Committee inquiring Haragama tremor, begins observation visits

COLOMBO (News 1st): The committee appointed to inquire into the tremor reported in the areas of Thalathu-oya in Kandy on Saturday night (Aug 29),  assumes that three incidents could have triggered the tremor felt by the area residents. "One of the causes could have been the drilling of a quarry, which resulted in a tremor of high intensity," Udaya De Silva, the Senior Director at the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau said on Sunday (Aug 30). The committee is also of the view that the collapse of limestone layers could have caused the tremor. According to the committee, the third cause for the tremor felt in Thalathu-oya is thought to be as a result of high water pressure at the Victoria reservoir and other reservoirs close by. A team consisting of two seismology scientists have already commenced observation visits, to deduce the definite cause that triggered the tremor. "The damages to houses as a result of the tremor will also be assessed during these visits," Udaya De Silva told News 1st. The tremor felt in the Haragama area of Kandy, was recorded at the Pallekele centre of the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, at around 8:32 pm last night (Aug 29). Area residents claim that their houses were damaged as a result of the tremor. Thereby, a special committee was appointed by the Geological Survey and Mines Bureau, to inquire into the incident. The committee is headed by Nilmini Thaldena, who is in-charge of the Geology division at the Tsunami Early Warning Centre.