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Tag: Earthquake

  • Yellowstone Earthquake: Caldera Remains Calm

    The Norris Geyser Basin felt the seismic bass drop today – all 4.8 worth of it.

    No injuries were sustained in the midst of this natural phenomenon common to Yellowstone – even though it was the strongest quake to hit the park since the 80’s. Yet, raised eyebrows about these more intense quakes have had more to do with whether the underlying Supervolcano would get triggered and erupt.

    As North America’s largest volcanic field, Yellowstone National Park harbors a caldera (another name by which the Supervolcano goes). Because of the tectonic and volcanic qualities, the caldera realizes roughly 1 to 20 earthquakes daily, per the Yellowstone observatory. So the magnitude 3 and under quakes are fairly ritual and hardly “news” for the area. None of those quakes (nor the 1985 event) set it off, either – unless of course I’m writing this from the afterlife and nobody informed me.

    While vain anxiety about an unstoppable natural force seems silly, suffice it to say that seismologists have offered to free us from our fears temporarily anyway. USGS Yellowstone Volcano Observatory spokesman Peter Cervelli spoke to NBC, indicating that the quake’s damage would be minor and that it is not expected to trigger any volcanic activity.

    Perhaps the best advice on how to proceed serenely with the act of living our lives comes from the following writer for Exotic Hikes: “While scary, the most recent earthquake at Yellowstone National Park should not cause any panic,” he assures, adding: “In fact, it should encourage you to plan a trip and go visit the first National Park. With geysers, animals, amazing waterfalls and a lifetime of memories, let this earthquake serve as the perfect reminder to get outside and enjoy nature…while it is still around.”

    Good point! Mother Nature’s not totally malevolent – and so long as there’s a rain check for Armageddon, we might as well revel in it.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Aftershocks Shake Southern California

    Aftershocks Shake Southern California

    After a magnitude-5.1 earthquake hit La Habra near Los Angeles Friday evening, more than 100 aftershocks have rattled the Southland area since, with the largest being a magnitude 4.1, which hit at 2:32 p.m. Saturday near Rowland Heights. The tremors were also felt in Culver City, Brea, Studio City and Whittier.

    Caltech seismologists said Friday’s earthquake was at a depth of approximately 1 mile. The main shock was preceded by two foreshocks registering magnitudes 3.6 and 2.1, researchers said.

    Over 30 area homes and apartments were red-tagged in the wake of Friday’s quake, after officials found a major foundation crack. Fullerton police Lt. Mike Chlebowski said 83 residents were displaced as a result.

    Some residents are now being allowed back into their homes, and according to the Fullerton fire department, 20 red-tagged apartment units were given the green light for residents to return Saturday evening. Yet, another six yet still have not been cleared as safe.

    Citizens of Northridge, Altadena, Palmdale, Torrance and Riverside also reported feeling the earthquake, which registered from the Mexican border to the Central Valley.

    So far, there have been no reports of significant damage or major injuries. Area residents took to Twitter to display varying degrees of earthquake damage:

    In La Habra, fire department Battalion Chief John Stokes said on Saturday that a focused effort to assess the structural integrity of many of the city’s building has been initiated. “There could be more (red-tagged structures),” Stokes said, adding “We’ve got units out looking at more structures, as people are getting up and starting to find stuff. We’ve got gas meters broken and five water mains ruptured.”

    Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement, “Friday’s earthquake is the second in two weeks, and reminds us to be prepared.”

    image via Twitter

  • Los Angeles Earthquake: This One A 5.1 Magnitude

    California just experienced another earthquake after the 6.9 magnitude shook residents near Eureka, CA, March 9th. This time, a magnitude-5.1 earthquake shook the Los Angeles area Friday evening, authorities said.

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake struck at about 9:09 p.m. and the epicenter was near Brea in Orange County, which lies about 20 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. It was felt as far south as San Diego and as far north as Ventura County, according to citizen responses collected online by the USGS.

    Although no major injuries or damages were reported, residents described broken glass, gas leaks, a water main break and a rock slide just near the epicenter, which caused a vehicle to overturn, according to Twitter updates.

    And the aftershocks keep coming, at least five aftershocks so far, ranging from magnitudes 2.7 to 3.6, according to the USGS. Earlier in the afternoon, a magnitude-3.6 quake hit nearby in the city of La Habra.

    Aftershocks are still being recorded by the USGS early on Saturday, nearly 12 hours after the quake struck. But the Los Angeles Fire Department said it had called off its “earthquake mode.”

    “Fortunately no significant damage occurred in the 470 square mile (756 square km) jurisdiction,” the department said.

