Friday, October 31, 2008

Death Toll From Pakistan Quake May Top 300

Relief trickles in to Pakistan quake survivors

Survivors receive supplies during the distribution of relief goods near Ziarat, October 30, 2008.
REUTERS/Athar Hussain
Survivors warm themselves next to their tents after Wednesday's earthquake in Ziarat, one of the main tourist spots in Baluchistan, October 31, 2008.
REUTERS/Athar Hussain
WAM, Pakistan-Pakistani soldiers scrambled on Friday to get aid to tens of thousands of survivors in remote southwestern mountains where about 215 people were killed in an earthquake this week.The 6.4 magnitude quake struck Baluchistan, Pakistan's largest but poorest province, on Wednesday. Worst hit was Ziarat district, a picturesque valley and one of the region's main tourist spots.District chief Dilawar Khan said more than 45,000 people in the valley had been affected but only a small fraction of them had received help."Troops are trying to transport relief goods to the people but only 5 percent of those have so far been able to get some assistance," Khan told Reuters."Ninety-five percent are still without any aid. Only 1,500 tents have been distributed and if relief does not reach the people on time, there may be more losses."With freezing night-time temperatures, officials said tents and blankets were urgently needed.Help is on the way. The government said on Friday that Saudi Arabia was giving $100 million in aid for survivors.The quake struck just over three years after a 7.6 magnitude quake hit Pakistan's northern mountains, killing 73,000.Last year, the worst floods on record in Baluchistan killed hundreds. Most of the valley's population slept out in the open for a second night, either because their homes were destroyed or damaged, or in fear after almost 75 aftershocks, some nearly as strong as the original quake, hit the region.
FOCUS ON RELIEF
The quake destroyed about 1,500 mud-walled houses, and close to 20,000 people are homeless. It triggered landslides that blocked roads, complicating search and relief operations.Saleem Nawaz, head of the paramilitary Frontier Corps, said a search for survivors was coming to an end and efforts were being focused on helping the living."Rescue operations are almost over. Now the entire focus is on relief. We are trying to deliver relief as quickly as possible," Nawaz said.Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani, the chief minister of Baluchistan, has called for international help but the federal government has said authorities were assessing needs before deciding whether to seek foreign help.The United States and China had pledged $1 million each for rehabilitation work, while Japan and several other countries had also promised help. The World Health Organization said it was sending two truckloads of essential medicines and supplies.
To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah...

Rescue turns to relief after quake

Pakistani helicopters search for quake survivors

Survivors of an earthquake lie on beds at a makeshift hospital after the local hospital was damaged by an earthquake in Quetta, October 30, 2008.
REUTERS/Rizwan Saeed
People search for earthquake survivors at the site of a collapsed house near Ziarat, one of the main tourist spots in Baluchistan, October 30, 2008. Pakistani army helicopters scoured mountains on Thursday for survivors of a powerful earthquake that struck the previous day killing more than 200 people.
REUTERS/Athar Hussain
WAM, Pakistan, Pakistan-Pakistani army helicopters scoured mountains on Thursday for survivors of a powerful earthquake that killed about 215 people as stunned survivors sifted through the rubble of their homes.The 6.4 magnitude quake struck the Ziarat valley in the southwestern province of Baluchistan at dawn on Wednesday, leveling about 1,500 mud-walled houses, triggering landslides and leaving nearly 15,000 people homeless.Efforts shifted from rescue to relief as hundreds of injured people were taken to hospitals. But a senior military official said searches were being conducted in the mountains above the valley for any stranded villagers.Most of the valley's 50,000 people slept out in freezing temperatures on Wednesday night, either because their homes were destroyed or damaged, or because about 20 aftershocks, the biggest of 6.2 magnitude, left them too scared to sleep indoors.Maqbool Ahmed, 25, standing beside the rubble of his collapsed home in the badly hit village of Wam, said 14 members of his 18-member family were killed."My father, my mother, all of them are dead," said Ahmed, his dusty face streaked with tears."I buried my entire family with these hands. We lost everything, not in minutes but in seconds," said Ahmed as the morning sun brought relief from the biting night-time cold.The quake struck just over three years after 73,000 people were killed when a 7.6 magnitude quake hit Pakistan's northern mountains. Last year, the worst floods on record in Baluchistan killed hundreds.The epicenter of Wednesday's quake was in Ziarat district, a picturesque valley and one of the province's main tourist spots.Baluchistan Revenue Minister Zamrak Khan said about 215 people were killed while 500 people were injured. The quake triggered landslides that destroyed some houses and blocked roads, complicating search and relief operations.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva said estimates of the wounded ranged between 500 and 1,000. Two ICRC teams, including a surgical unit from Peshawar, had been sent to the area to assess needs.
"DISAPPOINTING"
Baluchistan Chief Minister Nawab Mohammad Aslam Raisani called for international help."A major effort is needed to rehabilitate the affected people. We urge the international community and international agencies to help us," he told a news conference.A Pakistani relief official said the United States and China had promised $1 million each for rehabilitation work, while Japan and several other countries had also promised help.
To read more go to:
As in the days of Noah....

