Salalah: A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck the Arabian Sea on Friday about 198 kilometers southwest of Salalah in southern Oman, according to the Saudi Geological Survey. In a statement on the US social media platform X, the survey reported that the quake was recorded at 3:01 pm local time (1201 GMT) by stations of the Kingdom's National Seismic Network. The epicenter was located in the Arabian Sea, marking a significant seismic event near the capital of Oman's Dhofar Governorate.

According to Anadolu Agency, the Earthquake Monitoring Center at Oman's Sultan Qaboos University stated that seismic activity in the Arabian Sea is associated with the Owen Fracture Zone. This transform fault separates the Arabian and Indian tectonic plates, where moderate earthquakes are common. The center further explained that seismic activity south of Oman is also concentrated near the Gulf of Aden due to fault systems linked to the gulf's opening and the movement of tectonic plates.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage following the earthquake. The region's geological characteristics, particularly the Owen Fracture Zone and the tectonic movements near the Gulf of Aden, contribute to its susceptibility to such seismic events.