Earthquakes
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Bizarro Earth

Mount Aso volcano erupts after deadly earthquakes in Japan

Mount Aso
© Associated Press
After a series of deadly earthquakes in Japan, a "small-scale" eruption of Mount Aso has been recorded by the Japan Meteorological Agency. However, it decided to keep the alert level at 2, as it was not immediately clear whether the natural disasters were related.

Plumes of smoke rose some 100 meters into the sky, according to local media and videos captured by witnesses. The eruption of Mt. Aso, located in southern Japan, was recorded at around 11:30pm GMT Friday.


Alarm Clock

New powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake strikes near Japan's Kumamoto, tsunami warnings issued

7.1 magnitude Japan quake map
© earthquake.usgs.gov
A magnitude-7.1 earthquake has hit Japan near the city of Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported. Tsunami warnings have been issued.

The epicenter of the quake in southern Japan was located at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, near the area where a 6.5 earthquake struck on Thursday.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake had a magnitude of 7.0 and its epicenter was located just 1 km southwest of the city of Kumamoto.

An aftershock of 5.8 magnitude has also been reported in the area.

"Tsunami warnings or advisories are currently in effect," Japan Meteorological Agency said.

The tsunami advisory has been issued for the Ariake and Yatsushiro Seas.

The advisory warns of a possible wave of one meter in height, Japan's NHK broadcaster said.


Comment: See also:


Attention

6.2 magnitude earthquake strikes off coast of Guatemala

Guatemala earthquake
© USGS
A magnitude-6.2 earthquake has struck an area off the Pacific coast of Guatemala.

There are no immediate reports of damages or injuries.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake occurred Friday just after 8 a.m. local time (1400 GMT).

It was centered about 135 miles (219 kilometers) southwest of Guatemala City.

The head of Mexico's civil defense agency says the quake was also felt lightly in the state of Chiapas, which borders Guatemala.

Attention

Japan earthquake update: Tens of thousands flee in fear of aftershocks and volcanoes

Japan earthquake April 2016
© REUTERS/KyodoA collapsed house is seen after an earthquake in Kumamoto, southern Japan

At least 44,000 people evacuated following 6.4-magnitude quake that killed at least nine


Tens of thousands of people have been evacuated from earthquake-hit southern Japan as dozens of aftershocks struck and officials monitored nearby volcanoes for signs of activity.

A total of 44,000 people were evacuated late on Thursday in the town of Mashiki after a magnitude-6.4 earthquake collapsed buildings and damaged other infrastructure. Nine people have been confirmed dead, ranging in age from 29 to 94. A further eight are in serious condition, and more than 850 were injured.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has warned there are likely to be strong aftershocks for the next week and advised people to stay away from any buildings that look unstable.

There are also concerns about volcanic activity in the wake of the quake. The island of Kyushu, where the earthquake happened, is a highly volcanic area. A level 2 warning - meaning people should not approach a volcano's crater - has been in place for Asosan in Kumamoto prefecture on the island since November 2015.


Arrow Up

Magnitude 6.5 earthquake strikes off Vanuatu Islands; FIFTH + 6.0 quake in recent days

Vanuatu earthquake
© USGS
The earthquake, which struck at 8:50 a.m. local time on Friday, was centered about 101 kilometers (62.8 miles) northwest of Port-Olry, or 147 kilometers (91 mi) northwest of Luganville. It struck at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) measured Friday's earthquake at a preliminary 6.5 and estimated that some 183,000 people on nearby islands may have felt the shaking, including some 2,000 people who may have experienced "moderate" to "strong" shaking.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, though shaking would have been felt across much of the nearby islands. No tsunami warnings were issued as earthquakes below magnitude 7.5 do not tend to generate tsunamis.

Vanuatu is on the so-called 'Pacific Ring of Fire', an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent and large earthquakes. On average, the island nation and the surrounding waters are struck by about three powerful earthquakes every year. Volcanic eruptions also occur frequently in the region.

In August 2011, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.1 and 7.4 on the Richter scale struck about 63 kilometers (39 miles) south-southwest of Port-Vila. Tsunami waves of up to 1.05 meter (3.4 feet) were observed on the island of Efate, but there were no reports of damage.

Comment: This latest quake is the FIFTH + 6.0 magnitude earthquake to have struck this region in the past several days. See also: All around the world seismic and volcanic activity appears to have increased recently.