Minor quakes hit Dallas area; no damage, injuries

DALLAS-Several minor earthquakes gave some Texas and Oklahoma residents an early Halloween scare, but no damage or injuries were reported. A 2.5-magnitude quake at 11:25 p.m. Thursday near Grand Prairie was followed by a series of other small earthquakes in the Dallas suburb, then a 3.0-magnitude quake at 12:01 a.m. Friday in nearby Irving, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Irving police received 911 calls from about 25 people saying they had felt the quakes, but there were no reports of injuries or damage, Officer David Tull said Friday morning.USGS geophysicist Randy Baldwin says aftershocks could last several days. On Thursday, a 3.1 magnitude quake was reported about 11:30 a.m. near McCloud, Okla., some 180 miles north of the Dallas area, according to the USGS. There were no reports of damage or injury there, either. The Oklahoma quake is considered a separate event from those in Texas, said USGS geophysicist Jessica Sigala.
On the Net:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

As in the days of Noah...

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Deadly Quakes Rock Southwest Pakistan

Pakistan rescuers pull 175 bodies from quake rubble

WAM, Pakistan-About 175 people were killed when a powerful earthquake hit the southwestern Pakistani province of Baluchistan on Wednesday, flattening about 1,500 mud-walled homes and triggering landslides, officials said.The epicenter of Wednesday's quake was in Ziarat district, a scenic valley and one of the main tourist spots in Baluchistan.Chief district administrator Dilawar Khan said 170 people had been killed in that district and 350 injured."The rescue operation is over. We've retrieved all bodies and the injured. Now the problem is relief as there's a shortage of tents, blankets and food while the weather is getting cold," Khan told Reuters.The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.4 magnitude quake struck 60 km (40 miles) northeast of the provincial capital, Quetta.Pakistan's Meteorological Department put the magnitude at 6.5 and said the quake, at the shallow depth of about 10 km (six miles), struck at 5.10 a.m. (2310 GMT on Tuesday).About 20 aftershocks, the biggest of 6.2 magnitude, caused more damage and rattled the nerves of survivors as they scoured the rubble for loved ones."The village has been flattened. You can't see a house still standing. There's destruction everywhere," said Abdul Rahim Ziyawal, a rescue worker in Wam, one of the worst-hit villages where authorities were using excavators to dig mass graves.Pakistan is no stranger to natural disasters. In October 2005, about 73,000 people were killed when a 7.6 magnitude quake hit northern mountains. Last year, the worst floods on record in Baluchistan killed hundreds.Khan said most people in the hilly Ziarat district, which has a population of about 50,000, were sleeping out, either because their homes were destroyed or damaged, or because aftershocks left them too sacred to sleep inside.
LANDSLIDES
The quake triggered landslides that destroyed some houses and blocked roads, complicating search and relief operations.The army had sent helicopters and a medical team and paramilitary troops had joined the search for survivors.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent two teams to the area. "Aftershocks have continued which we think will force the population to stay outside, and the weather is cold," said ICRC spokeswoman Carla Haddad.Another five people were killed in neighboring Pishin district, to the north of Quetta, district government officials said.
To read more go to:
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49S05320081029
As in the days of Noah...

Search Is on for Pakistan Quake Survivors

Pakistan Quake:Eyewitness on moment quake hit

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 has hit south-western Pakistan, with at least 100 people reported dead.Here are some eye witness recount of the moment the quake hit....To watch this video click on the URL below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TAGdW7V5jo
As in the days of Noah.....

Scores Dead in Pakistan Quake

Pakistan rescuers pull 160 bodies from quake rubble

WAM, Pakistan-Pakistani rescuers pulled 160 bodies from the rubble of hundreds of mud-walled homes flattened by a powerful earthquake in the southwestern province of Baluchistan on Wednesday, government officials said.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said a 6.4 magnitude quake hit 60 km (40 miles) northeast of the provincial capital, Quetta.Pakistan's Meteorological Department put the magnitude at 6.5 and said the quake, at the shallow depth of about 10 km (six miles), struck at 5.10 a.m. (2310 GMT on Tuesday).Many people were believed to be buried under rubble and about 20 aftershocks rattled the nerves of survivors."The village has been flattened. You can't see a house still standing. There's destruction everywhere," said Abdul Rahim Ziyawal, a rescue worker in Wam, one of the worst-hit villages where authorities were using excavators to dig mass graves.Pakistan is no stranger to natural disasters. In October 2005, about 73,000 people were killed when a 7.6 magnitude quake hit northern mountains. Last year, the worst floods on record in Baluchistan killed hundreds.The epicenter of Wednesday's quake was in Ziarat district, a scenic valley and one of the main tourist spots in Baluchistan.The chief administrator of Ziarat district, which has a population of about 50,000, said 160 bodies had been recovered.The quake injured scores of people and triggered landslides that destroyed about 1,500 houses and blocked roads. Rescuers were still trying to reach some remote places in mountains above the Ziarat valley, where many people were believed to be buried.A 6.2 magnitude aftershock struck at 5.32 p.m. (1132 GMT) but there were no immediate reports of more damage or casualties, the USGS said.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS
Another senior official in Ziarat, Sohail-ur-Rehman, said authorities were scrambling to help about 12,000 homeless people.The army had sent helicopters and a medical team and paramilitary troops had joined the search for survivors, the military said.The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) sent two teams to the area. "Aftershocks have continued which we think will force the population to stay outside, and the weather is cold," said ICRC spokeswoman Carla Haddad.Five people had been killed in neighboring Pishin district, to the north of Quetta, district government officials said....
To read more go to:
http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE49S05320081029
As in the days of Noah...

Pakistan Earthquake Rubble

People in southwestern Pakistan dig through rubble looking for earthquake victims...

