Earthquakes
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Magnitude 5.4 earthquake hits near active Volcano in Nicaragua


teleSUR English
Thu, 15 Sep 2016 09:40 UTC
Momotombo volcano
© ReutersNicaragua's landmark Momotombo volcano erupted for the first time in 110 years back in December, 2015.
The National Preventive System for Disasters, or SINAPRED, have activated operatives in the affected areas including the capital city of Managua.

An earthquake measuring at least 5.4 on the Richter scale struck 7-and-a half miles from the municipality of Laz Paz Centro and in close proximity to the active Volcano Momotombo in Nicaragua late Wednesday, sparking major aftershocks, and fear, but no reported casualties.

The earthquake struck at 11:57 PM local time, and an initial aftershock measuring 4.4. After the initial aftershock, the National Preventive System for Disasters, or SINAPRED, report that another 10 had followed.

Even more are expected, according to SINAPRED authorities, who have also confirmed the earthquake is connected to the 6.1. and 7.3 earthquakes that hit Nicaragua in April and October 2014, respectively.

According to Dr. Armando Saballos, authorities are assessing the situation and monitoring the activity of Momotombo, which so far has given "no indication that the volcano has increased in activity." Various news agencies reported the Wednesday earthquake measured anywhere from 5.4 to 5.9 in magnitude. The maximum ever recorded on the Richter scale was 9.5 by a 1960 Chilean earthquake.
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Seismograph

Shallow magnitude 6.0 earthquake strikes near Solomon Islands

Siobhan Fenton
The Independent (UK)
Wed, 14 Sep 2016 08:44 UTC
Solomon Islands
© TORSTEN BLACKWOOD/AFP/Getty ImagesHoniara is the capital of the Solomon Islands

The region has been struck by a number of earthquakes in recent years

A magnitude 6 earthquake has struck 89km west of Honiara on the Solomon Islands, the US Geographical Survey has said.

The quake had a depth of 10km, which is considered shallow.

It struck at approximately 18:00 local time or 07:30 UK time.

Honiara is the capital of the Solomon Islands.

There have been no reports of injuries or serious damage and no immediate tsunami warning has been issued.

The US Geographical Society has issued a green alert, saying "there is a low likelihood of casualties and damage". They warned that some secondary effects or further damage may be possible as "recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses."
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Bizarro Earth

5.9 earthquake strikes Colombia


RT
Wed, 14 Sep 2016 02:43 UTC
Colombia quake map
© SkyAlert / Twitter
A powerful earthquake measuring 5.9 magnitude has struck northwest Colombia, the US Geological Survey reports.

The epicenter of the quake was located some 129 km (about 66 miles) north northwest of the country's second largest city, Medellin, at a depth of 72 km (45 miles).

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
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Alarm Clock

Residents jolted awake by magnitude 3.5 earthquake in Oakland, California


sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com
Tue, 13 Sep 2016 13:47 UTC
quake map
© usgs
A magnitude 3.5 earthquake awakened Oakland residents early Tuesday morning, but caused no reported damage, authorities said.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake was centered in Piedmont and was felt in Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley and San Leandro.

The quake struck at 12:40 a.m. and except for waking up residents did not cause any significant damage.

Alison Kane, who lives near Lake Merritt, said on the KPIX 5 Facebook page that she felt a strong jolt.

"Felt it over here by the lake! 3 miles away," she wrote. "Shook the whole apt building. Meanwhile my chihuahua slept soundly, snoring. Guess I can't rely on him to be a pre-quake alarm."
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Info

Japanese researchers link earthquakes to moon phases

Adriana Weber
Radio New Zealand
Tue, 13 Sep 2016 03:13 UTC
A study by Japanese researchers has linked the timing of large earthquakes with tidal stresses around the time of a new or full moon.
Full Moon
© 123rf
Research conducted by University of Tokyo academics and published in the journal Nature Geoscience examined the tidal activity prior to large earthquakes around the world during the last 20 years.

The study looked at earthquakes of magnitude 5.5 or higher, including the magnitude 9 earthquake that struck Japan in March 2011, triggering a devastating tsunami.

It said some of the biggest quakes occurred when tidal stresses were high, at spring tides, just after a new or full moon.

Victoria University geophysicist John Townend said the research did not mean people could predict when and where a big earthquake was likely to strike.
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Seismograph

Record 5.8 magnitude earthquake rocks southeastern South Korea; preceeded by 5.1-magnitude shake less than an hour earlier


Yonhap News
Mon, 12 Sep 2016 18:57 UTC
Graph
© Dimas Ardian, Getty Images
A record magnitude-5.8 earthquake jolted South Korea's southwestern region, the country's meteorological agency said Monday.