Attention

Second large earthquake hits Japan measuring 5.9 in magnitude as rescuers battle to free people trapped in rubble

Fires burn after a second quake hit Japan
© Sky NewsFires burn after a second quake hit Japan
This comes as the nation was coming to terms with the destruction caused by the 6.2 quake which struck earlier today

A second huge earthquake has hit Japan measuring 5.9 in magnitude.

This comes as the nation was coming to terms with the destruction caused by the 6.2 tremor which struck earlier today.

It is unclear how much damage the latest quake has caused but there is reportedly, currently no tsunami warning in place.

Fires were seen breaking out after nineteen homes reportedly collapsed near to the site of the tremor.

Rescue workers are currently battling to free those trapped in the rubble.




Comment: See also: 6.4 quake strikes southwest Japan (photos, videos)


Attention

6.0 earthquake strikes off Vanuatu coast; 4th quake in a week

Vanuatu
Vanuatu
The quake strikes at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) some 86 kilometers (53 miles) away from the town of Port Orly, USGS reports. There is no immediate tsunami warning.

A 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit off the coast of the Pacific Ocean island of Vanuatu late Thursday, April 14, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) some 86 kilometers (53 miles) away from the town of Port Orly, USGS said. There was no immediate tsunami warning.

It was the 4th quake to hit the region in about a week, with a 6.9-magnitude earthquake striking off Vanuatu's Vanua Lava island last Thursday.

Vanuatu is part of the "Ring of Fire," a zone of tectonic activity around the Pacific that is subject to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Attention

6.4 quake strikes southwest Japan (photos, videos)

japan earthquake
© earthquake.usgs.gov
A 6.4 magnitude earthquake has struck east of Kumamoto, Japan, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. It had a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).

The quake hit at 9:26 p.m. local time (12:26 GMT), eight kilometers (4.97 miles) from the city of Tamana.


The earthquake left behind damage to buildings, as well as a fire.

Keisukei Urata, an official in Uki, told AP that he saw walls around houses collapsing.

"Papers, files, flower vases and everything fell on the floor," Kasumi Nakamura, an official in the village of Nishihara, located near the epicenter, told NHK.

Alarm Clock

Magnitude 6 earthquake shakes Zamboanga, Philippines

Philippines earthquake map
© Wikipedia
Three people were injured while four houses were partially destroyed early Thursday when a magnitude 6.0 earthquake shook the Zamboanga Peninsula region.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the tremor occurred at 2:21 a.m. Thursday and traced its epicenter at 17 kilometers northwest of Baligiuan, Zamboanga del Norte, which also felt the quake at intensity 4.

Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, city disaster risk reduction and management officer, said the victims are all residents of Kalinaw Urban Poor Association in Barangay Sinunuc, 9.30 kilometers west of City Hall.

Apolinario identified the victims as Arcina Natividad, 56, injured in the head; Raymond Natividad, 23, abrasions in the right hand, foot, right shoulder and bruises at the back; and, Juliana Makahibag, 13, hand and head injuries.

The victims were injured when the concrete divider of their house, which is still under construction, collapsed while they were asleep at the living room.

No one was hurt in the three other houses, owned by Natividad's neighbors, damaged by the earthquake.

Intensity 4 was recorded in Baliguian and Labason in Zamboanga del Norte, Dipolog City posted intensity 2, while intensity 1 was recorded in Liloy.

Phivolcs, in its earthquake bulletin posted at 3:47 a.m., warned the public against possible aftershocks.

Attention

Powerful 6.9 magnitude earthquake hits India and Myanmar

Earthquake map
A powerful earthquake, measuring 6.9 magnitude, struck the border of India and Myanmar on Wednesday at 7:25 p.m. local time. Tremors were reportedly felt across the region in Kolkata and as far as Delhi.

The United States Geological Survey reported the magnitude of the earthquake in a tweet and identified it was 74 kilometers (45 miles) southeast of Mawlaik, Myanmar.
Prelim. Report M6.9 - 74km SE of Mawlaik, Burma You can report feeling the earthquake at: http://on.doi.gov/1qHTyzq pic.twitter.com/EjUwVGaqCl



People crowd onto the street during an earthquake in Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura, on April 13, 2016.
© AFP/Getty ImagesPeople crowd onto the street during an earthquake in Agartala, capital of India's northeastern state of Tripura, on April 13, 2016.