Pakistan quake kills 160, more deaths feared: officials

Updated map locating the epicentre of quake that struck south-western Pakistan. A powerful earthquake struck southwest Pakistan before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people, destroying mud homes and sending survivors screaming into the streets in panic.(AFP)
ZIARAT, Pakistan-A powerful earthquake struck southwest Pakistan before dawn on Wednesday, killing at least 160 people, destroying mud homes and sending survivors screaming into the streets in panic.At least eight villages were badly hit by the 6.4-magnitude quake, local police and officials said, warning the death toll could rise as rescue workers reached villages in the remote mountainous region bordering Afghanistan. "Around 160 people have died so far," said Khushal Khan, spokesman for the revenue minister of gas-rich Baluchistan province, Zamarak Khan."The toll may go up. The dead included 29 members of the same family." Residents in the region around the historic hill town of Ziarat, about 50 kilometres (30 miles) north of the provincial capital Quetta, told him about 6,000 people have been made homeless, he said.President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani both expressed their condolences to relatives of those killed and injured and called for a country-wide response, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan said.The first official government figures from the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) put the death toll at 115 so far, with nearly 300 injured, its chairman, retired Lieutenant General Farooq Ahmed, told a news conference.In Quetta, witnesses said people fled screaming from their homes. Television footage showed many outside in the streets, wrapped up against the early morning chill.But most of the victims were from outlying villages, whose mud houses were destroyed by the tremors, which triggered landslides of rocks and boulders while people slept in their beds.In the village of Wam, near Ziarat, survivors later began burying their dead in line with Islamic tradition. At least 75 bodies were removed from the rubble, a local charity, Edhi, said.Others desperately dug among the rubble of demolished houses in the hope of finding loved ones alive or their bodies, an AFP correspondent witnessed.Mohammed Sultan, from the town of Sanjawai, told AFP the first tremor shook him awake shortly before 5:00 am, before he felt a larger shockwave about 10 minutes later.In Ziarat buildings had collapsed and communications had been cut, he said, adding: "The town looks devastated. Parts of it are badly damaged. My relatives live in Ziarat but I can't contact them to find out how they are."The Quetta to Ziarat road was also hit, with wide cracks in places and boulders from landslides, an AFP correspondent said.The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 5:09 am (2309 GMT). Its epicentre was located some 70 kilometres north of Quetta, about 185 kilometres southeast of the Afghan city of Kandahar, they added.Soldiers, helicopters, tents, blankets, food and medical help have been sent from Quetta to Ziarat and an aerial assessment of the damage has started, the Pakistani military said."The destruction is heavy, people need immediate help and we are providing assistance to the affected people," Colonel Mohammed Babar, who flew over the region, told AFP.The NDMA's Ahmed said there had been 12 after-shocks and more were expected over the coming days.Over the border in Afghanistan, there were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage in Kandahar, police there said.Ziarat is a historic hill resort famed for its juniper forests. It receives visitors from all over Pakistan in summer who come to see the holiday home of the country's founder, Mohammed Ali Jinnah.Most of the casualties were from two villages built on steep ground on the outskirts of the town.A 7.6-magnitude earthquake in northwest Pakistan and Kashmir killed 74,000 people and displaced 3.5 million in October 2005. In 1935 a massive quake killed around 30,000 people in Quetta, which at the time was part of British-ruled India.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081029/wl_sthasia_afp/pakistanafghanistanquake_081029115112;_ylt=Av6ipq76fUH736wxHrpH4Kf9xg8F
As in the days of Noah....

Deadly Quake Hits Pakistan

At least 70 people killed after a strong earthquake struck Pakistan.CNN's Reza Sayah explains...

PAKISTAN QUAKES--10/28/08

6.2 Mw - PAKISTAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
6.2 Mw
Date-Time
29 Oct 2008 11:32:42 UTC
29 Oct 2008 16:32:42 near epicenter
29 Oct 2008 05:32:42 standard time in your timezone
Location
30.541N 67.457E
Depth
10 km
Distances
58 km (36 miles) NE (49 degrees) of Quetta, Pakistan
187 km (116 miles) NNE (25 degrees) of Kalat, Pakistan
205 km (127 miles) SE (125 degrees) of Kandahar, Afghanistan
471 km (292 miles) SSW (201 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 7.2 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 119; Dmin = 468.4 km; Rmss = 1.48 seconds; Gp = 39°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008ytbk ***This event supersedes event AT00527996.
4.6 Mb - PAKISTAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude
4.6 Mb
Date-Time
29 Oct 2008 00:31:57 UTC
29 Oct 2008 05:31:57 near epicenter
28 Oct 2008 18:31:57 standard time in your timezone
Location
30.623N 67.512E
Depth
10 km
Distances
68 km (42 miles) NE (46 degrees) of Quetta, Pakistan
198 km (123 miles) NNE (25 degrees) of Kalat, Pakistan
204 km (127 miles) ESE (122 degrees) of Kandahar, Afghanistan
460 km (286 miles) SSW (200 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 17.1 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 20; Dmin = 458.0 km; Rmss = 1.23 seconds; Gp = 223°M-type = Mb; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008ytaf

4.0 Mb - PAKISTAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
4.0 Mb
Date-Time
28 Oct 2008 23:54:18 UTC
29 Oct 2008 04:54:18 near epicenter
28 Oct 2008 17:54:18 standard time in your timezone
Location
31.049N 67.789E
Depth
10 km
Distances
121 km (75 miles) NE (38 degrees) of Quetta, Pakistan
207 km (129 miles) ESE (107 degrees) of Kandahar, Afghanistan
252 km (156 miles) NNE (26 degrees) of Kalat, Pakistan
407 km (253 miles) SSW (199 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 22.6 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 11; Dmin = 405.1 km; Rmss = 1.24 seconds; Gp = 212°M-type = Mb; Version = Q
Event ID
US 2008yscz

