Seismologists have often warned of the prospect of a major earthquake in
the Middle East. The Levant has undergone a series of serious tremors on the
magnitude of five on the Richter Scale, but without causing significant
damage.
On Nov. 20, an earthquake measuring 5.1 on the Richter Scale shook
Israel and Jordan. The earthquake, whose epicenter was in the area of the
Dead Sea, did not cause major damage.
Marcos a member of Tel Aviv University's Department of Geophysics and
Planetary Sciences, has sought to predict the next major earthquake in the
Levant through historical examination. The geologist has examined ancient
records from the Vatican and other religious sources in his research.
The major earthquakes in the Levant took place along the Jordan Valley.
Earthquakes were reported in 31 BCE, 363 CE, 749 CE and 1033 CE.
"So roughly, we are talking about an interval of every 400 years,"
Marcos said. "If we follow the patterns of nature, a major quake should be
expected any time because almost a whole millennium has passed since the
last strong earthquake of 1033."
Based on history, Marcos predicts a major earthquake that would affect
Israel, Jordan, Palestinian Authority and Syria. He said the sites important
to Christianity, Islam and Judaism could be particularly vulnerable.
"I am looking for patterns and I can say that based on ancient records,
the pattern in Israel around the Dead Sea region is the most disturbing to
us," Marcos said. "When it strikes and it will this quake will affect
Amman, Jordan as well as Ramallah, Bethlehem, and Jerusalem. Earthquakes
don't care about religion or political boundaries."
