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Pak boy comes up trumps again by predicting tremors

Last month, Khaleej Times had carried a report stating that despite the fact that scientists had clearly said that the UAE would not face seismic hazards of higher magnitude, Basim predicted otherwise.

Basim had even predicted a date — very close to Sunday’s tremors — but as a responsible newspaper, Khaleej Times did not publish it to avoid creating panic among the public.

"I still say that I did not predict the tremors based on hunches, but after studying geography. One just needs common sense and a little research," he explains, adding: "Geography does not provide a time period, but gives a sketch of the expected disaster."

Says ninth grader Arzoo Iqbal, a fellow student and a friend of Basim for three years: "I believed whatever Basim said earlier. While explaining to us, he used calculations and sketches. But everyone was making fun of him in school. We also held a party to celebrate this year as the last, because according to Basim’s prediction, we might not be alive tomorrow. But now, everyone believes him while the teachers too are happy with him."

In the report published earlier, Basim, predicting another earthquake of a bigger magnitude in the region, had said: "Before mild tremors shook Sharjah on March 11, 2002, I had warned my friends and relatives that there was a possibility of an earthquake in the UAE. I am repeating that warning again after the recent tsunami and the quake in Pakistan. My main concern is to raise awareness among people, and make them aware of safety precautions to be adopted in case of a quake."

He had also said: "My theory is that the tectonic activity in the UAE on March 11, 2002, was linked to earthquakes which devastated the very same countries of the subcontinent that it has done recently i.e. Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Evidence from nature cannot be ignored. Animals are extremely sensitive to nature and behave oddly before a disaster. My theory is based on scientific facts."

Basim, who plans to take up astrophysics in future, says that he cannot say anything for the future now because he is busy with his exams and does not have the time to study geography.

• UAE