HEAD OF ARMENIA’S NSPS: RUMORS ABOUT THE FORTHCOMING EARTHQUAKE ARE SPREAD IN YEREVAN BEFORE EACH ANNIVERSARY OF SPITAK EARTHQUAKE

ArmInfo
2008-12-01 15:33:00

ArmInfo. ‘Rumors about the forthcoming earthquake are spread in Yerevan
before each anniversary of the disastrous Spitak earthquake in 1988’,
Head of the National Seismic Protection Service [NSPS] of Armenia
Alvaro Antonyan said today’s press-conference in "De Facto" club.

He also said this year did not escape such rumors either. ‘Several days
ago a research officer of the Armenian National Academy of Science said
by TV that the geologists paid attention to an increased concentration
of radon gas in the layers of earth under Yerevan, that testifies of
the enhanced seismological ackground. This was enough for panic to
start in the capital city’, A. Antonyan said.

According to him, 20 radon-measuring stations and 150 seismological
stations deliver information to NSPS of Armenia on a daily basis
concerning the whole seismological situation not only on Armenia but
on the whole region as well.

‘It is impossible to predict earthquake but possible to assess general
seismological background. The data we have received, as well as the
recent weak earthquake shocks let us say with confidence that weak and
even perceivable earthquakes are possible during the next 2 months,
however, no powerful earthquake shocks are expected’, A. Antonyan said.