Earth Changes

Swarm of earthquakes recorded under Mount Hood, Oregon

Tony Hernandez
OregonLive.com
Mon, 16 May 2016 08:36 UTC

© Andre Meunier/Staff
File photo -- The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and the U.S. Geological Survey websites are reporting almost two dozen tremors in 24 hours around the Mount Hood Village area as of 8 a.m. May 16, 2016.

Scientists are monitoring a swarm of earthquakes on Mount Hood in the past 24 hours, but there's no cause for alarm, a geophysicist said Monday morning.

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network and the U.S. Geological Survey websites reported more than five dozen in the Mount Hood Village area as of 11:30 a.m.

The 62 minor earthquakes registered less than 2.0 magnitude and began about 6 p.m. Sunday, according to the seismic network website.

Most of the tremors are clustered east of Timberline Highway and north of U.S. 35 in Mount Hood Village, an area designated by the U.S. Census that included a population of 4,864 in 2010.

Mount Hood has experienced at least 72 earthquakes in 30 days, according to the seismic network.

John Vidale, director of the seismic network, said his data indicates the tremors have been occurring along a fault three miles deep on the south of the volcano.

"Swarms are pretty common around here, and this is probably the biggest one in Hood for a few years," Vidale said.

Young boy killed by family pit bull terrier in Durban, South Africa

Times Live
Mon, 16 May 2016 17:34 UTC

A three-year-old boy died of extensive injuries after being attacked by a pit bull in Durban on Monday.

Netcare 911 said paramedics called out to a dog bite incident arrived at a family home in Umlazi at 11:39 and found the child lying on the kitchen floor with "extensive injuries from the violent attack".

Reports from the scene indicated that the dog was owned by the child's family.

"Reports indicate that the child was attacked in the garden and was then moved to the house by family members.

Tragically, it was found that the child had died before our arrival due to the extensive injuries that he sustained over the entire body," the emergency service said on their Facebook page.

Police are investigating the incident.

Another 'out-of-control' wildfire forces evacuation in Alberta; state of local emergency issued in province's northwest

CTV News
Mon, 16 May 2016 12:59 UTC

© Fox Creek Fire Department, Facebook
An out of control wildfire is burning 10 kilometres north of Fox Creek, near the North Trilogy plant.

A rapidly growing wildfire has sparked another mandatory evacuation order in Alberta, this time in the province's northwest.

A state of local emergency was issued Sunday evening in the Municipal District of Greenview because of a blaze between Fox Creek and the hamlet of Little Smoky, about 260 km northwest of Edmonton.

Provincial officials say the fire is near an energy industry plant and is burning on either side of Highway 43.

The evacuation order does not apply to the Town of Fox Creek or the Hamlet of Little Smoky. No road closures are in effect at this time.

Evacuees have been asked to report to a reception centre at the Paradise Inn in Valleyview, east of Grande Prairie. Residents are asked to check in even if they don't want to stay at the hotel.

Small pets are welcome at the hotel. Large animals and outside pets will be sheltered at the Valleyview Agricultural Grounds.

The temperature is expected to rise through the week, with rain not expected until Wednesday. The muncipality had previously instituted a fire ban, applying to any outdoor fires and use of off-road vehicles on public land due to the extremely dry conditions.

Comment: Wildfire seasons are more destructive and lasting longer almost everywhere on Earth

24 pilot whales die following beaching in Baja California, Mexico

The Bellingham Herald
Sun, 15 May 2016 13:39 UTC

Beached pilot whales

Two dozen pilot whales died after beaching themselves on the Baja California Peninsula despite efforts to move them into deeper waters, Mexico's navy say Sunday.

The statement said naval personnel worked along with soldiers, environmental ministry agents and local fishermen trying to save the whales on the western shore of the Gulf of California.

Only three of the 27 whales that came ashore were saved, the statement said. Some whales returned to the beach after being led into deeper water.

The statement speculated the mammals were disoriented, saying no signs of injuries were noted.

Source: The Associated Press

Strong 5.6 magnitude earthquake shakes buildings in Tokyo

RT
Mon, 16 May 2016 12:33 UTC

An earthquake preliminarily measured at 5.6 magnitude has hit off the Japanese coast, just north of Tokyo, Japanese national broadcaster NHK reports.

Local news outlets say the quake was felt in the Saitama and Tokyo areas, with buildings swaying.

Metro operations were briefly suspended on all routes in Tokyo, but services restarted four minutes later.

An elevator maintenance firm in Tokyo said several elevators stopped in the metropolitan area due to the quake with commuters asked to "use emergency buttons," according to NHK.

TASS news agency reports that books fell from shelves and furniture shook at its headquarters in Tokyo.

No damage was reported at airports, the Japan Times reports, citing officials.

However, NHK claims there was some panic just after the tremors when windows shook at a hotel where a G7 Science and Technology ministerial entourage is staying ahead of a conference this week.

