Qena Bend

According to El Wafd News Paper, dated October 29th 2010, the head of the national institute for geophysical and astrological research stated that 4.6 Richter earth quake hitted south west Sohag governerate yeterday without any surface damage!

The quake hitted west Esna at 11 am October 28 2010 at a distant 78 kilometers from the city at depth of 10 km.

He also stated that another earth quake hitted the same area feb 14 of the same year, measured 4.2 on Richter scale.

He pointed out that the cause of this quakes is mainly activated due to the movement of the faulting systems exists in this area.

This incident adding to the statement of the head of the concerned institue raise a good argument hopefully can reach convincing answers.

To start with, is all the the major faulting system and areas are recorded and well documented and at the disposal one and certain authority.

Presuming all faulting systems are recorded, are they closeley watched and periodically monitored?!

Somebody will ask why the title of this subject is Qena Bend?!

Simply because Qena is situated at a remarkable and well developed faulting area, where if this faulting system activated at any time, how far it will damage the route of our Nile River.

Now is the Nile River could split at this location due to any unexpected fault movement or not??!

We Know for sure, it is out of hand incidence but we know also that we can watch it and monitor its movement with proper technical methods.

The same case will apply to the famous Kalapsha fault adjacent to the high Dam.

How will it affect the dam if it is activated?

It is woth mentioning that there is a great evident that large dams may trigger seismic movements (faulted areas) especially in highlly faulted regions. An earth quake near Konya Dam in India cost 200 lives in 1967 and yet there was no history of tremors in that area (Rothe 1968).

I am not intend to list all the major faulting systems in this articles, but strongly suggest to start building up a database for the faulting system and areas in the country and place it under certain authority or organization where its prime task is

First, to establish permanent monitoring stations at each major faulting area.

Second, to interpret and analyse all data received from this stations.

By the way, early November an earth quake hitted Aswan governrate!!!!