6.2 Mw - PAKISTAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude
6.2 Mw
Date-Time
28 Oct 2008 23:09:57 UTC
29 Oct 2008 04:09:57 near epicenter
28 Oct 2008 17:09:57 standard time in your timezone
Location
30.745N 67.343E
Depth
10 km
Distances
69 km (43 miles) NNE (28 degrees) of Quetta, Pakistan
183 km (114 miles) ESE (121 degrees) of Kandahar, Afghanistan
204 km (127 miles) NNE (19 degrees) of Kalat, Pakistan
453 km (282 miles) SSW (203 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 6.7 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 60; Dmin = 450.8 km; Rmss = 1.03 seconds; Gp = 61°M-type = Mw; Version = 6
Event ID
US 2008yscs ***This event supersedes event PT08302002.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey


As in the days of Noah...

Pakistani quake leaves 150 dead, 15,000 homeless

Pakistani family members sit with dead bodies of earthquake victims in Ziarat, about 130 kilometers (81 miles) south of Quetta, Pakistan on Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2008. A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck before dawn Wednesday in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 150 people, injuring scores more and leaving an estimated 15,000 homeless, officials said.(AP photo/Arshad Butt)
QUETTA, Pakistan-A strong earthquake struck before dawn Wednesday in southwestern Pakistan, killing at least 150 people, injuring scores more and leaving an estimated 15,000 homeless, officials said.The death toll was expected to rise as reports arrived from remote areas of Baluchistan, the impoverished province bordering Afghanistan where the magnitude 6.4 quake struck.The worst-hit area appeared to be Ziarat, where hundreds of mostly mud and timber houses had been destroyed in five villages, Mayor Dilawar Kakar said. Some homes were buried in a landslide triggered by the quake, he said."There is great destruction. Not a single house is intact," Kakar told Express News television.Maulana Abdul Samad, the minister for forests in Baluchistan, said at least 150 people were confirmed to have died. Kakar said hundreds of people have been injured and some 15,000 were homeless.
As in the days of Noah...

Big Tokyo quake could catch commuters short: report

TOKYO-A major quake in Tokyo would force millions of commuters to try to get home on foot, and their journey could be made more difficult by a dire shortage of toilets, a government panel warned in a report this week.The report, which added that many areas of Tokyo would run short of toilet paper within 24 hours of a powerful quake, was splashed across the front page of the Sankei newspaper on Tuesday, under the headline "820,000 toilet refugees." The capital's transport network would likely grind to a halt after a strong quake and water supply would be disrupted, making many of the capital's public conveniences unusable, the Cabinet Office disaster prevention panel said."The biggest problem faced by survivors of the Kobe earthquake was not food or clothing, but a lack of toilets," the panel said, referring to the 1995 quake in the western Japanese city, which killed more than 6,400 people. Lack of sanitation would not only be unpleasant, but would put quake victims at risk of disease, the report said.Those working and studying in the most crowded central areas of the capital are likely to find less than half the required number of toilets are available.The panel urged employers to have makeshift toilets on hand, and said commuters should stay overnight at offices and schools so as to stagger their travel times and avoid the risk of the capital's streets becoming as crowded as a rush hour commuter train.One expert recommended individuals make their own basic preparations, the Sankei said."Even if you just have a plastic bag and a packet of tissues, that will make a big difference," the paper quoted the panel's chairman as saying.The panel's calculations were based on a 7.3 magnitude quake hitting Tokyo Bay-something that is seen by experts as a likely scenario. Up to 11,000 people could be killed in such a quake and 7 million made homeless, the report said.Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone nations, accounting for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater. In 1923, a quake of magnitude 7.9 hit the Tokyo area, killing more than 140,000 people.

As in the days of Noah...

6.0 Mw - NEAR N COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PNG.

6.0 Mw - NEAR N COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PNG.
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
6.0 Mw
Date-Time
28 Oct 2008 16:00:06 UTC
29 Oct 2008 02:00:06 near epicenter
28 Oct 2008 10:00:06 standard time in your timezone
Location
3.576S 145.864E
Depth
35 km
Distances
186 km (116 miles) N (1 degrees) of Madang, New Guinea, PNG
232 km (144 miles) SW (222 degrees) of Lorengau, Manus Island, PNG
244 km (152 miles) E (90 degrees) of Wewak, New Guinea, PNG
375 km (233 miles) NNW (340 degrees) of Lae, New Guinea, PNG
671 km (417 miles) NNW (347 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 13.8 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 48; Dmin = 660.7 km; Rmss = 1.64 seconds; Gp = 61°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008ysbh ***This event has been revised.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah....

Indonesia's Sulawesi hit by 6.4 quake, no tsunami

JAKARTA-An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale jolted Indonesia's north Sulawesi island on Sunday, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, the meteorology agency said.The quake struck at a depth of 32 km (20 miles), and the epicenter was 91 km (56 miles) southwest of Gorontalo town, said Suhardjono, an agency official. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning.Indonesia suffers frequent earthquakes, being located in an active seismic region where several tectonic plates meet. http://www.reuters.com/article/email/idUSTRE49P15U20081026
As in the days of Noah...