The quake detected at 8:35 p.m. was the strongest tremor reported on land in the country with the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) saying the epicenter was near Naenam-myeon region in Gyeongju, some 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

The quake was preceded by a 5.1-magnitude tremor detected at 7:44 p.m. in the same area located some 9 kilometers south of Gyeongju. The second quake was felt in most parts of the country.

No serious damage was immediately reported, including at the Wolsong, Hanul and Gori nuclear power plants located in the Gyeongsang region.



Comment: See also this report of the earlier event: Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks southeastern South Korea

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Seismograph

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake rocks southeastern South Korea


Yonhap News
Mon, 12 Sep 2016 13:05 UTC
Graph
© Dimas Ardian, Getty Images
An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.3 jolted the country's southwestern region, South Korea's meteorological agency said Monday.

Busan Regional Meteorological Administration pinpointed the epicenter of the quake at 8 kilometers south of Gyeongju, some 371 kilometers southeast of Seoul. The quake was felt throughout Gyeongsang Province.

No damage was immediately reported, although most people in the region felt homes and buildings shake.

MAP EARTHQUAKE
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Seismograph

USGS tells Kansans to prep for earthquakes like Californians

Rachel Skytta
KWCH12
Thu, 08 Sep 2016 06:45 UTC
Earthquake map Okla
© twitter.com5.8 earthquake strikes Oklahoma, felt in Kansas
Oklahoma's largest earthquake ever still has people talking. Saturday's 5.8 magnitude earthquake caused only minor damage in Kansas, but officials with the US Geological Survey say it's time for people in the region to start preparing for earthquakes like Californians. Items on your wall or shelves can be hazardous in an earthquake, but there are ways you can protect yourself and your belongings.

"It scared me this time," said Errica Weaver. The morning jolt felt across the region didn't skip Weaver's home. "I ran down the hallway and woke my husband up and I was like 'we're having another earthquake'," said Weaver. [T]he earthquake shook pictures off her wall, and caused drawers to slide out of her bedroom dresser. We took Weaver through the FEMA Earthquake Home Hazard Hunt, a guide to eliminate potential dangers in your home in the event of an earthquake.

FEMA recommends you securely fasten or relocate heavy pictures over beds and furniture. We checked Weaver's home and all wall hangings are in safe places. Another suggestion is to secure cabinets to wall studs, and use latches to keep cabinet doors from flying open during an earthquake. Weaver says that's something she'll have to fix in her own home.

FEMA also recommends strapping down TVs and other expensive or hazardous electronics. FEMA emphasizes making sure all heavy objects are secured inside your home. There are also steps you can take outside the home, such as making sure your house is anchored to its foundation.


Comment: The earthquake ties for Oklahoma's strongest earthquake on record, the first coming in November 2011. No major damage was immediately reported. An increase in magnitude 3.0 or greater earthquakes in Oklahoma has been linked to underground disposal of wastewater from oil and natural gas production. State regulators have asked producers to reduce wastewater disposal volumes in earthquake-prone regions of the state.

Some parts of Oklahoma now match northern California for the nation's most shake prone, and one Oklahoma region has a 1 in 8 chance of a damaging quake in 2016, with other parts closer to 1 in 20. An estimated 10 million people felt the earthquake across Oklahoma, Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Texas, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama.

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Seismograph

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake hits near Skopje, Macedonia


ABC News
Sun, 11 Sep 2016 15:48 UTC
Macedonia earthquake
© USGS
Macedonian authorities say an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.3 struck on the outskirts of the capital on Sunday, causing minor damage to buildings but no injuries.

The quake occurred just after 3 p.m. (1300 GMT), seismologist Dragana Cernih from the national seismological observatory told The Associated Press.

She said she received reports of cracks in the walls of buildings or collapsed chimneys, as well as damage to roofs in villages around Skopje. But she said there was no indication of people being injured.

The U.S. Geological Survey also gave the quake a preliminary magnitude of 5.3, with its epicenter about four kilometers east-northeast of Skopje, at a depth of 10 kilometers (six miles). The Potsdam-based German Research Centre for Geosciences, or GFZ, gave a magnitude of 5. Earthquake experts often give different estimates of magnitude.

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Info

Update: At least 11 dead, 192 injured following earthquake in Tanzania

Tamerra Griffin
Buzzfeed News
Sat, 10 Sep 2016 20:56 UTC
Tanzania is the latest nation to hit by a devastating earthquakes
Tanzania is the latest nation to hit by a devastating earthquakes
An earthquake struck near the Ugandan border in northern Tanzania on Saturday afternoon, leaving at least 11 people dead and nearly 200 others injured, officials said.
Damage from near the epicentre of today's 5.7 magnitude earthquake in Tanzania

— NTV UGANDA (@ntvuganda)
The tremor measured 5.7 on the Richter scale and struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles), according to the US Geological Survey.

Comment: See also: Shallow 5.7 magnitude earthquake recorded in Tanzania

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