Ancient documents portend major earthquake

TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 4 (UPI) -- An Israeli scientist said ancient documents suggest a major earthquake triggered by the Dead Sea Fault is long overdue in the Middle East.

Although seismologists don’t know when the next big earthquake will occur, Tel Aviv University geologist Shmulik Marco said earthquake patterns recorded in historical documents indicate the region’s next significant quake might be imminent.

Based on the translations of hundreds of ancient records from the Vatican and other religious sources, Marco has helped determine a series of devastating earthquakes occurred across the Holy Land during the last 2,000 years. The major ones were recorded along the Jordan Valley in the years 31 B.C. and in 363, 749 and 1033 A.D.

"So roughly we are talking about an interval of every 400 years," said Marco. "If we follow the patterns of nature, a major quake should be expected any time because almost a whole millennium has passed since the last strong earthquake of 1033.

"When it strikes -- and it will -- this quake will affect Amman, Jordan, as well as Ramallah, Bethlehem and Jerusalem," he said. "Earthquakes don’t care about religion or political boundaries."