5.6 Mb - HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN

5.6 Mb - HINDU KUSH REGION, AFGHANISTAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
5.6 Mb
Date-Time
26 Oct 2008 01:28:54 UTC
26 Oct 2008 05:58:54 near epicenter
25 Oct 2008 19:28:54 standard time in your timezone
Location
36.512N 70.644E
Depth
189 km
Distances
66 km (41 miles) S (174 degrees) of Feyzabad, Afghanistan
138 km (86 miles) SW (215 degrees) of Khorugh, Tajikistan
139 km (86 miles) WNW (302 degrees) of Chitral, Pakistan
247 km (154 miles) NW (322 degrees) of Mingaora, Pakistan
258 km (160 miles) NNE (30 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 4.9 km; Vertical 6.9 km
Parameters
Nph = 116; Dmin = 262.9 km; Rmss = 0.89 seconds; Gp = 32°M-type = Mb; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008yqag ***This event supersedes event PT08300000.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah...

Strong quake shakes Afghanistan

KABUL-A strong earthquake of magnitude 5.6 struck northeastern Afghanistan on Sunday, but caused no casualties or damage, a government official said.The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said on its website the quake's epicenter was at a depth of 208 km (130 miles).The quake occurred at about 6 am local time and was also felt in the capital, Kabul, some 260 km (160 miles) from the epicenter lying to the south of the city of Faizabad of northeastern Badakhshan province. Mountainous Afghanistan is an earthquake prone country. Thousands of people were killed by earthquakes in northern Badakhshan province in the late 1990s.In 2002 at least 1,500 people were killed when a series of quakes of between magnitude 5 and 6 struck northern Baghlan province in the Hindu Kush mountains, destroying the district capital of Nahrin.

5.7 Mb and 5.6 Mw - VANUATU

5.6 Mw - VANUATU
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
5.6 Mw
Date-Time
27 Oct 2008 05:43:52 UTC
27 Oct 2008 16:43:52 near epicenter
26 Oct 2008 23:43:52 standard time in your timezone
Location
14.665S 167.126E
Depth
149 km
Distances
96 km (60 miles) N (360 degrees) of Santo (Luganville), Vanuatu
365 km (227 miles) NNW (340 degrees) of PORT-VILA, Vanuatu
2042 km (1269 miles) NE (49 degrees) of Brisbane, Australia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 7.4 km; Vertical 9.5 km
Parameters
Nph = 67; Dmin = 999.9 km; Rmss = 0.96 seconds; Gp = 50°M-type = Mw; Version = 8
Event ID
US 2008yral ***This event has been revised.
5.7 Mb - VANUATU
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
5.7 Mb
Date-Time
25 Oct 2008 19:24:54 UTC
26 Oct 2008 06:24:54 near epicenter
25 Oct 2008 13:24:54 standard time in your timezone
Location
17.226S 167.193E
Depth
46 km
Distances
131 km (81 miles) WNW (296 degrees) of PORT-VILA, Vanuatu
188 km (117 miles) S (178 degrees) of Santo (Luganville), Vanuatu
337 km (210 miles) NW (319 degrees) of Isangel, Vanuatu
1851 km (1150 miles) NE (55 degrees) of Brisbane, Australia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 7.3 km; Vertical 16.0 km
Parameters
Nph = 63; Dmin = 999.9 km; Rmss = 0.90 seconds; Gp = 64°M-type = Mb; Version = 6
Event ID
US 2008ypbk ***This event supersedes event PT08299000.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey


As in the days of Noah...

6.2 Mw - ADMIRALTY ISLANDS REGION, P.N.G.

6.2 Mw - ADMIRALTY ISLANDS REGION, P.N.G.
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
6.2 Mw
Date-Time
23 Oct 2008 10:04:36 UTC
23 Oct 2008 20:04:36 near epicenter
23 Oct 2008 04:04:36 standard time in your timezone
Location
2.611S 145.639E
Depth
10 km
Distances
191 km (118 miles) WSW (250 degrees) of Lorengau, Manus Island, PNG
244 km (152 miles) ENE (64 degrees) of Wewak, New Guinea, PNG
294 km (183 miles) N (356 degrees) of Madang, New Guinea, PNG
484 km (301 miles) NNW (342 degrees) of Lae, New Guinea, PNG
782 km (486 miles) NNW (347 degrees) of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 9.2 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 64; Dmin = 770.1 km; Rmss = 1.35 seconds; Gp = 36°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008ymbe ***This event supersedes event AT00475627.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah...

6.3 Mw - TONGA

6.3 Mw - TONGA
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
6.3 Mw
Date-Time
22 Oct 2008 12:55:57 UTC
23 Oct 2008 01:55:57 near epicenter
22 Oct 2008 06:55:57 standard time in your timezone
Location
18.384S 175.403W
Depth
227 km
Distances
153 km (95 miles) W (281 degrees) of Neiafu, Tonga
308 km (192 miles) N (357 degrees) of NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
2732 km (1698 miles) W (264 degrees) of PAPEETE, Tahiti, French Polynesia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 6.6 km; Vertical 15.3 km
Parameters
Nph = 149; Dmin = 999.9 km; Rmss = 0.81 seconds; Gp = 72°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008ylau ***This event supersedes event PT08296012.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah...

Strong quake hits Indonesia's Sulawesi island

JAKARTA-A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.5 hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island Monday but there were no immediate reports of any deaths or damage, an official at the national quake agency said.The epicenter of the quake lay at a depth of 33 km (21 miles) and about 96 km (60 miles) southwest of Tolitoli town in Central Sulawesi province, Anas Fauzi, an analyst at the agency in Jakarta, said.He said no tsunami warning had been issued.Earthquakes are frequent in Indonesia which lies in an area of intense seismic activity where several tectonic plates collide.
As in the days of Noah...