    The quake was felt as far away as Palm Springs in the east, San Diego in the south and Ventura County to the north. While not large, the event “seems unusual, of course, because a lot of people felt it,” said Doug Given, a USGS geophysicist.

    “These quakes occur in populated areas and people try to put two and two together and predict that something more is coming, but that’s simply not the case,” he said.

    Seismologists said the Friday quake had a five percent chance of being a foreshock to a bigger one, but that possibility diminishes over time.

    Callers to KNX-AM reported seeing a brick wall collapse, water sloshing in a swimming pool and wires and trees swaying back and forth. One caller said he was in a movie theater lobby in Brea when the quake struck.

    “A lot of the glass in the place shook like crazy,” he said. “It started like a roll and then it started shaking like crazy. Everybody ran outside, hugging each other in the streets.”

    The last earthquake that caused serious damage was the 1994 magnitude-6.7 Northridge quake that killed several dozen people and caused $25 billion in damage.

    Image via YouTube

  • 1964 Alaskan Earthquake: What We’ve Learned

    1964 Alaskan Earthquake: What We’ve Learned

    Exactly fifty years ago today, the largest ever earthquake to ever hit North America shook the state of Alaska.

    What became known as the ’64 Great Alaska Earthquake had a magnitude of 9.2 and it lasted from about four to five minutes.

    The powerful earthquake was itself blamed for fifteen deaths. The resulting tsunami was responsible for killing 124 people, bringing the total fatalities to 139.

    The damage was catastrophic. By today’s economic standards, repairing the devastated region would cost upwards of $2.3 billion.

    In seeing images of the aftermath, it’s clear just how much it impacted the population of Anchorage, Alaska and surrounding areas.

    The impact has been felt in other ways in the decades since this major natural disaster.

    For instance, this earthquake played a key role in the formation of the the National Tsunami Warning Center, then known as the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

    Many individuals at the time incorrectly believed that the most dangerous aspect of an earthquake was the violent shaking. We now know that depending on the location, an earthquake can generate potentially life-threatening tsunamis.

    Even if persons aren’t close enough to the epicenter to have felt the earthquake, a tsunami can still reach them.

    This earthquake played a major role in the development and advancement of technology that monitors seismic activities.

    These developments mean that a warning can be sent out within minutes of an earthquake, giving those who could be hit by a tsunami a chance to get to higher ground.

    When it comes to massive earthquakes like what hit Alaska all those years ago, the major question is always, “Will it happen again?”

    The answer is always, “Yes, it will.”

    Though these “megathrusts” aren’t regular occurrences, there is evidence that they’ve happened throughout history with some form of regularity.

    Scientists now know that the 1964 earthquake was the latest megathrust to hit Alaska. The region experiences such mega earthquakes at an average of once every 600 years.

    Image via YouTube

  • Los Angeles Earthquake: 4.4-Magnitude Trembles the City

    A sudden tremble struck the Los Angeles area Monday morning at 6:25 a.m.

    The quake’s epicenter occurred in the Santa Monica Mountains 6 miles north-northwest of Westwood, Calif., and 15 miles northwest of Los Angeles.

    The quake was initially measured at a 4.7-magnitude, but then was recorded as 4.4 at a depth of 5.3 miles.

    Approximately six aftershocks followed the rumbles. Magnitudes ranging from 2.5 to 2.6 were felt between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

    The quake was felt in Beverly Hills, Universal City, Santa Monica, and Sacramento, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

    One of the largest earthquakes to ever strike Los Angeles occurred nearly 20 years ago and claimed the lives of dozens of people. It was reportedly a M6.7.

    The most recent earthquake the area experienced happened near Inglewood in 2009 at a 4.7-magnitude.

    Experts say that although Monday’s earthquake wasn’t exceptionally damaging, it is still very significant.

    “It’s not that large by California terms. It’s the size of earthquake we have across the state once every couple of months,” said Lucy Jones, a USGS seismologist. “But we haven’t had one like this in LA for quite a while.”

    No injuries or damages were reported. Yet, the tremors were strong enough to knock down a few household items according to local witnesses.

    Geophysicist Paul Caruso told CNN, “damage or casualties generally wouldn’t be expected with earthquakes weaker than a 5.5 magnitude, though results vary by region, often depending on construction codes and types of rock that exist underground.”

    However, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told KABC-TV in a statement that this was a wake up call for the city:

    Today’s earthquake is a reminder that every L.A. family must be prepared with food, water and other essentials, as well as a plan. While it appears the greatest impact of this temblor was a rude awakening, we are executing our post-earthquake protocols to survey our neighborhoods and critical infrastructure.

