/By AzerNews/

By Nigar Orujova

Aid is being rendered to residents of two villages in Sheki region affected by a strong earthquake on September 4.

The earthquake measured 7 on Richter scale at its epicenter. The depth of the earthquake was 13 kilometers, with a magnitude reaching 5.9. The tremors were felt in neighboring regions.

The earthquake has caused large cracks in more than 200 houses. Damages were also found in buildings in Oguz, Ismayilli, Agdash, and Gabala regions of Azerbaijan.

Tents have been set up in the two villages affected by the earthquake since September 6, said Ziya Veliyev, the assistant chief executive of Sheki.

Veliyev said the Emergency Situations Ministry and representatives of the Commission of Executive Power of Sheki carry out inspections of homes that were damaged by the earthquake.

“The earthquake has caused great damage to houses in two villages – Bolu Dere and Gara Torpag – where 15 tents were installed. The earthquake caused damage to houses in the village of Turan. It is possible that the tent will be installed in this village as well. The Commission continues to receive complaints from residents whose homes have been damaged in the earthquake. Once the Emergency Situations Ministry concretizes the extent of the damage, a decision on the need for additional tents will be made,” said Veliyev.

He also did not rule out the possibility that the number of homes damaged by the earthquake could increase if linked with the large number of complaints received from the public.

“The situation is being studied. I think that there are many damaged houses. It is difficult to name a specific figure yet. This can be done only after examination of all the houses and territories,” the assistant chief executive said.

The insurance companies of Azerbaijan have received about 80 complaints in the aftermath of the earthquake in Sheki, and the damage assessment will take up to 7-10 days.

AzSigorta received the most of complaints over the past few days. The company has even created a rapid reaction headquarters together with the Emergency Situations Ministry.

“At the moment, the company has received more than 60 complaints from Sheki and nearby areas. About 50 applications received concerns of damage to commercial buildings, mainly in the various shops. Only 10 complaints came about damage in residential facilities. To calculate the exact amount of damages has not yet succeeded, but we can already say that the damage will amount to hundreds of thousands of manat,” the company said.

Damage appeals were also received in Bashak Inam. The company said that at present, the regional Emergency Commission is finding out whether the damage is associated with the earthquake or occurred before.

“The company has received six complaints – four from Ismayilli and one from Bilasuvar and Jalilabad. Due to the remoteness of these regions from the epicenter, the data of applications is being checked now. Once the Emergency Commission confirms that the damage was caused by the earthquake, our experts will travel to the field and will assess the damage,” said the insurance company, noting that it is ready to pay compensation for insured events.

The AXA MBASK reports that the company has received eight complaints, one of which is voluntary property insurance.

“We have received four appeals from the Sheki region. Currently, damage assessment is underway. One appeal was on voluntary property insurance, but the damage was minor, and the amount of loss is less than the franchise. Therefore, the compensation for the occasion will not be paid. Today, we have received three appeals from Imishli and one appeal from Goranboy region. Our experts are already heading to the field,” said the company.

The Ateshgah insurance company received two calls from Agdash region. The company said that the appeals were verbal and assessment process has not started yet.

“The victims have not submitted any documents to us yet. As soon as all the necessary documents will be presented, work on evaluation will begin,” said a representative from Ateshgah.

There are 26 insurance and one reinsurance company in Azerbaijan.

Seismic stations installation underway

In accordance with instruction given by President Ilham Aliyev, specialists at the Republican Seismological Service Center of Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences arrived in Sheki and other areas hit by the earthquake, the head of the Center Gurban Yetirmishli said.

The experts are carrying out corresponding profile work on the territory, observing processes at the earthquake source, he noted.

Seismic stations are established in these territories in accordance with presidential order, Yetirmishli said.

“This area is seismically active. An earlier earthquake in the area was reported in 2003,” he said.

The head of the center also reported that more than 50 aftershocks were noted after the earthquake in Sheki. He added, these aftershocks may continue for several days.

“In some cases, earthquakes in three or four, even five magnitudes can occur. However, the probability of an earthquake at more than seven points is zero. The public should not be afraid of this,” said Yetirmishli.

Scientists believe that seismic zones with the potential to produce dangerous force cover the entire country, while the Alpine-Himalayan seismic belt passes directly through Azerbaijan.

This year, Azerbaijan has seen 3,128 earthquakes so far.

Last year was marked with an intensification of seismic processes as well as the most powerful earthquakes that Azerbaijan has seen in the past 15 years.

Six earthquakes measuring over 5.0 on the Richter scale occurred in Azerbaijan in 2014, releasing a tremendous volume of energy.