6.0 Mw - MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA

6.0 Mw - MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude
6.0 Mw
Date-Time
20 Oct 2008 04:54:20 UTC
20 Oct 2008 12:54:20 near epicenter
19 Oct 2008 22:54:20 standard time in your timezone
Location
0.104N 120.687E
Depth
105 km
Distances
144 km (90 miles) NE (39 degrees) of Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia
271 km (168 miles) W (259 degrees) of Gorontalo, Sulawesi, Indonesia
454 km (282 miles) ENE (71 degrees) of Balikpapan, Kalimantan, Indonesia
832 km (517 miles) SE (130 degrees) of BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Brunei
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 8.7 km; Vertical 16.1 km
Parameters
Nph = 56; Dmin = 575.5 km; Rmss = 0.94 seconds; Gp = 39°M-type = Mw; Version = 6
Event ID
US 2008yjaj ***This event supersedes event AT00447846.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah...

6.0-magnitude quake hits Indonesia

A strong earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.The 6.0-magnitude quake hit at 12:54 p.m. local time (0454 GMT) in the Gulf of Tomini, according to the U.S. monitoring agency.The epicenter was off the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, about 90 miles (144 km) northeast of the town of Palu, the monitoring agency said. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.
As in the days of Noah....

Sunday, October 19, 2008

Strong quake registered east of Tonga:USGS

SINGAPORE-A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 rocked a remote area of the South Pacific Ocean east of the island nation of Tonga Sunday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.A newspaper reporter in Tonga said by telephone that buildings in the capital, Nuku'alofa, shook for about two minutes during the quake.There were no immediate reports of damage or injury.The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said on its website (www.prh.noaa.gov) that the quake, 195 km (120 miles) east of Tonga, had been measured at a depth of 33 km and that no tsunami warning had been issued. Volcanic arcs and oceanic trenches partly encircling the Pacific Basin form the so-called Ring of Fire, a zone of frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.It is the location of the 10 strongest earthquakes in the world since 1900, all of which registered a magnitude of 8.5 or above.
As in the days of Noah...

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Strong quake hits off Guatemala-Mexico coast

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck in the Pacific near Guatemala's border with Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.
REUTERS/Graphics

GUATEMALA CITY-A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.5 struck in the Pacific near Guatemala's border with Mexico, the U.S. Geological Survey said on Thursday.The quake was 25 miles south west of the Mexican city of Tapachula, on the border with Guatemala, with a depth of around 47 miles.Earthquakes of magnitude above 6.0 can cause widespread damage in populated areas, but there were no immediate reports of casualties, according to a spokesman for the Guatemalan emergency services.A Reuters reporter in Guatemala City said he felt shaking for 30 seconds. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said it did not expect a tsunami but noted that quakes of this size can sometimes generate localized sea surges.Heavy rain in recent weeks has left rural parts of Guatemala prone to mudslides.The quake was initially measured at magnitude 6.7.
As in the days of Noah....

Monday, October 13, 2008

CAUCASUS REGION--RUSSIA QUAKES

4.1 Mb - CAUCASUS REGION, RUSSIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
4.1 Mb
Date-Time
12 Oct 2008 09:01:22 UTC
12 Oct 2008 13:01:22 near epicenter
12 Oct 2008 03:01:22 standard time in your timezone
Location
43.510N 46.309E
Depth
10 km
Distances
52 km (32 miles) ENE (70 degrees) of Groznyy, Russia
113 km (70 miles) WNW (302 degrees) of Makhachkala, Russia
139 km (87 miles) ENE (67 degrees) of Vladikavkaz, Russia
234 km (145 miles) NNE (31 degrees) of TBILISI, Georgia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 17.3 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 12; Dmin = 296.3 km; Rmss = 1.34 seconds; Gp = 115°M-type = Mb; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008yba6
4.1 Mb - CAUCASUS REGION, RUSSIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
4.1 Mb
Date-Time
11 Oct 2008 23:51:03 UTC
12 Oct 2008 03:51:03 near epicenter
11 Oct 2008 17:51:03 standard time in your timezone
Location
43.611N 46.185E
Depth
10 km
Distances
49 km (30 miles) NE (53 degrees) of Groznyy, Russia
127 km (79 miles) NW (304 degrees) of Makhachkala, Russia
135 km (84 miles) ENE (61 degrees) of Vladikavkaz, Russia
238 km (148 miles) NNE (28 degrees) of TBILISI, Georgia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 12.4 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 16; Dmin = 284.5 km; Rmss = 1.01 seconds; Gp = 93°M-type = Mb; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008yacp
4.7 Mb - CAUCASUS REGION, RUSSIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
4.7 Mb
Date-Time
11 Oct 2008 12:28:21 UTC
11 Oct 2008 16:28:21 near epicenter
11 Oct 2008 06:28:21 standard time in your timezone
Location
43.326N 46.199E
Depth
10 km
Distances
40 km (25 miles) E (94 degrees) of Groznyy, Russia
112 km (70 miles) WNW (290 degrees) of Makhachkala, Russia
124 km (77 miles) ENE (74 degrees) of Vladikavkaz, Russia
212 km (132 miles) NNE (32 degrees) of TBILISI, Georgia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 9.5 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 35; Dmin = 292.2 km; Rmss = 1.11 seconds; Gp = 82°M-type = Mb; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008yabg
5.3 Mb - CAUCASUS REGION, RUSSIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude
5.3 Mb
Date-Time
11 Oct 2008 09:22:01 UTC
11 Oct 2008 13:22:01 near epicenter
11 Oct 2008 03:22:01 standard time in your timezone
Location
43.418N 46.186E
Depth
10 km
Distances
40 km (25 miles) E (79 degrees) of Groznyy, Russia
117 km (73 miles) WNW (295 degrees) of Makhachkala, Russia
126 km (79 miles) ENE (70 degrees) of Vladikavkaz, Russia
220 km (137 miles) NNE (30 degrees) of TBILISI, Georgia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 8.2 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 53; Dmin = 288.3 km; Rmss = 1.15 seconds; Gp = 64°M-type = Mb; Version = 6
Event ID
US 2008yaa4 ***This event supersedes event AT00371692.
5.9 Mw - CAUCASUS REGION, RUSSIA
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
5.9 Mw
Date-Time
11 Oct 2008 09:06:08 UTC
11 Oct 2008 13:06:08 near epicenter
11 Oct 2008 03:06:08 standard time in your timezone
Location
43.586N 46.325E
Depth
1 km
Distances
57 km (35 miles) ENE (62 degrees) of Groznyy, Russia
116 km (72 miles) NW (306 degrees) of Makhachkala, Russia
144 km (89 miles) ENE (64 degrees) of Vladikavkaz, Russia
242 km (150 miles) NNE (30 degrees) of TBILISI, Georgia
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 10.2 km; Vertical 36.6 km
Parameters
Nph = 47; Dmin = 296.1 km; Rmss = 0.81 seconds; Gp = 82°M-type = Mw; Version = 6
Event ID
US 2008yaa2 ***This event supersedes event AT00371597.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey


As in the days of Noah...

Quake kills 13 in Russia's Chechnya region

GROZNY, Russia-An earthquake in the Caucasus mountains killed at least 13 people in Russia's Chechnya on Saturday and left hundreds of locals sheltering in tents the day before regional elections."We must not forget that we have elections tomorrow," Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov told a briefing."They must go ahead as a happy event for all residents of Chechnya." The number of people killed in the quake rose to 13, Interfax reported, citing the Emergencies Ministry.Earlier, a Health Ministry spokesman in Grozny said 12 people were killed in the aftermath of the quake and 105 were injured, 7 critically.About 500 families needed tent shelters for the night in the town of Kurchaloi, about 20 km (12 miles) southeast of the Chechen capital, which saw the worst damage in the region, the Emergencies Ministry said. At least five of the victims were killed in Kurchaloi, where the tremor cracked the walls of the local hospital, forcing medics to treat the injured elsewhere, the ministry said.The dead there included a soldier who was killed when the wall of a polling station collapsed on him, the ministry said.The 40-second tremor knocked windows out of a literature institute in Grozny and cracked the facade of the regional administration headquarters. But damage in the Chechen capital was otherwise minimal.Chechnya has fought two separatist wars with Moscow since the break-up of the Soviet Union.A Reuters Television producer in Tbilisi said the quake could be felt in the Georgian capital nearly 250 km (180 miles) away.

As in the days of Noah....

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Schools closed for safety after Tibet quake

BEIJING-China closed schools in Tibet's capital for safety reasons on Tuesday a day after a huge earthquake struck to the west and months after hundreds of classrooms were flattened in a devastating quake in Sichuan.The 6.6 magnitude Tibet earthquake, with an epicenter 50 miles west of Lhasa, killed at least nine people, state media reported, revising down an earlier estimated death toll of at least 30.Nearly 200 homes were "toppled."Most of the victims were women, children and elderly people, as men were away "mowing and storing forage grass for the winter," Xinhua news agency quoted a villager as saying."All schools in Lhasa were closed due to safety concerns," Xinhua said, adding that a total of 188 tremors hit the region-including one strong quake above magnitude 6 and one above 5.The May 12 earthquake in the mountainous southwestern province of Sichuan killed at least 80,000 people and devastated whole towns.But in many areas, school buildings collapsed, killing children and teachers in their classrooms, while surrounding houses remained standing, prompting accusations of shoddy building and corruption.
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSTRE49608B20081007
As in the days of Noah...

No reports of casualties in Xinjiang earthquake

4.2 Ml - NEVADA--DELETED:Waves from Artic Quake

The following quake has been deleted due to it seems it was just waves from an artic ocean quake little before they caught this one in Nevada....
4.2 Ml - NEVADA

Preliminary Earthquake Report
4.2 Ml
7 Oct 2008 10:07:36
UTC
7 Oct 2008 03:07:36 near epicenter
7 Oct 2008 04:07:36 standard time in your timezone
41.614N 116.129W
16 km
30 km (18 miles) WNW (299 degrees) of North Fork,
NV34 km (21 miles) NNE (13 degrees) of Tuscarora,
NV37 km (23 miles) S (179 degrees) of Owyhee,
NV92 km (57 miles) NNW (341 degrees) of Elko,
NV367 km (228 miles) WNW (286 degrees) of Salt Lake City, UT
Horizontal: ; Vertical
Nph = 28; Dmin = ; Rmss = ; Gp = 0°M-type = Ml; Version = 1
NN 00262382
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
Nevada Seismological LaboratoryUniversityof Nevada, Reno
http://www.seismo.unr.edu/
As in the days of Noah...