    Check out the clips below showing KTLA news anchors responding to the earthquake on live TV: 

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Japan Earthquake: 6.3-Magnitude Hits Three Main Islands

    Fourteen injuries were reported Friday following an earthquake that struck the south coast of Japan.

    The quake occurred a little after 2 a.m. in the Iyonada inland sea that separates the country’s main islands, including Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu.

    It was reportedly at a depth of 80 kilometers, but experts say that the earthquake could have reached 700 kilometers.

    The U.S. Geological Survey explained on their site what possibly caused the quake:

    Subduction zones at the Japanese island arcs are geologically complex and produce numerous earthquakes from multiple sources. Deformation of the overriding plates generates shallow crustal earthquakes, whereas slip at the interface of the plates generates interplate earthquakes that extend from near the base of the trench to depths of 40 to 60 km.

    The injuries that people incurred from the natural disaster were reportedly minor.

    According to the Japan Daily Press:

    Firefighters in Okayama City said that a 70-year-old woman and two other residents sustained minor injuries while in Tamano, still in Okayama Prefecture, a 1-month-old infant was injured when his mother accidentally dropped him while trying to seek refuge. Hiroshima Prefecture also reported six minor injuries, and several more injuries were sustained by people in Hofu and Shimanto.

    There were also no signs of tsunami threats, major damages, or reported casualties.

    The news company also said, “an Upper-5 intensity was registered in Seiyo, Ehime Prefecture while lower-5 was detected in Kure, Hiroshima Prefecture, Sukumo, Kochi Prefecture, and Usuki, Oita Prefecture.”

    Additionally, the agency says that they expect four aftershocks to take place within the next few weeks.

    Japan has experienced three major earthquakes since 1933. One of those includes the 2011 9.0-magnitude earthquake in Tohoku, better known as 3/11.

    Coincidently, Japan just commemorated the three-year anniversary of the tragic event on Tuesday, which caused a 30-foot tsunami and a nuclear radiation safety issue.

    The nuclear disaster killed 15,884 people and 2,636 victims were never found following the disaster.

    Tohoku officials have said that they are still gradually rebuilding the area since then.

    Here is a report by the Associated Press about 3/11: 

    Image via YouTube

  • California Earthquake And Japan’s 3 Year Anniversary

    So, California had an earthquake Sunday.

    Earthquakes aren’t really “news” for the Golden State. They’re just a natural event that happens because these huge slabs (called tectonic plates) of rock below our feet are constantly playing a game like Jenga, where sometimes the edges slip and crack. That sends off these waves we occasionally end up feeling. California just happens to sit on top of one of those places (called fault lines) where that sort of activity is more likely. Although the results of quakes can be pretty devastating, other times we feel nothing at all. In fact, everyday, across the planet, little ones transpire and we’re blissfully unaware of them when they do.

    As for this weekend’s events, everything turned out pretty well.

    It was a casualty free episode, nobody was hurt, and the power even remained on in the 100 year old house of resident Rachel Maytorena, who lives a mile off the coast, near Eureka.

    “It just kept going and going, very slowly and softly. It was not violent. It almost felt like you were in a boat that was rocking,” Maytorena described.

    “The animals, they felt it,” she said, adding that they “were ready to get out of the house.”

    Indeed, animals are pretty sensitive to earthquakes – not just while they’re happening but beforehand. While our best seismology technology is constantly advancing, it still falls short of effectively determining when and if a quake will happen. But you know what can? The common toad can!

    Yep, Bufo bufo (which sounds far more majestic than “common toad” doesn’t it?) is reportedly able to predict imminent quakes by picking up seismic activity as much as five days in advance of a quake, from over 40 miles away. Researchers believe that once they sense charged particles and noxious gases, they get the hell out of Dodge (or Eureka). That’s just a fun and useless fact for you to take into your day.

    You know why? Because we can’t help if earthquakes happen. So it’s better you leave your internet-news perusal with a few nuggets of pointless knowledge and inspiration versus worry. We can’t control a quake, but some stuff we can do includes:

    1. Moving somewhere they’re less likely to happen.
    2. Taking up residence with a colony of toads so you can reserve your fight or flight response for when the leader gives the signal to abandon ship.
    3. Using your skills (that’s the “inspiration” part – did it work?) to help battle the nasty aftermath when a really powerful one hits.

    It’s helpful to know when things like this happen so we can make sure the people we love are alright, but Sunday’s quake resulted in no major damage, despite it’s magnitude, so the fear mongering is unnecessary.

    However, its proximity to today’s 3 year anniversary of still-recovering Japan’s quake and tsunami reminds us that far larger disasters do happen.

