Posted: 25 July 2010 1222 hrs
TAIPEI - A 5.6-magnitude earthquake rocked Taiwan Sunday, swaying buildings in the capital Taipei, the island's Seismology Centre said, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties.
The quake hit at 0352 GMT about 31 kilometres northeast of Pingtung county at a depth of 20 kilometres.
Taiwan is regularly hit by earthquakes as the island lies near the junction of two tectonic plates.
In September 1999, a 7.6-magnitude quake killed around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island's history.
- AFP/ir
Monday, July 26, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Tremors felt in Singapore from earthquake in North Sumatra
By Joanne Chan | Posted: 24 July 2010 1146 2010 1146 hrs
SINGAPORE: Tremors were felt in parts of Singapore Saturday morning.
Callers to the MediaCorp Hotline said the tremors, which lasted about a minute, were felt in places such as Farrer Road, Cecil Street and North Bridge Road.
Lynn Jamaludin was in her office, located on the 24th floor of Tong Eng Building on Cecil Street, when the tremors hit at around 10am.
She said: "We actually felt the desk shaking slightly, and then we felt the building was moving a bit. But it stopped after about 50 seconds. We waited for the second tremor but it didn't come so we decided to stay in the office."
The National Environment Agency's Meteorological Services Division said an earthquake of magnitude 6.25 hit northern Sumatra at 10.11am Singapore time.
The quake epicentre was some 450 kilometres from Singapore.
NEA says there is no tsunami threat to Singapore.
- CNA/jm
SINGAPORE: Tremors were felt in parts of Singapore Saturday morning.
Callers to the MediaCorp Hotline said the tremors, which lasted about a minute, were felt in places such as Farrer Road, Cecil Street and North Bridge Road.
Lynn Jamaludin was in her office, located on the 24th floor of Tong Eng Building on Cecil Street, when the tremors hit at around 10am.
She said: "We actually felt the desk shaking slightly, and then we felt the building was moving a bit. But it stopped after about 50 seconds. We waited for the second tremor but it didn't come so we decided to stay in the office."
The National Environment Agency's Meteorological Services Division said an earthquake of magnitude 6.25 hit northern Sumatra at 10.11am Singapore time.
The quake epicentre was some 450 kilometres from Singapore.
NEA says there is no tsunami threat to Singapore.
- CNA/jm
Three major quakes rattle Philippines
Posted: 24 July 2010 0659 hrs
MANILA: Three major quakes measuring between magnitude 7.3 and 7.6 hit the southern Philippines early Saturday, seismologists said, but there were no reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
The underwater quakes struck at a depth of between 575 and 605 kilometres (350 and 375 miles), just over 100 kilometres southwest of Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao, said the US Geological Survey.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no destructive tsunami was generated by the 7.3-, 7.6- and 7.4-magnitude quakes, the first of which hit at 6:08 am (2208 GMT Friday).
"It was kind of mild," said Monisa Tulawie, a staff member at the Cotabato city mayor's office, who told AFP she felt one of the quakes.
Other residents contacted by phone were unaware of what had happened, saying they had not been woken by the tremors.
"We have received no reports of damage or casualties," said local fire official Marlon Macapili of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a self-ruled area that includes four provinces around Cotabato.
Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the strong quakes struck over a 67-minute period at sunrise, with several moderate aftershocks.
Mild tremors were felt as far north as Manila, more than 800 kilometres away, he added.
"We don't expect any," Solidum told AFP when asked about damage or casualties. "Because of their depth they will not be able to depress the ocean floor," Solidum added.
The institute said quakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or above can cause considerable damage near their epicentre, while shallow-seated ones occurring under the sea may generate huge waves.
The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with many people living in communities close to the sea.
The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Solidum said a movement of the Molucca Sea Plate had caused Saturday's quakes. The plate is pushing underneath the Indonesian archipelago.
- AFP/fa/jm
MANILA: Three major quakes measuring between magnitude 7.3 and 7.6 hit the southern Philippines early Saturday, seismologists said, but there were no reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued.
The underwater quakes struck at a depth of between 575 and 605 kilometres (350 and 375 miles), just over 100 kilometres southwest of Cotabato, on the island of Mindanao, said the US Geological Survey.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said no destructive tsunami was generated by the 7.3-, 7.6- and 7.4-magnitude quakes, the first of which hit at 6:08 am (2208 GMT Friday).
"It was kind of mild," said Monisa Tulawie, a staff member at the Cotabato city mayor's office, who told AFP she felt one of the quakes.
Other residents contacted by phone were unaware of what had happened, saying they had not been woken by the tremors.
"We have received no reports of damage or casualties," said local fire official Marlon Macapili of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, a self-ruled area that includes four provinces around Cotabato.
Renato Solidum, chief of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, said the strong quakes struck over a 67-minute period at sunrise, with several moderate aftershocks.
Mild tremors were felt as far north as Manila, more than 800 kilometres away, he added.
"We don't expect any," Solidum told AFP when asked about damage or casualties. "Because of their depth they will not be able to depress the ocean floor," Solidum added.
