Moderate 4.9-magnitude earthquake recorded in Arabian Sea off Salalah

Muscat: The Sultan Qaboos University Earthquake Monitoring Center recorded a moderate earthquake measuring 4.9 on the Richter scale in the Arabian Sea at 4:01pm on Thursday.

According to the centre, the earthquake's epicentre was located approximately 239km south of Salalah in Dhofar Governorate.

No immediate reports of damage or casualties have been received, and there were no indications of any impact on populated areas in Oman.

Earthquakes of this magnitude are generally classified as moderate and may be felt in some coastal areas, particularly in high-rise buildings, when they occur offshore. However, such events typically cause little or no damage when their epicentres are far from inhabited regions.

The Sultan Qaboos University Earthquake Monitoring Center continues to monitor seismic activity in the region and will provide updates if necessary. Authorities have advised the public to rely on official sources for information regarding seismic events.