    What’s more, we can help following these events beyond merely sharing emotional footage. When we see a giant wave wreak havoc and carry off homes and cars like bathtoys, we can let that stirring in our tummies spur us into action. From hardcore volunteering like Erika Jenson does – to donating books to children whose families lost everything or just a small monetary offering, we all possess something that can help.

    And after any natural happening over which we have no power, the power we do have – to alleviate someone’s suffering – is pretty much awesome.

    Healing thoughts go out to Japan and its people as they recover.

    Image via Youtube

  • California Earthquake: It Might Not Be Over Yet

    A strong earthquake struck much of northern California and southern Oregon on Sunday, but surprisingly caused only minimal damage. Although the earthquake itself was enough to scare residents, the more than 20 aftershocks that struck in the eight hours following the quake kept the residents alert.

    The earthquake was a 6.8 magnitude quake, and struck at 10:18 p.m. The tremor didn’t last very long, but over 4,000 people felt it and the following aftershocks. Although the aftershocks seemed to have ceased for now, experts warn that more could be in the future.

    The Northern California Earthquake Data Center has warned that there could be at least one more 5.0 or higher magnitude aftershock that could strike the area within the next week. The type of quake that occurred was near the surface and according to experts, these shallow quakes are more likely to cause aftershocks than deeper quakes. The chances of another strong aftershock are between 5 and 10%.

    “It kind of goes in spurts,” National Earthquake Information Center geophysicist Don Blakeman told the San Francisco Chronicle. “You can’t say when it will end, but as time passes, you get fewer and fewer aftershocks and in general, they get smaller and smaller.”

    The quake occurred when the Gorda plate slid underneath the North American plate. As the plates push against each other, the fault lines feel the stress and release it with earthquakes.

    The size of the quake has been compared to one that struck in Kobe, Japan in 1995, killing over 6,000 people and causing $100 billion in damage. Because of the slower peak ground velocity of Sunday’s earthquake, there was far less damage and very few injuries caused by it. Residents are shaken but okay and hoping that there are no more aftershocks to worry about.

    Did you feel the California quake on Sunday?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • California Earthquake: 6.9-Magnitude Strikes Eureka Coast

    An offshore earthquake struck Northern California Sunday night, which was mainly centered in the Pacific Ocean at a depth of 10 miles.

    Sources say that the earthquake occurred around 10:18 p.m., 50 miles offshore of Eureka, Calif.

    The magnitude of the quake was calculated at 6.9 and was immediately followed by nearly six aftershocks.

    The quake itself was felt heavily throughout the region. Several aftershocks even made their way to the city of San Francisco and parts of Oregon.

    According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the aftershocks scaled at 2.9, 3.7, and 4.6 magnitudes mainly in Ferndale, Calif., which is only 48 miles away from the earthquake’s epicenter.

    More than a dozen aftershocks have been felt since Sunday night. Three thousand people reported the earthquake to the USGS website.

    One California resident who lives in Rio Dell, 55 miles away from the earthquake’s focal point, told the Associated Press that the quake did not last very long.

    “It was a big bump and then it rolled for about 30 seconds,” said 64-year-old Diana Harralson. “It was a real good shaker.”

    Another witness shared with KTUV a similar experience.

    Mike Meltzer of Ferndale said that the tremor lasted for about 10 seconds.

    “I’ve been through a number of these,” said Meltzer, who was a woking bartender at the time of the event. “It wasn’t a jolter; it was a wave.”

    One resident in Santa Monica tweeted to a friend that the sound of the earthquake confused her:

    Sgt. Brian Stephens of the Eureka Police Department told the Los Angeles Times Monday morning that his experience was quite different. To him, the quake lasted almost 40 seconds and was “definitely a long one.”

    “I thought someone was shoving my car back and forth, looked around and nobody was there. Then I realized what was happening,” he told the newspaper.

    The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center confirmed Sunday night that there were no tsunami threats near the area.

    Additionally, there have been no reports of injury or death.

    Image via YouTube
    Image via YouTube

  • Northern California Rocked By 6.9 Earthquake

    Things went bump in the night for a bunch of residents across Northern California over the weekend.

    Reports indicate that an earthquake hit the area at around 10:18 pm on Sunday. It is said to have originated in the Pacific Ocean, approximately 50 miles west of Eureka, California.

    The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the depth of the quake as about 4 miles. At present, there are no presumed tsunami threats to the region.

    There have been at least thirteen reported aftershocks, the largest clocking in at a magnitude of 4.6.

    “My car was rocking back and forth,” said Eureka Police Department Sgt. Brian Stephens. “I thought someone was shoving my car back and forth, looked around and nobody was there. Then I realized what was happening.”

