Earthquakes

6-magnitude aftershock rattles Puerto Rico - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A magnitude-6 aftershock rattled Puerto Rico on Saturday morning, days after temblors caused widespread damage and power outages on the island, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquake was one of dozens to shake the U.S. territory this week, beginning with a 5.8-magnitude earthquake Monday and a stronger 6.4-magnitude one Tuesday."

Comment: Praying for the people on the island, for their faith and resiliency. 

Earthquakes

6.8 magnitude earthquake shakes southern Philippines - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 3 miles to the south-southeast of Magsaysay, Philippines, on Sunday. The earthquake had a depth of 17.5 miles and struck at 12:11 p.m. Multiple aftershocks ranging in magnitudes from 4.8 to 5.7 have been reported in the area, according to the United States Geological Survey. CNN reported three people died."

Comment: The Ring of Fire continues to be very active. 

Earthquakes

Strong quake jolts southern Philippines, 6 dead, scores hurt
The AP reports: "A powerful earthquake shook the southern Philippines on Tuesday, triggering landslides and loosening boulders that killed six people and injured more than 100 others in a region already damaged by a strong quake two weeks earlier, officials said. [...] The Philippines lies in the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” an arc of faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. A magnitude 7.7 quake killed nearly 2,000 people in the northern Philippines in 1990."

Comment: Always worrisome when the "Ring of Fire" starts to act up.

Earthquakes

Five dead, dozens injured after strong earthquake rocks Philippines - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The death toll climbed to five Thursday after a strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake rocked southern Philippines, damaging buildings and threatening landslides, officials. [...] At least 27 people were injured and 5 were killed by the earthquake, including a 5-year-old boy who died when his house collapsed on top of him in Magsaysay, Davao Del Sur, said Anthony Allada of the local government public information office."

Comment: This would appear to be a standard quake on the "ring of fire" and it has me wondering if there will soon be a ripple around the ring? 

Earthquakes

5.6-magnitude earthquake in Albania injures 68 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 5.6-magnitude earthquake hit Albania on Saturday about 4 miles north of the city of Durres, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The temblor injured 68 people and damaged 46 buildings, Albanian Minister of Defense Olta Xhacka said. The quake struck around 4 p.m., followed by a weaker aftershock. It was the country's strongest earthquake in the past 30 years."

Comment: Note the location (not on the "ring of fire") and note as well that it was largest in that country in the past 30 years.

Earthquakes

7.1-magnitude earthquake rattles southern California - UPI.com
UPI reports: " A 7.1-magnitude earthquake has hit Southern California, marking a second big quake since Thursday. [...] Similar to Thursday's quake, it was centered in the Mojave Desert near Ridgecrest, Calif., though it was a little bit farther away from Los Angeles, and it was the the largest to hit the area in 20 years."

Comment: Ok, this was a bit surreal. I was slow to realize that the news alerts I was receiving on my phone were about a second big earthquake. I would note that this is a holiday weekend in the States and I was more disconnected from the news than I normally would be.  So, I'm breaking my custom of stepping away from online news and social media on Sunday to take note (belatedly) of this second and very large earthquake in Southern California. Does it portend The Big One?

Earthquakes

6.4-magnitude earthquake shakes Southern California - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A 6.4-magnitude earthquake shook Southern California on Thursday morning in the Mojave Desert about 120 miles from Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. [...] The earthquake was the largest to hit Southern California since 1999, when a 7.1-magnitude quake hit the Mojave Desert."

Comment: I've been reading reports that suggest this may be a precursor to the "big one" that is certain to hit sometime in the next 50-100 years.  I wonder if Californians are really prepared?

Earthquakes

Seismologists find possible early warning sign of a pending megaquake
UPI reports: "Geologists have found a possible early signature of massive earthquakes. New research suggests the telltale seismic pattern shows up between 10 seconds and 15 seconds into a seismic event. Scientists discovered the warning sign after analyzing GPS records of peak ground displacement during dozens of earthquakes."

Comment: It's time to start paying extra attention to the quake reports from USGS and other sources, a megaquake could be around the corner.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 8 earthquake strikes Amazon jungle in Peru
The AP reports: "A powerful magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck a remote part of the Amazon jungle in Peru early Sunday, collapsing buildings and knocking out power to some areas but causing only one reported death.

Comment: I don't usually check the headlines on Sunday. I follow that traditional approach of reserving Sunday for the things of God and for quiet time for reflection and fellowship with friends and family. However, today I received a breaking news alert and so I wanted to note this very large earthquake, perhaps one of the largest ever recorded, taking place today in Peru. Fortunately, the epicenter was not in a populated area otherwise there may have been massive damage and loss of life.

Earthquakes

6.1 magnitude earthquake hits near Philippines capital - UPI.com
UPI reports: "A strong earthquake rattled the Philippines Monday, toppling electricity poles and damaging infrastructure, officials said. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake struck near the Bodega sector of Manila, the nation's capital, on Luzon island. The agency said it had a preliminary magnitude of 6.1. The quake prompted many residents to flee their homes and interrupted Manila train service."

Comment: Is the "ring of fire" starting to get a bit more active? 

Quakes

California should have had a major earthquake by now, geologists warn
UPI reports: "California's three most historically active faults haven't slipped in a century, a hiatus unprecedented over the last 1,000 years, according to a new study. When researchers at the U.S. Geological Survey studied the paleoseismic records from the San Andreas, San Jacinto and Hayward faults, they failed to find a gap as long as California's current earthquake hiatus."

