In a recent statement to Tunisie Numérique ,head of the Applied Geophysics Department at the National Institute of Meteorology, Hassan Hamdi addressed public concerns concerning the evident frequency of ground earthquakes experienced in January. During this short period, 6 ground quakes were registered, with more than 5 of them having a magnitude of over 3 on the Richter scale, all of which were reported by the institute.
Hamdi explained that seismic activity in Tunisia is typically classified as weak to moderate. He reassured the public that the occurrence of these tremors is normal, referencing the year 2022 when 15 earthquakes were registered with magnitudes varying between 1.9 and 3.7, though only 3 of these were significant enough to be reported. He stressed that such seismic activities are typical for Tunisia and should not cause alarm among citizens.
Clarifying the cause of these tremors, Hamdi noted that they are primarily associated with the geological faults scattered across Tunisian territory. These seismic movements are connected to the movement of the African plate towards the Eurasian plate. This tectonic activity emits energy that causes the movement of rock masses along some active faults, resulting in ground shaking.