    Despite the startling incident, the police sergeant was just fine. He also shared that there have been no serious injuries as a result of the quake and damage is minuscule. The same was said by Humboldt County Sheriff’s Department. The powerful quake seemed to have taken place at such a location that it spared California residents any major consequences

    Raquel Maytorena of Ferndale, Calif. describes it as almost a gentle, non-threatening experience. The 52-year-old commented, “It just kept going and going, very slowly and softly. It was not violent. It almost felt like you were in a boat that was rocking.”

    She added that it lasted longer than any other earthquake she’d ever experienced in her life.

    What’s incredible is that for a formidable quake that lasted as long as it did, it caused no real harm. Less powerful quakes have done more damage.

    For instance, the Morgan Hill earthquake that occurred roughly twenty years ago had a magnitude of about 6.2 and resulted in millions of dollars in damages.

    Had such a earthquake been centered in another region, things could have been much worse. Northern Californians may have been momentarily inconvenienced, but they’ll have to count themselves extremely fortunate.

    Image via YouTube

  • Earthquake Shakes Barbados And Martinique

    Earthquake Shakes Barbados And Martinique

    A magnitude 6.5 earthquake shook the Caribbean island of Barbados early Tuesday morning. It was also felt on the nearby island of Martinique.

    Barbados Police Constable Chris Greg said that the earthquake was felt all over the island. “It was strong,” he said.

    The U.S. Geological Survey said that the earthquake hit at a depth of 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) at approximately 5:27 am. The survey also said that the quake was centered nearly 106 miles northeast of Bathsheba, Barbados, and 125 miles east of Le Francois, Martinique.

    55-year-old security supervisor Dennis Connell said that he was just waking up when he felt the earthquake, and at first didn’t realize what it was. “I felt like the place was spinning,” he said. “I thought I was going sick.”

    Judy Thomas, the director of Barbados’ Emergency Management Department said that the earthquake didn’t last long, but was felt by thousands across the islands. “We’re advising people to go about their business as usual,” she explained.

    So far, no injuries or any structural damages have been reported. However, Valerie Clouard, the director of Martinique’s Volcanic and Seismic Observatory, warned citizens that there is a chance of possible aftershocks throughout the day.

    The last earthquake to hit the eastern Caribbean islands was in 2007 when a magnitude-7.4 quake hit northwest of Martinique’s coastline. Severe property damage was reported, during that quake.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Shroud Of Turin: Mystery Solved?

    Shroud Of Turin: Mystery Solved?

    For years, the Shroud of Turin has been rumored to be the burial cloth of Jesus. The tattered and ancient cloth is “stained” with the image of a man’s face and body. The image on the cloth seems to suggest that the person it covered was crucified. Those who have studied the cloth have been able to find what appears to be nail holes in the wrists and even a crown of thorns around the man’s head.

    While many people strongly believe that the Shroud of Turin is authentic and that the image was created by a higher power, there are also those who call it a fake, hoax or claim that it is misinterpreted. Over the last few decades, several scientists have studied the cloth and conducted numerous tests and experiments to determine if the shroud is the real deal.

    There are hundreds of theories on how the image could have been created on the cloth, but a group of scientists, led by Alberto Carpinteri of the Politecnico di Torino in Italy have come up with a new and unique idea. The scientists believe that an earthquake could be responsible for the remarkable image of the man on the cloth and also claim that it could have caused the incorrect radiocarbon dating results that were conducted by a different group of scientist in 1989.

    The scientists explained how this could be possible saying,

    High-frequency pressure waves generated in the Earth’s crust during this earthquake could have produced significant neutron emissions. These neutron emissions could have interacted directly with nitrogen atoms in the linen fibers, inducing chemical reactions that created the distinctive face image on the shroud.

    Although many scientists believe that this is theoretically possible, most do no think this is a likely scenario for the Shroud of Turin. Until tests can determine if the Shroud of Turin is real or a hoax, scientists will have to continue coming up with new experiments, theories and ideas to explain it.

    How do you think the Shroud of Turin was created?

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • China Earthquake: A 6.9-Magnitude Shakes the Hotan Province

    On Wednesday, a 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck one of China’s most abundant northwestern regions of natural resources.

    The Xinjiang region endured several tremors within a two-hour timespan. Twenty of them were recorded as a series of aftershocks.

    The earthquake mainly occurred in southeast Hotan, a county-level city known for its terrestrial mountains.

    A report by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) shows that the magnitude of the quake occurred 12.5 kilometers deep, south of Hotan.

