Earthquakes in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province... Be prepared for aftershocks

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Let's learn more about the earthquake with Seo Dong-gyun, a meteorological team reporter.

[Reporter Dong-gyun Seo: People in Goesan, North Chungcheong Province, must have been very surprised today (29th) morning.

At 8:07:33 am, a 3.5-magnitude earthquake occurred in an area about 11 km northeast of Goesan-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do.

About 16 seconds later, another earthquake with a magnitude of 4.1 occurred again.

The maximum vibration value that quantifies the vibration we can feel was 5 in Chungbuk, 4 in Gyeongbuk, 3 in Gangwon, Gyeonggi, and Daejeon, and vibrations were also detected in Seoul and Jeju Island.

At a seismic intensity of 5, the vibration is enough to break a bowl or shake a glass window, so many people must have felt the vibration a lot.

It was the largest earthquake that occurred on the Korean Peninsula this year, and it was recorded as the first earthquake exceeding 4.0.]

[Reporter Dongkyun Seo: First of all, experts are investigating the fault zone in this area.

As the Earth moves with several tectonic plates interlocking like a soccer ball, energy is released at the junction of each tectonic plate in this way and an earthquake can occur.

The Korea Meteorological Administration started the earthquake notification service in 1978, and there is a record that a magnitude 5.2 earthquake occurred in the south of this area in the same year.

It is also an area with a record of 13 earthquakes with a total magnitude of 3.6 in this area, including today's magnitude 3.0 earthquake.]

[Reporter Seo Dong-gyun: First, the earthquake that occurred at 8:27:49 is considered by the Korea Meteorological Administration as the main earthquake.

But as you said, aftershocks are a problem.

After an earthquake, aftershocks can occur as the elastic energy remaining around the fault is released.

Depending on the size of the main earthquake, aftershocks are proportional and the duration of occurrence is extended.

Even in the case of Gyeongju in 2016, another magnitude 4.5 earthquake occurred a week after the magnitude 5.8 earthquake.

Also, in the case of the Pohang earthquake of 2017, the main earthquake occurred in November, and a magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred in February of the following year.

Fortunately, this earthquake is weaker than the previous Gyeongju and Pohang, so even if an aftershock occurs, it is unlikely to exceed a magnitude of 4.0 and does not cause much damage.

However, you should be prepared by taking into consideration that aftershocks of 3.0 or higher can occur at any time, and that earthquakes of this magnitude can cause great damage if the earthquake-resistant design is not well designed.]

[Reporter Dong-Gyun Seo: First of all, since we cannot predict earthquakes, we know immediately after they occur.

If you feel the vibration, it is urgent to protect your head first.

It is a good idea to cover your head with a book or cushion and hide under a structure such as a desk.

Then you need to move to a safer place.

When vibration is detected, that is, when shaking, you should not move.

After waiting for the vibration to stop, go to a place with a wide plain such as a vacant lot, as far as possible from windows or walls, while moving to the stairs rather than the elevator.

Usually it could be a school playground now.

You must move to such a place and evacuate.]