2 people and 7 animals killed by lightning strikes in Nepal

Rastriya Samachar Samiti
The Himalayan Times
Mon, 16 May 2016 13:17 UTC

Two youth from the same neighbourhood were killed and another woman was injured after being struck by lightning in Tanahun last night.

The thunderbolt struck the house of Khem Rana at Kanhunshivapur VDC - 7 of the district last night, injuring his 18- and 20-year-old daughters, Gulabi and Mausami respectively.

But, Mausami died while undergoing treatment at the Damauli Hospital at 11 pm.

Her younger sister with serious injuries was rushed to Pokhara for additional treatment.

The lighting also struck another house in the same neighbourhood, killing Animaya Thapa (55). Thapa died on the way to a hospital.

The lighting also killed four cows and three lambs belonging to Rishiram Thapa of the same locality, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Surendra Bahadur Gurung, of District Police Office, Tanahun.

2 bodies found in debris of home explosion in Burlington, Wisconsin

Ben Hutchison
WISN Milwaukee
Mon, 16 May 2016 03:06 UTC

Cause of explosion yet unknown

Racine officials recovered two bodies from the scene of a home explosion Saturday. As of 9 p.m. Sunday, crews were still searching for a possible third victim.

First responders were called to the home near Ketterhagen Road and Burlington Bypass around 3 p.m. Saturday, but there had already been a large explosion, officials said.

Firefighters also put out a propane tank burning in the yard near the house.

The Racine County Fire Investigative Task Force helped Sunday to search through the debris for any more victims.

Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said there wasn't much left of the home.

"This is the first time I've seen a home literally destroyed, completely exploded and the loss of life," Schmaling said. "This is tragic for the community and I'm trying desperately to get answers for them in a reasonable period of time."

The Sheriff's Office said it is continuing its efforts to confirm whether a third person was in the home at the time of the explosion.

An investigation for the cause of the explosion is ongoing. Authorities said the circumstances surrounding the fire are suspicious in nature.

5.0 magnitude earthquake rattles southern Israel

The Times of Israel
Mon, 16 May 2016 04:16 UTC

Epicenter of tremor some 100 kilometers southwest of Eilat; no reports of injuries or damage

An earthquake rumbled in the Red Sea early Monday morning, shaking buildings in the Sinai peninsula and as far north as Israel's southern tip.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in Israel from the temblor, which struck at about 4:45 a.m Monday morning.

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the tremor measured 5.0 on the Richter scale with an epicenter in the Red Sea, 25 kilometers northeast of Dhahab, Egypt, and 100 kilometers southwest of Eilat in Israel.

Last month, a very small earthquake hit parts of southern Israel as local residents of the city of Arad and the Dead Sea area reported experiencing minor tremors.

So small was the temblor, the Geophysical Institute of Israel said, that it could not even be measured on the Richter scale, the Ynet news website reported.

Attacks by carnivores are on the rise in North America and Europe: Are humans to blame?

Lizabeth Paulat
Care2
Sat, 14 May 2016 20:38 UTC

The number of attacks on humans by large carnivores has increased significantly during the last few decades for almost all large carnivores.

Attacks by large carnivores on humans have been on the rise throughout the western world. Bears, cougars, wolves and coyotes have increasingly been involved in deadly maulings and injuries, with the number of attacks nearly doubling since 1994. However, a new study out in Nature shows that it's actually humans who are often putting themselves in harm's way.

The study, which took human risk factors into account, found that, "an increasing number of people are involved in outdoor activities and, when doing so, some people engage in risk-enhancing behaviour that can increase the probability of a risky encounter and a potential attack."

With humans encroaching into wildlife areas, and wildlife adapting to urban areas, the likelihood of having to share our spaces with large carnivores has increased. With this reality, the simple act of not knowing how to coexist with these animals is causing increased fear, an increased risk of attack and, sadly, retribution killings.

Pack of stray dogs kill 10-yr-old child in Baheri, India; death toll reaches 9 in 18 months

Priyangi Agarwal
The Times of India
Sat, 14 May 2016 17:07 UTC

In yet another incident of attack by stray dogs, a pack killed a 10-year-old boy on Saturday evening when he was going to attend a religious event at a local temple in Unai Chapta village in Baheri. This is the ninth child to be killed by dogs in Baheri in the past one-and-a-half years. Besides, more than 50 kids have sustained injuries after being attacked by strays over this period.

As per the family of the victim, Pushpendra Kumar, 10, son of Ramesh Kumar, was on his way to a temple when he was attacked by a pack of dogs. Though the distance between the victim's house and the temple is barely one kilometre, the pack of dogs pounced on him when he was halfway to his destination.

Two villagers riding a motorcycle saw the attack and chased the strays away. However, the boy had died of his injuries by then. Pushpendra, said his family, was the youngest of four siblings.