Was everyone okay last night? I was so surprised. Late at night, the sudden feeling of the ground shaking completely woke me up. At first, I thought, ‘What was that?’, but then I saw the news about the Hwasun earthquake in Jeollanam-do. It was a magnitude 2.4, but I was a bit worried because many people felt the tremor more than expected.
Honestly, there was a strong perception that Korea was safe from earthquakes. But with earthquake news becoming more frequent these days, I realized we can’t just be complacent anymore. So today, I want to delve deeper into this Hwasun earthquake and frankly discuss what we should prepare for in case of an unexpected situation.
Hwasun Earthquake, When and Where Exactly Did It Occur?
This earthquake occurred on April 5, 2026, at 10:10:26 PM. The Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) announced that it happened 8km east-northeast of Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do, specifically near Masan-ri, Dong-myeon, Hwasun-gun. The focal depth was measured at 11km, and the magnitude was 2.4. In fact, by magnitude alone, it wasn’t a very large earthquake. Nevertheless, instrumental intensity IV was detected in Jeollanam-do and III in Gwangju. This level means that many people indoors would feel it, and at night, people might wake up or dishes and windows might rattle. Indeed, a total of 14 earthquake reports were received from Hwasun-eup and Dong-gu, Gwangju. Fortunately, there were no casualties or major facility damage, but the KMA advised preparing for possible aftershocks.
Is the Jeollanam-do Region Experiencing More Frequent Earthquakes?
In fact, the Jeollanam-do region, along with Gyeongbuk, is considered one of the areas with a relatively high frequency of earthquakes in Korea. In 2020, there was an instance where 75 small earthquakes occurred consecutively over a month in Haenam, Jeollanam-do. Even then, experts analyzed that it was not a precursor to a large-scale earthquake, but hearing such news inevitably makes one anxious. It is known that there are more active faults on the Korean Peninsula than one might think. In particular, there are research findings that earthquakes occur due to the accumulation of force as the Indian Plate pushes into the Eurasian continent towards the east of the Korean Peninsula. It seems the time has come to acknowledge that earthquakes can happen anywhere, anytime, and to prepare for them.
Even for a Small Earthquake, What Should We Prepare For?
Regardless of the magnitude, it’s really important to know in advance how to act during an earthquake. It’s easy to panic when the ground suddenly shakes, isn’t it? To prepare for such times, it would be good to remember a few action guidelines. The earthquake response guidelines recommended by the Ministry of Interior and Safety are as follows:
- If you feel shaking, get under a sturdy table to protect your body. Hold onto the table legs tightly and wait until the shaking stops.
- Once the shaking stops, calmly turn off gas and electricity, and open doors to secure an exit. Doors can become distorted, trapping you inside.
- When exiting the building, use the stairs instead of the elevator, and protect your head with a bag or your hands in case of falling objects. Keep a distance from the building and evacuate to an open space.
- At the evacuation site, do not be swayed by groundless rumors, and it is important to act according to correct information such as radio or public institution announcements.
Just being well-versed in these basic matters will be a great help in an emergency. For the safety of all of us.
In Closing
Upon hearing the news of this Hwasun earthquake, I once again realized the importance of earthquake preparedness. I think it’s truly necessary to not be complacent even with small earthquakes and to practice action guidelines regularly. I sincerely hope that everyone stays safe without further damage.