    According to the survey’s tectonic summary:

    The February 12, 2014 M 6.9 earthquake south of Hotan, China, occurred as a result of shallow strike-slip faulting in the tectonically complex region of the northern Tibetan Plateau. Preliminary mechanisms for the event indicate slip occurred on a steeply dipping fault, either a left-lateral structure oriented northeast-southwest, or a right-lateral structure oriented northwest-southeast…

    The February 12, 2014 earthquake most likely resulted from movement along the Altyn Tagh fault system or an adjacent structure.

    Witnesses say that the earthquake lasted but a minute.

    There are reportedly no deaths or injuries, but officials are more than certain that homes and buildings in the area have suffered damage from the earthquake.

    It comes to no surprise that an earthquake has yet again hit China. Its mountainous regions are usually main targets of strike-slip fault systems.

    The tectonic summary also reported:

    The northern portion of the Tibetan Plateau itself is largely dominated by the motion on three large left-lateral, strike-slip fault systems; the Altyn Tagh, Kunlun and Haiyuan.

    Since last year, two earthquakes have occurred in other areas of the country.

    Last July, Gansu, a neighboring province of Xinjiang, succumbed to 95 local fatalities due to two earthquakes of the same magnitude.

    However, quakes in the town of Hotan appear to be common.

    “A previous 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck the same county in March 2008, affecting 40,000 people, destroying 200 homes and causing an overall 10 million yuan (US$1.7 million) in damage,” Channel NewsAsia said in a report.

    The USGS says that the 2008 earthquake happened “approximately 120 km further west-southwest” of Wednesday’s event.

    Image via Youtube

  • China Earthquake Damages Homes, No Casualties Reported

    China: Earthquake damage in Xinjiang today is limited to some homes, officials say, and there have been no casualties reported. However, the quake measured a strong 6.9 magnitude according to the U.S. Geological Survey and several strong aftershocks continued for at least two hours afterward.

    An earthquake in the same area in 2008 caused significant damage to several homes with some even collapsing, but the worst event in China in several years was the Sichuan quake in 2008, which measured a 7.9 and caused about 90,000 casualties and devastated the province.

    China’s Earthquake Networks Centre says Xinjiang’s quake was actually closer to a 7.3 magnitude; luckily, the area is sparsely populated.

    “We were at the office at the time and felt strong shaking, the windows were rattling,” a reporter in Keriya county said.

    China is often at risk for strong earthquakes, especially in the more mountainous areas.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Fukushima Radiation to Reach U.S. Coast This Year

    The day the tsunamis hit Japan, which would eventually cause the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, will remain etched into my brain for a long time. I was frantically woken up by my mother on March 11, 2011; she ushered me to the television, where I saw footage of the damage that made my heart leap into my throat. I hurried to school and entered the classroom where I had been a part of a Japanese language program for three years at the time. In this room, I found my teacher, a man who had spent twelve years of his time in the area of Japan that was most heavily hit, as well as our three exchange students, one of which whose hometown was in the hard hit area, in tears. I, as well as many other students, joined them.

    Over the next few weeks, our program worked to raise money for the Red Cross and other benefits, and we provided as best a support net for our exchange students and teacher as we could. The event was tragic, terrifying, and unforgettable; this point is proven, once more, by the fear it is continuing to strike into the hearts of many as concerns of nuclear radiation begin to make themselves well known.

    Residents of Japan have been experiencing the effects of nuclear radiation from the plant since the beginning, and clean up efforts have been doing their best to contain the problem and keep people healthy. Now, fear is rising among U.S. citizens as the radiation that leaked into the ocean shortly after the meltdown makes its way to the West coast.

    This impending event has been a cause of concern among many residents near the coast, including those in the San Francisco Bay area, who passed a resolution back in December that would require more regulation and testing of local seafood. However, officials say that such worries are uncalled for, since there is already radiation present in the ocean.

    These reassurances have not been helpful to residents, however, who are still very fearful about the effects that may come with the radiation. They are not alone; Korea has ceased imports of fish from Japan’s Northern Pacific coast out of fear of radiation, as well. It seems like everyone is on their toes when it comes to the fear of radiation.

    Whether or not the radiation proves harmful to the U.S., it is a concrete reminder of the unexpected tragedy that befell Japan in 2011, as well as grim evidence of how events that have long passed can prove harmful to so many people.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons.

  • Puerto Rico Earthquake Of 6.4 Magnitude Jolts Nation

    A strong earthquake  struck Northern Puerto Rico early Monday about 34 miles north of Hatillo municipality and caused minor damages including some power outages and floor cracks.  No injuries have been reported so far. The earthquake is one of the largest quakes to hit the U.S. territory in recent years.

    The U.S. Geological Survey said the earthquake was out at sea and estimated its magnitude to be about 6.4. The survey also revealed the quake went approximately 17 miles deep.

