The Korean Peninsula has become more prone to earthquakes with the number of tremors soaring nearly 55 percent over the past three years, the state weather agency said Monday.

According to the Korea Meteorological Administration, a total of 65 quakes were observed in the first seven months of this year, up 54.8 percent from 42 for all of 2010.

This year‘s figure compares with 52 in 2011 and 56 in 2012, the weather agency said, adding that the final tally for this year, if this trend continues, may be double the number of 2012.

Although most of the quakes had magnitudes of 2.0 to 3.0, experts say the country is no longer safe from earthquakes as the frequency has risen greatly since the country began seismic observations in 1978.

The annual average number of earthquakes that were reported on the peninsula was 15.38 in the 1980s to 44.9 in the 2000s.

Except for eight of the 65 quakes reported this year, all were detected in sea waters, according to the weather agency.

About 70.7 percent of them occurred in the Yellow Sea, especially in waters near Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province, and Eocheong and Baengnyeong islands. (Yonhap News)