that the new equipment will significantly improve the accuracy of seismic data. 

These devices will monitor the region’s response to earthquakes, assess building damage, and analyze displacement based on geological factors. The upgrade is expected to provide more reliable information for engineering studies and support better-informed decision-making.

Suwaidan further detailed that the National Seismic Monitoring Network currently includes 19 strong-motion monitoring stations positioned across key cities and dams in Jordan.

Additionally, the network comprises 32 weak-motion (telemetered) monitoring stations spread throughout Jordan. 

This includes 20 local stations, along with contributions from the German GFZ Institute and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). All these stations are interconnected within the Jordanian seismic network.

The Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources opened the tender for these new devices from Sunday, July 21, through Thursday, July 25, with a final purchase deadline set for 12:00 PM.