Comment: I've visited California several times but I've never lived there. When talking with residents, it always amazed me how accustomed they become to quakes. Low-intensity temblors are just a part of life. Moreover, they know that the "Big One" will happen someday. Yet, they take it all in stride and hope for the best. This has always amazed me! In the above report, we find that scientists have confirmed that major quake activity has been quieter than they would have expected. I think this means that the "Big One" might come sooner rather than later. Stay tuned! 

Earthquakes

Magnitude 7.5 quake strikes in Pacific near New Caledonia - AP
AP reports: "A powerful earthquake that struck in the southern Pacific Ocean on Wednesday sent jitters around the region after authorities warned of possible tsunamis, but there were no initial reports of destructive waves or major damage. The magnitude 7.5 quake hit in the afternoon near the French territory of New Caledonia at a shallow depth, where earthquakes are generally more damaging. It was felt as far away as Vanuatu, about 630 kilometers (390 miles) away."

Comment: Another very large quake in a sparsely populated area. I think the media should highlight the magnitude but I suppose they only highlight the big quakes with a big body count.

Earthquakes

7-magnitude earthquake damages buildings, roads near Anchorage - UPI.com
UPI reports: "An earthquake with a preliminary 7-magnitude shook Alaska on Friday, damaging roads and buildings, and disrupting air traffic in and out of the state's largest city, officials said. [...] The temblor cracked walls and caused ceilings to crumble in some buildings. At some stores, products crashed to the floor, creating a mess. [...] The damage caused power outages throughout the city and at least three buildings were set ablaze."

Comment: A 7.0 magnitude quake is a very large quake, thank God there was no loss of life.

Earthquakes

6.8-magnitude earthquake strikes off Greece coast
UPI reports: "An earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck off Greece's west coast early Friday near the island of Zakynthos. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake's epicenter was located 20 miles south of the island's southern tip of Mouzaki. [...] The earthquake could be felt as far away as Athens, about 175 miles northeast of the island, the Evening Standard reported. While no significant damage reported on the island, the island's capital did lose electricity."

Comment: That was a pretty big quake with very minimal damage.

Earthquakes

3 large earthquakes strike off Pacific coast of British Columbia - UPI.com
UPI reports: "Three large earthquakes were recorded near Vancouver Island off the British Columbia coast late Sunday night by the U.S. Geological Survey, but it did not set off any tsunami warnings. The earthquakes happened over a one-hour period, the USGS stated."

Earthquakes - Roaring Waves

Indonesia Tsunami: Experts Warn of More Deadly Disasters | Time
Time Magazine reports: "Indonesia is facing a long and painful recovery from the devastating earthquake and tsunami of two weeks ago, but scientists say that this latest calamity could simply be a warning of more deadly and destructive disasters ahead. [...] The reasons are clear: more humans are moving into more densely populated cities, and surrounding themselves with infrastructure — roads, bridges, and buildings — that become deadly hazards during a disaster, and expensive to repair when it subsides."

Comment: It's time for all countries to carefully reconsider development in disaster prone areas. They must counter the emotional "we will rebuild" sentiment people so often express. It's not brave to rebuild when you know it's a flood/quake/tsunami/typhoon/hurricane/tornado zone.  At the very least, insurers should no longer pay to rebuild in such areas and opt instead to pay for relocation.

Earthquakes

Magnitude-6.3 earthquake rocks Russia's Kuril Islands
UPI reports: "A 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Russia's Kuril Islands Tuesday three days after the nearby Ebeko volcano erupted on Paramushir Island. The earthquake's epicenter was located 90 miles east of Onekotan Island at a depth of 34 kilometers, according to the Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk seismic station, according to Russia's state-run Sputnik News. [...] The earlier volcanic eruption spewed ash as high as 4.5 kilometers in the air."

Comment: Scientists continue to say that there's nothing unusual going on and that quakes are not increasing in frequency and severity.  While it's true that we have better monitoring and reporting procedures now than in the past and this contributes to the misconception that they are, I do hope they will quickly let us know if the trend lines ever change.

Earthquakes - Roaring Waves

Death toll from Indonesia quake-tsunami hits 1,420 - UPI.com
UPI reports: "The official death toll from last week's earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia rose to more than 1,420 Thursday, with over 100 missing as some aid arrives. The 7.5-magnitude quake hit the Indonesian island of Sulawesi Friday and triggered a tsunami wave, soil rivers, and a continuously-climbing death toll. As of Thursday morning, the official death toll was 1,424 people though some on the ground say it's much higher. Indonesia's military authority, KOREM, said that 1,558 people have been confirmed dead and 113 are missing, TIME reported."

Comment: Such a terrible tragedy.  It's unfortunate that the current news cycle devotes more time to scandal than to natural disasters.

Earthquakes

Tsunami sweeps away homes on Indonesian island of Sulawesi - AP
AP reports: "A powerful earthquake rocked the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday, triggering a 3-meter-tall (10-foot-tall) tsunami that an official said swept away houses in at least two cities. [...] The region was rocked by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake Friday and numerous strong aftershocks, including one of magnitude 6.7. An earlier magnitude 6.1 quake in central Sulawsi killed several people, injured 10 and damaged dozens of houses. [...] Indonesia is prone to earthquakes because of its location on the “Ring of Fire,” an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin."

Comment: I wanted to be sure and note this because I'm not sure our American visitors will see it, as it has nothing to do with the Washington drama that has dominated the news of late.  It's noteworthy because a 7.5 magnitude quake is a very large quake.

Earthquakes

UPI - 6.6-magnitude earthquake shakes Japan
UPI reports: "A powerful 6.6-magnitude earthquake shook the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early Thursday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The earthquake struck at about 3 a.m. and was centered about 17 miles east of the city of Tomakomai, with a depth of about 21 miles, the USGS said. There was no threat of a tsunami following the quake."

Comment: The "ring of fire" seems to be very active lately.