The institute said quakes with a magnitude of 7.0 or above can cause considerable damage near their epicentre, while shallow-seated ones occurring under the sea may generate huge waves.
The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,000 islands with many people living in communities close to the sea.
The country sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where continental plates meet, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.
Solidum said a movement of the Molucca Sea Plate had caused Saturday's quakes. The plate is pushing underneath the Indonesian archipelago.
- AFP/fa/jm
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
New quake hits Chile's central coast
Posted: 14 July 2010 1758 hrs
WASHINGTON : A 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Chile's central coast on Wednesday, the US Geological Service reported.
The temblor hit at 0832 GMT about 99 kilometres (61 miles) northwest of Temuco, Chile, at a depth of 28 kilometres, the USGS added.
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile on February 27, sparking a huge tsunami that killed 521 people and swept away entire villages. The disaster caused an estimated 30 billion dollars in damage. - AFP/ms
WASHINGTON : A 6.5-magnitude earthquake rocked Chile's central coast on Wednesday, the US Geological Service reported.
The temblor hit at 0832 GMT about 99 kilometres (61 miles) northwest of Temuco, Chile, at a depth of 28 kilometres, the USGS added.
A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake struck Chile on February 27, sparking a huge tsunami that killed 521 people and swept away entire villages. The disaster caused an estimated 30 billion dollars in damage. - AFP/ms
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
No damage reported after quake hits southern California
July 8, 2010 -- Updated 0056 GMT (0856 HKT)
(CNN) -- A 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled southern California Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The temblor, centered about 60 miles northeast of San Diego, was first reported by USGS to be at 5.7 magnitude but the agency later downgraded it to 5.4.
There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.
The city closest to the quake was Borrego Springs, located in San Diego County.
"(There was) no damage no injures whatsoever," San Diego County Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque told CNN. "Not even a spike in call volume at our 911 center which normally happens when we have a quake of this magnitude."
Neighboring Riverside County also reported no major incidents as a result of the quake.
"So far in Riverside County we have had no significant damage reports either from our fire stations of from the citizens in the county," Riverside Fire Capt. Jeremy Snyder told CNN.
In Palm Springs, businesses reported feeling the quake, but suffered no damage. Palm Springs was about 28 miles from the epicenter of the quake.
An employee at Le Parker Meridian Hotel in Palm Springs described the quake as a "pretty big jolt."
At Jensen's Finest Food in Palm Springs, manager Tom Hodges said he had maybe 20 items fall off the shelves, but not a single broken glass.
(CNN) -- A 5.4-magnitude earthquake rattled southern California Wednesday, the U.S. Geological Survey said. The temblor, centered about 60 miles northeast of San Diego, was first reported by USGS to be at 5.7 magnitude but the agency later downgraded it to 5.4.
There were no immediate reports of damages or injuries.
The city closest to the quake was Borrego Springs, located in San Diego County.
"(There was) no damage no injures whatsoever," San Diego County Fire Department spokesman Maurice Luque told CNN. "Not even a spike in call volume at our 911 center which normally happens when we have a quake of this magnitude."
Neighboring Riverside County also reported no major incidents as a result of the quake.
"So far in Riverside County we have had no significant damage reports either from our fire stations of from the citizens in the county," Riverside Fire Capt. Jeremy Snyder told CNN.
In Palm Springs, businesses reported feeling the quake, but suffered no damage. Palm Springs was about 28 miles from the epicenter of the quake.
An employee at Le Parker Meridian Hotel in Palm Springs described the quake as a "pretty big jolt."
At Jensen's Finest Food in Palm Springs, manager Tom Hodges said he had maybe 20 items fall off the shelves, but not a single broken glass.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Strong 6.3 quake hits Indonesia's Java
Strong 6.3 quake hits Indonesia's Java
Posted: 26 June 2010 1843 hrs
JAKARTA - A strong earthquake struck off Indonesia's Java island Saturday but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued, seismologists said.
The quake struck at 4:50 pm (0950 GMT), 118 kilometres (73 miles) south west of Tasikmalaya, West Java, at a depth of 34 kilometres, Indonesia's geophysics and meteorological agency said.
The Indonesian agency measured the quake as magnitude 6.3, but the US Geological Survey (USGS) measured it at 5.8.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. - AFP/vm
Posted: 26 June 2010 1843 hrs
JAKARTA - A strong earthquake struck off Indonesia's Java island Saturday but there were no immediate reports of damage and no tsunami warning was issued, seismologists said.
The quake struck at 4:50 pm (0950 GMT), 118 kilometres (73 miles) south west of Tasikmalaya, West Java, at a depth of 34 kilometres, Indonesia's geophysics and meteorological agency said.
The Indonesian agency measured the quake as magnitude 6.3, but the US Geological Survey (USGS) measured it at 5.8.
Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where the meeting of continental plates causes high volcanic and seismic activity. - AFP/vm
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Quakes kill three in Indonesia
Posted: 16 June 2010 1156 2010 1156 hrs
MANOKWARI, Indonesia : A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least two people and damaged hundreds of homes in eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning and widespread panic.
