Mild tremor felt in Kandy, Hakmana areas

2 September 2020 03:02 pm Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 1 Bookmark

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An earth tremor has been felt in Digana in the Kandy district, and Hakmana areas last morning, the National Geological Survey Mines Bureau said today.

Senior Director, National Geological Survey and Mines Bureau Udaya de Silva told the Daily Mirror that the tremor has been recorded in the Pallekale Seismic Centre while there has been no indication if any major tremor in Hakmana.

Mr. de Silva said the tremor could have been due to a pressure within the limestone layers under the soil in the area, or due to a man-made blast. “The tremor has been felt somewhere close to the Victoria reservoir; therefore it could be even as a result of pressure in the water.” Mr. de Silva said.

“It is certainly not due to any tectonic plate movement, as it would have been felt in Indonesia in if there was a movement in the Indo-Australia plate,” he added.

Mr. de Silva said a team from the National Geological Survey and Mines Bureau are in the area currently to make further investigations.

A tremor was felt in Kandy on August 29, 2020 as well and therefore today's one was the second within five days. (Yohan Perera and Shane Seneviratne)

Comments - 1

A Damned Engineer Thursday, 03 September 2020 07:30 AM

Large reservoirs are well known to have Induced seismicity. Konya in India was the forerunner in this. Even though Victoria reservoir has been around for some 40 years, low permeability of the underlying rock strata can be a factor in late triggering. A sudden rise in water depths from huge inflows after heavy rainfalls following prolonged droughts can also cause sudden changes in the rock bedding and joints triggering tremors. As an arch dam, the dam itself can withstand these but if the reservoir boundary slopes fall into the reservoir the waves it causes can be more of concern. In any significant seismic event with the epicenter in the area, what may be at more risk than the dam itself is the very steep slope on which the Observation Centre is built. I am not sure about the soil nailing done holding up.

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