Dr Al Lazki said this while delivering the keynote address on the Arabian plate tectonics and structure at the Sixth Gulf Seismic Forum 2010 in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The forum aims to linking the seismic networks among neighbouring and GCC countries and encourage them to share data and results for earthquake location and strength.
Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandoos, executive manager, National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology officially opened the Forum which ends on Thursday.
Dr Al Lazki said, the region is seismically a very active area as Arab Gulf countries are affected by the tectonics of the Arabian plate, where earthquakes occur along the plate collision boundaries.
Earthquakes are common occurrences in the Makran fault, close to the borders of the Arabian Gulf region, and where earthquakes can be as large as magnitude eight.
Dr Al Lazki said emphasis on the cooperation in science, seismology, and seismic engineering at the global and regional levels is essential in order to reduce the risk of catastrophic earthquakes in the region.
Building codes
Generally, the earthquakes do not kill people but the collapse of buildings do. “If we are going to further strengthen building codes in our respective countries, we can minimise its impact on our society,” Dr Al Lazki stressed.
For instance, there are high-rises in Japan which is considered to be one of the most earthquake-prone countries in the world and very often earthquake jolts them but rarely reports of causalities are heard because of their strict building codes, Dr Al Lazki said.
Every GCC country has building codes, but they are not sufficient enough to withstand the 5-6 magnitude of quake jolts. They need more comprehensive building laws, Dr Al Lazki said.
As per the proximity of earthquake zones, building codes should be implemented. Earthquake-prone regions must be imposed to tougher building codes, Dr Al Lazki said.
Due to the natural geographical condition of the GCC region, chances of tsunami from the Asia-Pacific region are minimal but if it occurs in the Arabian or Indian Ocean, damage could be grave and all countries in the region will be affected, Dr Al Lazki said.
Talking to Khaleej Times on sidelines of the forum, Abdel Qader Al Abdullah, researcher at the NCMS said, Oman has already agreed to share data on seismic occurrences in the region. Now negotiations are on with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
There are building codes in the UAE but all buildings do not follow them. It needs to be made mandatory for all, Al Abdullah said.
