New insight on the recent instrumental seismic activity along the Serghaya fault, Syria

Abstract

This study presents detailed observations and analyses based on the recent instrumental seismic activity along the Serghaya fault. The earthquake activity, recorded by short period stations between 1995 and 2009, reveals significant activity often associated with known surface traces of steps-over along Serghaya fault. Spatial clusters could be related to the fault steps-over; e.g., at Deir el Acheir and Ham. Some clusters have been observed in the Hermel region, and could be related to a probable extension of Serghaya fault in the NE of Lebanon. This seismogenic zone could coincide with the suggested location of linkage from Serghaya fault to the Jhar and Bishri faults. Such evidence completes the findings of previous studies, which have demonstrated that the latest destructive earthquake was located on the Serghaya fault and could be younger than the earthquakes of Yammouneh fault. Therefore, Serghaya fault is, probably, the most plausible source of earthquake hazard in Syria and Lebanon.