    A geologist with Puerto Rico’s Seismic Network, Gisela Baez Sanchez, said at least 70 aftershocks of 3.5 or more magnitude have since been reported.

    People living along the coast reported cracked walls and floors, broken windows and  busted water lines. Authorities confirmed that power outages mostly occurred in the northern city of Bayamon which is next to Puerto’s capital of San Juan. Some people, however, reported buildings swaying in San Juan, about 61 miles (98 kilometers) from the epicenter of the quake.

    The island’s government was criticized in the social media for not issuing a tsunami alert immediately after the quake. However, authorities have defended themselves saying they would have done so had there been risk of injuries.

    According to Puerto Rico’s emergency management agency spokesman, Carlos Acevedo, many people called the emergency services but no injuries have been reported. As a result, the agency has not issued a tsunami alert yet since the damages have been minor.

    “No one has required our services.” Carlos Acevedo said in a phone interview.

    The last time Puerto Rico experienced an earthquake of a similar magnitude was in 1918 when a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the island and killed 116 people. In 2011, there was also a 5.4 magnitude quake that shook the island followed by another, occurring in Dec 2010.

    Earthquakes 101

    Image via YouTube

  • Puerto Rico Earthquake – 6.4-Magnitude Rattles The Country

    A strong earthquake hit Puerto Rico after midnight on Sunday, the quake was centered in the Atlantic Ocean.

    The epicenter was approximately 35 miles north of Hatillo, and 17 miles deep according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

    The National Weather Service’s Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has reported that there is a possibility of a widespread tsunami, but it is not expected to be destructive.

    Some damage was reported as several people experienced items falling in their home and many others said they felt the buildings sway in San Juan, which lies approximately 61 miles from the earthquake’s epicenter.

    The area is no stranger to earthquakes – many of similar magnitude have hit the country in the recent past. A 5.4 magnitude occurred in March 2011 and December 2010.

    Reports indicate that there was minimal damage. The capital San Juan, where 400,000 people live, is located on the same side of the island where the possibility of a tsunami could occur, although authorities have not issued a warning.

    This quake is almost 4 years to the day after the powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti. It also occurred just a day after services were held in Haiti to remember the estimated 316,000 people killed in that quake of January 12, 2010.

    The Caribbean tectonic plate is a sliver of crust caught between the North and South American plates and, to the west, the Cocos plate. When they move in opposite directions the Caribbean plate gets squeezed, thereby causing tremors and earthquakes.

    Although in recent years Puerto Rico has not fallen victim to a major tremor, the U.S. Geological Society notes that the subduction zone “is capable of hosting M8+ earthquakes.” That said, the tectonic history of the region includes known earthquakes of magnitude-7.5 in 1914, magnitude-7.3 in 1787 and 1918 and magnitude-7.0 1917.

    These quakes were recorded to have caused major damage, and the 1918 quake, which created a tsunami, killed 116 people.

    Image via NDN

  • Tonga Is Hit By Powerful Cyclone

    A powerful storm has hit the archipelago of Tonga on Saturday. Authorities are calling that storm Cyclone Ian, and it hit the islands with gusts of winds topping 178 mph, putting it in category five, the most severe type of cyclone.

    Ian created a path of destruction as it hit the string of islands, flattening homes and killing one person, but injuring many. The cyclone has been called the worst storm in decades to hit the Ha’apai islands, one of Tonga’s three island groups, between the main island of Tongatapu in the south and the Vava’u islands to the north.

    Relief teams are searching the remote islands for victims as authorities had been unable to make telephone contact with 23 islands that account for most of the inhabited islands in the Ha’apai group, said Leveni Aho, Tonga’s director of emergencies.

    “The patrol boats are still out there, going from island to island to scout for information,” he said.

    Ha’apai governor Tu’i Ha’angana said he could see from one side of the island to the other, and “that’s how devastated it is”.

    Patrol boats, compliments of the navy, carried tents and other emergency supplies in an effort to assist victims whose homes were destroyed during this raging storm.

    Aho estimated that hundreds of people on the two islands were taking shelter in church buildings being used as evacuation centers. Up to 70 percent of the homes and buildings in some areas had been flattened, officials said.

    Tupou Ahomee Faupula, from Tonga’s mobile phone provider Digicel, said his field officer in Ha’apai, Uaisele Fonokalafi, reported widespread devastation: “He told us that this was the worst ever damage from a cyclone. Most houses are flattened and roofs are off, and trees and power lines are down.”

    The patrol boats’ relief mission said the weather was good on Sunday, but the seas remained rough.

