Earthquakes
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Seismograph

5.9 magnitude earthquake rattles southern Philippines

Philippines earthquake
© emsc-csem.org
A powerful 5.9 magnitude earthquake has struck the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, according to the US Geological Survey.

Meanwhile the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) measured the quake at a preliminary magnitude of 5.7.

The shallow earthquake's epicenter was measured roughly at a depth of 12.4 kilometers. There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damages, and no immediate tsunami warning has been issued.

The jolt happened at relatively close proximity to the city of Davao, which has a population of 1.2 million and lies less than 200 km away. Residents of Butuan, Tagum, Bislig, and Mati, which are spread out across the island, also reported feeling the tremors.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology registered also the jolts at 5.7 and said the quake had been tectonic in nature. A warning about possible aftershocks has been issued, but the institute said the quake is unlikely to result in damage.

Attention

Aftershocks continue, tsunami warning lifted after 7.1 magnitude New Zealand quake

NZ quake
© ONE NewsCCTV captured the moment Whakatane New World shelves started rocking.
A swarm of 100 aftershocks has continued to plague the North Island's East Cape since a severe earthquake struck early on Friday morning.

The quake - 7.1 in magnitude, 130km north-east of Te Araroa at a depth of 55km at 4.37am - was felt from Northland to Wellington in the North Island, and in the top of the South Island. Severe reports were felt in Gisborne and the Bay of Plenty.

The earthquake prompted a tsunami warning, which was rescinded after waves of 30 cm were measured off Gisborne's coast.

Alarm Clock

Very shallow 5.7 magnitude earthquake strikes off Northern California

Very shallow quake off California
© USGS
A moderate earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 has struck the Pacific Ocean off Northern California, with shaking felt in Fortuna, Eureka and Arcata, witnesses say. No tsunami warnings have been issued.

The earthquake, which struck at 8:27 p.m. PT on Friday, was centered about 52 miles west of Capetown, or 64 miles of Fortuna. It struck about 1.3 mile below the ocean floor, making it a very shallow earthquake, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS put the preliminary magnitude of the earthquake at 5.6 and residents in the region reported feeling shaking as a result of the earthquake, though there was no immediate word on damage or injuries. The National Tsunami Warning Center, which initially put the magnitude at 5.7, said there is no threat of a tsunami.

Seismograph

Powerful 7.1 earthquake strikes off New Zealand coast, tsunami warning issued

new zealand quake
© earthquake.usgs.gov
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of New Zealand, 167km northeast of the town of Gisborne, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Officials have urged people along the coast to evacuate to higher ground.

The USGS did not issue a tsunami warning following the earthquake, and has downgraded the magnitude from an initial 7.2 to 7.1, at a depth of 30.7km.

There have been no reports of casualties or damage to buildings as yet. New Zealand's GeoNet reported that it was a 7.1 magnitude earthquake with an epicenter located at a depth of 55km.

Almost 800 people live within a 100-km zone around the epicenter, local media report. The town of Gisborne, with a population of 34,274, lies 167.9km away.

Attention

'Intense' shallow 3.5 earthquake strikes southern Spain

The small but intense shake rocked southern Spain terrifying locals and holidaymakers
The small but intense shake rocked southern Spain terrifying locals and holidaymakers
Emergency services were swamped with hundreds of calls as terrified locals felt walls move

An intense earthquake rocked southern Spain to its core last night causing a shopping mall and a cinema to be evacuated near Gibraltar.

Emergency services were swamped with hundreds of calls from terrified locals living in the usually quiet Campo de Gibraltar.

The earth-shattering quake, which measured 3.5 on the Richter scale, rattled southern Spain - causing walls to move and plates to rattle.

The Bahia Plaza and the local cinema in the town of Los Barrios were evacuated by fearless fire crews.

Seismograph

Powerful 5.7-magnitude earthquake hits New Zealand

new zealand earthquake
© USGSA 5.7-magnitude earthquake has hit off the coast of New Zealand's North Island
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake has hit off the coast of New Zealand's North Island.

The earthquake happened at 10.04am local time on Thursday and its epicentre was near the town of Te Araroa on the east coast of the island.

It had a depth of 25 kilometres and was felt by people north of Te Araroa in Auckland and the Great Barrier Island, the New Zealand Herald reported.

The South Island would also have felt the earthquake as far south as Christchurch, which is more than 1,100 kilometres away from the epicentre.

It was initially recorded as a 5.0-magnitude earthquake, 100km from Te Araroa, before it was upgraded, according to GeoNet.

Following the earthquake, New Zealand's Earthquakes Commission tweeted: 'We hope everyone is okay up on the after that one. Take care of each other and remember the actions - drop, cover and hold.'

Attention

Mexico's Popocatépetl volcano eruption triggers 3-magnitude earthquake

Popocatépetl volcano
Popocatépetl volcano
Mexico's National Center for Disaster Prevention on Wednesday said an eruption at the Popocatépetl volcano caused a 3-magnitude earthquake.

The temblor occurred at 1:11 p.m. Tuesday. The epicenter was in the southeast section of the volcano.

"These earthquakes are part of a swarm or train of volcano tectonic earthquakes that began last Monday," the disaster prevention center, or CENAPRED, said in Wednesday's statement. "At the time of this report there have been counted 366 of these earthquakes."

Popocatépetl is about 43 miles southeast of Mexico City. CENAPRED in March raised the environmental alert level to the second degree out of three, meaning nearby residents should be prepared to evacuate.

Bizarro Earth

Earthquake magnitude 6.7 strikes off Papua New Guinea

PNG Earthquake
© USGS
Sydney - A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 struck off the town of Rabaul in Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The epicentre of the quake was located 89 km (55 miles) northeast of Rabaul on New Britain island and at a depth of 499 kms (310 miles).

Ambulance

Aftershock shakes central Italy

Itay
© Google Maps
A new 4.4-magnitude aftershock with a depth of about 9 km has rattled the region not far from the town of Arquata del Tronto in central Italy, the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre reported. The area suffered a deadly earthquake four days ago. The aftershock's center is located nearly 7 km from Arquata del Tronto. The tremor was felt in Rome, situated more than 150 kilometers south of the town, according to local broadcaster RaiNews24.

A powerful earthquake hit central Italy on Wednesday night, leaving at least 290 people dead with the death toll still rising. A number of small towns and villages were reduced to rubble. Rescue teams dug deep underneath the rubble in the search for possible survivors. Strong tremors were felt in the Italian capital on Wednesday night as well.

As many as 2,500 people have lost their homes to the earthquake, according to the data released by the Italian civil defense authorities. More than 1,800 aftershocks have rocked the region since Wednesday's quake with Saturday night being the first one without any major tremors. Rescue operations are still in progress.


Attention

Iceland raises warning after largest volcano starts to rumble

Iceland volacano
Iceland raised the alarm after its largest volcano was hit by the biggest tremors since 1977.

Two quakes larger than 4 in magnitude early Monday rocked the crater of Katla, the country's Met Office said in a statement. That was followed by at least 10 more tremors at the volcano, which rises 1,450 meters (4,757 feet) into the air on the North Atlantic island's southern coast.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damages to property.

Comment: See also: Weather bomb: The rare, deep-Earth tremor that shook the planet