Earth Changes
The Trinidad-based Seismic Research centre (SRC) at the St Augustine campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI), said that the quake, which occurred at 6:52 am (local time) was at a depth of 155 km.
It said that the quake, east of Barbados, was located at 13.35 degrees north and 56.29 degrees west and was felt in St Vincent.
Over the last few days, several Caribbean countries have been rattled by earthquakes.
On April 14, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck to the east of Kumamoto city (the capital of Kumamoto Prefecture) on Japan's Kyushu Island, killing local residents and damaging infrastructure. It was followed by multiple aftershocks. The following day, the same area was hit by a 7.0-magnitude earthquake.
Most of the tremors were felt strongly in the Kumamoto and Oita prefectures, the national NHK broadcaster said. The death toll in the natural disaster has risen to 44 and over 1,000 people sustained injuries in Kumamoto alone, the news outlet stated.
About 125,000 people in Kumamoto and more than 3,500 in Oita have been provided with shelter at city offices, schools and parking lots, it added.
Japan is a seismically active region. In March 2011, a 9.0-magnitude offshore earthquake triggered a 46-foot tsunami that hit Japan's Fukushima nuclear power, leading to the leakage of radioactive materials and the shutdown of the plant. The accident is considered to be the world's worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
"It must have died about two or three days ago," said Benakappa S., Professor and Head, Department of Fisheries Resources and Management, College of Fisheries, who was at the spot. S.R. Somashekar, a professor in the same department, said that there was an appendix or extra growth on its back, that appeared to be unusual. As its body texture was still rough, it could have died about two or three days ago. As it was in saline water the body has not completely decayed.
Forest Wagner, 35, of Fairbanks, was with a group of 12 students on Mount Emmerich near Haines, Alaska, when he was attacked, according to University of Alaska Southeast spokeswoman Kate Bausler. A student hiked down the mountain to get cell reception and call for help.
Wagner was taken to Providence Hospital in Anchorage, according to a statement from the university.
His condition was not immediately available, but the university said he was stable.
Wagner was leading a group of 11 students and 2 teaching assistants when Wagner was attacked by a bear with cubs, the statement said. No students were hurt.
A series of strong quakes struck the south of Japan late last week killed at least 58 people. On Wednesday, survivors struggled with shortages of food and water.
The USGS said Wednesday's quake was centred 104km east south-east of Sendai, Honshu, near where a devastating quake and tsunami struck in March 2011. It was 51km deep.
Reuters
Researchers say based off its markings, the deceased whale appears to be the same one who breached at the Ballard Locks on April 6.
The gray whale was found dead around 8 a.m. near Point Beals, west of Vashon Island. NOAA hired the Cascadia Research Group to tow the whale, and perform a necropsy.
The whale was very emaciated, and a juvenile. Researchers with the Cascadia Group say it's likely that the whale didn't get enough food last year to last through the migration fast. Gray whales typically fast for 3-to-4 months during migration to warmer climates during winter.
The necropsy will be performed Wednesday or Thursday, researchers said.
Studies are working find out why.
Officials are trying to determine if the turtle deaths are linked to the BP oil spill in the Gulf that happened in 2010, WLOX-TV reports.
Wendy Hatchett, IMMS veterinarian technician, said the spike in deaths has officials concerned. She said whether its red tide or deaths left over from the oil spill, they really don't have a clue until tissue can be analyzed.
So far this year, 48 dead Kemps Ridley turtles have washed ashore across the Gulf Coast; including one turtle recovered Sunday and three on Saturday.
Source: The Associated Press

Roof damaged by hailstones that fell in and around Suruhuto-Asuto town under Zunheboto district on April 18.
Heavy storm accompanied by hail and rain lashed Zunheboto district Monday night, causing extensive damages to hundreds of houses and crops.
Of all places, the worst affected was in Suruhuto sub-division, especially in Aichi Saghemi village alone, where 171 houses suffered damages and 51 of them extensively by a torrent of hailstorm.
Vikuto Nurumi, GB Aichi Saghemi, said that the villagers of the affected household had to struggle throughout the night to seek safe shelter as hailstones of "huge sizes" battered the roof-tops. In the morning, the magnitude of destruction was evident when standing crops were totally razed.
"The storm has not only devastated our homes but has destroyed our maize, potatoes and varieties of vegetables in our fields which is the source of livelihood for our village," Nurumi lamented. He said resented that no official from the civil administration visited the village to take stock of the situation.
A thunderbolt struck two siblings when they were harvesting paddy at a field at Kaliabhanga village in Nabiganj upazila of Habiganj district on Monday evening.
They later died at a hospital, reports our Moulvibazar correspondent.
The deceased are Abdul Alim, 40, and his brother Wali Miah, 34, sons of Buddu Miah of the village.
Meanwhile, a youth was killed by lightning during a storm at Kamalkhani village in Baniachong upazila the same day.
This morning's quake was centred 70km west-southwest of Esmeraldas at a shallow depth of 10km, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said, not far from the epicentre of Saturday's 7.8 magnitude quake.
Reuters witnesses in the zone said two strong tremors of about 30 seconds each were felt, waking people up and sending them racing them into the streets.
It was not felt in the highland capital of Quito.
There was no immediate word from authorities on the impact of this morning's quake.















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