    Tonga is an archipelago of 176 islands, 36 of them are inhabited by more than 100,000 people.

    Image via YouTube

  • Tokyo 5.5 Earthquake Shakes Up Saturday Morning

    Yahoo News tells us that eastern Japan has felt a strong rumble registering at a 5.5 magnitude early this morning, but thankfully no tsunami threats, serious damage or nuclear damage have been reported. This has been the ninth earthquake this month.

    Although always frightening, the citizens of Japan are likely breathing a sigh of relief– this earthquake did not cause the following nightmares of past tremors, namely the 9 magnitude earthquake that left 20,000 people dead or missing due to the following tsunami of colossal proportions and destroyed nuclear plant.

    In the matter of nuclear damage, Japan can’t take much more right now. The country is still working to clean up the destroyed nuclear plant by the name of Fukushima. According to an earlier report from the BBC, the high amounts of radioactive water stored on the site are reaching storage capacity, and there are numerous leaks throughout the entire plant. These leaks are extremely detrimental; radioactive water seeping into the groundwater, rivers and oceans not only severely impacts our seafood dishes– but the balance of the Earth’s ecosystem. There is some distrust on plant radiation figure reports by some officials, so let us hope that there was actually no plant damage done by the quake today.

    More information on this earthquake is sure to follow as the hours progress. As of right now, eastern Tokyo is a little shaken up, but they have seen much worse in very recent history.

    [image: twitter]

  • Oklahoma Earthquake Magnitude-4.5 Shakes State

    For anyone that lives in an earthquake zone knows, when that ground starts rocking and rolling, it can be terrifying. The feeling of nowhere to go to escape – can be overwhelming. But, when Central Oklahoma experienced a 4.5 magnitude earthquake, after their initial shock, they simply continued on with their day – and watching the in-state college rivalry football game.

    The earthquake epicenter near Arcadia is about 14 miles northeast of Oklahoma City, and was about 5 miles deep, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. The quake was followed by many smaller quakes and tremors. The biggest was a magnitude-2.8 earthquake about 10 miles northeast of Oklahoma City and a magnitude-3.1 tremor about 6 miles northeast of the city.

    Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management spokeswoman Keli Cain said no injuries or damage were reported from any of the quakes.

    People in a local hangout right in the heart of the epicenter of Arcadia, Pop’s, stopped to assess how bad it was going to be, but then went on with their drinks and meals… and football.

    Pops Restaurant in Arcadia manager, Marty Doepke said there was no damage at the restaurant, surprisingly, because they are famous for their 600 different type of soda selection, and there are hundreds of soda bottles on display.

    “It shook a bit, that’s for sure. Everybody just kind of stopped and looked around,” Doepke said. “Everybody almost automatically knew what it was and then went back to watching the Bedlam game” — the Oklahoma State-Oklahoma football game.

    Oklahoma residents are as used to earthquakes as people can be – because earthquakes are so common. The state is filled with fault lines that generate a lot of earthquakes, some small, some strong. But after decades of living with earthquakes in this region, people have become, well, kind of used to them.

    Wonder how they fared when the biggest one hit, the biggest at least – that they’d seen – a 5.6 earthquake on Nov. 5, 2011. Although not as rough going as earthquakes that Californian’s endure, or in other parts of the world, but strong enough to rattle some bones.

    Image via YouTube

  • Oklahoma Earthquake Surprises Arcadia Residents

    An earthquake with a 4.8 magnitude has shaken Central Oklahoma this Saturday afternoon, according to U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake was recorded shortly after 12 noon just southeast of Lake Arcadia which is seven miles east of Edmond, 9 miles north, northwest of Choctaw and fourteen miles northwest of Oklahoma.

    The spokesman of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency, Keli Cain, says no damage or injuries have been reported as of yet, though the earthquake was about 5 miles deep. However, Paul Carusi, a geophysicist with the Oklahoma Geological Survey has described the earthquake as a shallow quake that can do no more than knocking items off the shelves and causing light fixtures to sway. It is believed that this could be part of the chain of quakes that have struck near the Jones area over the past few years.

    The earthquake only lasted several seconds but many Oklahoma residents said they felt it. Residents of several Oklahoma cities including Oklahoma City, Harra, Edmond, Mustang, Stillwater, Guthrie and Tulsa reported feeling the earthquake.

    Many fans who were attending the Bedlam football game in Stillwater reported they felt the earthquake as well. The manager of Pops Restaurant in Arcadia says there was no noticeable damage to the restaurant and customers were initially surprised but simply went back to viewing the football game on TV once the earthquake stopped.

     

    What Causes Earthquakes?

    (main image via Youtube)