Arctic quake sends waves through Nevada

NORTH FORK,Nev.-Scientists say what appeared to be an earthquake in northeastern Nevada was actually a seismograph picking up waves from an earlier quake in the Arctic Ocean.A preliminary report from the U.S. Geological Survey said a magnitude-4.2 temblor centered about 18 miles west of North Fork shook Elko County at 3:07 a.m. Tuesday.USGS geophysicist Jessica Sigala says a seismologist reviewed the record and determined that phases from a magnitude-5.8 quake in the Arctic Ocean seven minutes earlier had been wrongly interpreted by a seismograph as a local quake.Sigala says shaking could not be felt in Nevada, but that waves from a quake like the one in the Arctic can be detected around the world.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081007/ap_on_re_us/nevada_earthquake_2
As in the days of Noah...

5.8 Mw - ARCTIC OCEAN

5.8 Mw - ARCTIC OCEAN
Preliminary Earthquake Report

Magnitude
5.8 Mw
Date-Time
7 Oct 2008 10:00:48 UTC
7 Oct 2008 02:00:48 near epicenter
7 Oct 2008 04:00:48 standard time in your timezone
Location
79.829N 115.225W
Depth
10 km
Distances
410 km (255 miles) NNE (12 degrees) of Mould Bay, NWT, Canada
1935 km (1203 miles) NNE (18 degrees) of Fairbanks, AK
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 3.7 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 233; Dmin = 999.9 km; Rmss = 0.96 seconds; Gp = 25°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008xwbc ***This event supersedes event PT08281001.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/
As in the days of Noah...

Two deadly quakes strike Tibet

BEIJING, China-Two earthquakes jolted the capital of Tibet and surrounding areas, killing at least nine people and collapsing hundreds of houses, China's state news agency said Tuesday. Rescuers rushed in to try to save people buried in the rubble.The U.S. Geological Survey said Monday's first quake measured magnitude 6.6 and struck at 4:30 p.m. ( 8:30 a.m. GMT) 50 miles west of Lhasa, more than 1,600 miles (2,575 kilometers) from Beijing.The second temblor measuring magnitude 5.1 hit about 15 minutes later, some 60 miles west of the Tibetan capital, it said.Earlier reports from China's official Xinhua News Agency said at least 30 people died, but the agency revised the death toll to nine on Tuesday, saying the previous figure was inaccurate as it came from "unauthoritative sources" and required verification.Hundreds of houses collapsed in Gedar township near the epicenter in Dangxiong County, and traffic and telecommunications were cut. Nineteen people were injured, Xinhua said, citing Hao Peng, deputy chairman of the Tibetan regional government.An unknown number of people were trapped, and soldiers and rescue workers were dispatched to the site, Xinhua said.Deaths also were reported in a neighboring county, Xinhua said, but no figures were available. The Lhasa airport and the Qinghai-Tibet railway-which stretches from western Qinghai province to Tibet-continued to operate, the agency said.China says Tibet has been part of its territory for centuries, although many Tibetans say their homeland was essentially independent for most of that time. On March 14, monk-led protests against Chinese rule turned violent in the Tibetan capital of Lhasa, and ethnic Chinese residents were attacked.China's State Seismological Bureau said the initial temblor was centered in Dangxiong county, which has a population of about 42,000 people, mostly herdsmen."I felt the building shaking a little bit and saw a bench overturn," said Ge San, an employee at the Baima Hotel in Dangxiong, who was sitting in a room with about five other employees."The shaking was not heavy. We stayed in the room and were not frightened," she said, adding that all the hotel's guests remained on the premises.In Lhasa, employees at the Civil Affairs Bureau rushed out of their building when the tremors began but returned soon after, said an official who refused to give her name."I was in my office on the third floor," she said. "The shaking lasted for about half a minute."Xinhua said that so far, none of the city's landmarks, such as the Potala Palace, appeared to be damaged.One of the agency's reporters in Lhasa said shops remained open and there was no panic on the streets.Authorities said seismologists and officials were sent to the area and were assessing the situation.China's far west is fairly earthquake prone. On Sunday, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake shook the Xinjiang region, which borders Tibet, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, which also suffered a 6.6-magnitude quake hours later. At least 60 people were killed when a village collapsed.Tibet, a sparsely populated region, has been hit by several moderate earthquakes in recent weeks.Last month, a magnitude 6 quake struck near its border with Nepal but there were no reports of damage or casualties.In late August, the USGS reported that an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 hit the region. Chinese state media said schools, a hydropower station and 622 homes were damaged and about 2,000 people forced to seek temporary shelter.A 7.9 magnitude earthquake on May 12 devastated parts of Sichuan province, just east of Tibet, killing 70,000 people and leaving 5 million homeless.
As in the days of Noah....

6.0 Mw - CENTRAL AFGHANISTAN

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude
6.0 Mw
Date-Time
5 Oct 2008 22:56:33 UTC
6 Oct 2008 03:26:33 near epicenter
5 Oct 2008 16:56:33 standard time in your timezone
Location
33.954N 69.477E
Depth
35 km
Distances
68 km (42 miles) SSE (157 degrees) of KABUL, Afghanistan
104 km (65 miles) WSW (240 degrees) of Jalalabad, Afghanistan
193 km (120 miles) W (269 degrees) of Peshawar, Pakistan
Location Uncertainty
Horizontal: 6.9 km; Vertical
Parameters
Nph = 94; Dmin = 76.5 km; Rmss = 1.43 seconds; Gp = 46°M-type = Mw; Version = 7
Event ID
US 2008xub7 ***This event supersedes event PT08279002.
For updates, maps, and technical information, see: Event Page or U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program
National Earthquake Information CenterU.S. Geological Survey

As in the days of Noah...