The victims were crushed when their homes collapsed on Yapen island, close to the epicentre off the northern coast of Papua province, police said.
"Two people, a child and an adult woman, were killed by falling debris of houses," Yapen Island police chief Deny Siregar said.
The quake struck off the southeast coast of Yapen at 12:16 pm (0316 GMT), officials said. It was the second of a series of strong quakes felt across a vast but sparsely populated area including Biak island.
Another person was killed when a 5.3-magnitude quake rattled West Sulawesi province, the Antara news agency reported.
Indonesia's Geophysics and Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for waters off northern Papua but it was lifted an hour later.
"I was driving my car to the office... I felt a huge tremor for about one or two minutes. The car was being flung around," Biak resident Osibyo Wakum said.
He said people rushed out of homes and buildings as the quake rocked the reef-fringed tropical island around lunchtime.
About 500 homes, a church, a power station and government buildings were destroyed or damaged on Yapen, which has a population of about 70,000, police and officials said.
Officials said people were evacuated to higher ground due to fears of a tsunami, but by mid-afternoon they had returned and the situation was normal.
"Residents have returned to their homes and gone back to doing their normal activities," Disaster Management Agency official Slamet Sugiyono said, adding that helicopters and speed boats were being used to survey the damage.
Thousands of people also fled their homes and workplaces in the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari about 300 kilometres (180 miles) to the northwest of the epicentre.
"There was a swaying movement for about 40 seconds. People ran out of their homes, shouting 'get out, get out, the earth is shaking'," said an AFP correspondent in Manokwari.
Many people remained outside as a series of powerful aftershocks, the strongest with a magnitude of 6.6, shook the region.
Antara reported that the man killed on Sulawesi island was working in a sand mine when the earlier quake struck. About 50 houses were destroyed and a landslide injured several people, local officials said.
The vast Indonesian archipelago stretches from the Pacific to the Indian oceans and straddles major seismic faultlines that trigger thousands of quakes a year.
The 2004 Asian tsunami killed at least 168,000 people in Indonesia alone when the sea surged over the northern tip of Sumatra island after a 9.3-magnitude quake split the seabed to the west.
A 7.6-magnitude quake killed about 1,000 people in the port of Padang, western Sumatra, in September last year.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit northern Sumatra in April but caused no significant damage.
Scientists cannot predict when the next major earthquake will hit Indonesia but they say it is only a matter of time before another catastrophe on the same or even greater scale as 2004 strikes the archipelago again.
- AFP/ir
MANOKWARI, Indonesia : A powerful 7.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least two people and damaged hundreds of homes in eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning and widespread panic.
The victims were crushed when their homes collapsed on Yapen island, close to the epicentre off the northern coast of Papua province, police said.
"Two people, a child and an adult woman, were killed by falling debris of houses," Yapen Island police chief Deny Siregar said.
The quake struck off the southeast coast of Yapen at 12:16 pm (0316 GMT), officials said. It was the second of a series of strong quakes felt across a vast but sparsely populated area including Biak island.
Another person was killed when a 5.3-magnitude quake rattled West Sulawesi province, the Antara news agency reported.
Indonesia's Geophysics and Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning for waters off northern Papua but it was lifted an hour later.
"I was driving my car to the office... I felt a huge tremor for about one or two minutes. The car was being flung around," Biak resident Osibyo Wakum said.
He said people rushed out of homes and buildings as the quake rocked the reef-fringed tropical island around lunchtime.
About 500 homes, a church, a power station and government buildings were destroyed or damaged on Yapen, which has a population of about 70,000, police and officials said.
Officials said people were evacuated to higher ground due to fears of a tsunami, but by mid-afternoon they had returned and the situation was normal.
"Residents have returned to their homes and gone back to doing their normal activities," Disaster Management Agency official Slamet Sugiyono said, adding that helicopters and speed boats were being used to survey the damage.
Thousands of people also fled their homes and workplaces in the West Papua provincial capital of Manokwari about 300 kilometres (180 miles) to the northwest of the epicentre.
"There was a swaying movement for about 40 seconds. People ran out of their homes, shouting 'get out, get out, the earth is shaking'," said an AFP correspondent in Manokwari.
Many people remained outside as a series of powerful aftershocks, the strongest with a magnitude of 6.6, shook the region.
Antara reported that the man killed on Sulawesi island was working in a sand mine when the earlier quake struck. About 50 houses were destroyed and a landslide injured several people, local officials said.
The vast Indonesian archipelago stretches from the Pacific to the Indian oceans and straddles major seismic faultlines that trigger thousands of quakes a year.
The 2004 Asian tsunami killed at least 168,000 people in Indonesia alone when the sea surged over the northern tip of Sumatra island after a 9.3-magnitude quake split the seabed to the west.
A 7.6-magnitude quake killed about 1,000 people in the port of Padang, western Sumatra, in September last year.
A 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit northern Sumatra in April but caused no significant damage.
Scientists cannot predict when the next major earthquake will hit Indonesia but they say it is only a matter of time before another catastrophe on the same or even greater scale as 2004 strikes the archipelago again.
- AFP/ir
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)