California Earthquakes August 26, 2012

California Earthquakes August 26, 2012

A series of moderate earthquakes struck California on Sunday, August 26, 2012, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said .

The strongest registered at magnitude 5.4 and was recorded at 1:57 p.m. local time (20:57 UTC).  Its epicenter was located at 5 km (3 miles) North of Brawley, California.

The USGS recorded more than two dozens of earthquakes that jolted California on Sunday, mostly originating from Brawley. Their Richter Scale readings ranged from magnitude 3.0 to 5.4.

Below were the preliminary magnitude counts of some of the quakes:

Magnitude 4.0 12:16 p.m - 6 km (4 miles) N of Brawley, California
Magnitude 4.6 12:20 p.m. - 5 km (3 miles) N of Brawley, California
Magnitude 5.3 12:31 p.m. - 5 km (3 miles)  N of Brawley, California
Magnitude 4.9 12:33 p.m. - 3 km (2 miles) NW of Brawley, California
Magnitude 4.3 12:40 p.m. - 6 km (4 miles) WNW of Brawley, California

There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injuries from the earthquakes.

Earthquake In The Philippines June 17, 2012 (Makati, Quezon City, Manila)

Earthquake In The Philippines June 17, 2012

An earthquake with a Richter Scale reading of magnitude 6.0 struck the Philippines Sunday morning, June 17, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

According to the Phivolcs, the temblor hit at 6:18 a.m. local time and centered at 52km southwest of Candelaria, Zambales. The tectonic quake was felt in the following areas:

Intensity IV- Candelaria, Zambales;Iba, Zambales; Dagupan City, Bugallon, Villasis and Bolinao, Pangasinan; Makati City
Intensity III- San Fernando, La Union; Quezon City
Intensity II- Bacoor Cavite; Plaridel, Bulacan
Intensity I- Tagaytay City

The Institute is expecting aftershocks from the 6.0-magnitude quake, which was 12km deep.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualities.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Earthquake In The Philippines June 15, 2012

Gensan/Davao Earthquake June 15, 2012 Map

A 5.5-magnitude quake struck Mindanao, Philippines on Friday, June 15, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.

According to a USGS bulletin, the temblor hit at 09:14 a.m. local time and centered at 152 km east southeast from General Santos (185 km south southeast from Davao).

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake.

The Philippines lies along the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Update: The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology measured the eartquake at magnitude 5.9. It said that it was of tectonic origin and was 64 km deep.

Aftershocks are expected, it added.

4.0-magnitude Earthquake Jolts Southern California

California Earthquake Map, June 13, 2012

An earthquake with a Richter Scale reading of magnitude 4.0 struck Southern California on Wednesday evening, June 13, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

According to a USGS bulletin, the quake, which has a depth of 9.8 km (6.1 miles), hit at 8:17 p.m. local time. Its epicenter was 3 km (2 miles) north of Yorba Linda, California, about 28 miles southeast of Los Angeles.

There are no immediate reports of damage or casualties.

The temblor was followed by a 2.4 magnitude aftershock a few minutes later.

Tsunami Warning After Indonesia Earthquake Lifted

Tsunami warning cancelled

The tsunami warning for the whole Indian Ocean was lifted hours after a massive earthquake struck off Indonesia's Sumatra island Wednesday, sending terrified people fleeing from the coast.

The U.S. Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the threat of a tsunami has "diminished or is over for most areas".

Tsunami waves of up to 80 centimeters (31 inches) were recorded, but there were no reports of damage or casualties.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the 8.7-magnitude quake, which hit at 2:38 p.m. at a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km), was at 434 km (269 miles) southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

Panicky residents poured into the streets of Banda Aceh, which was near the epicenter of a 9.1-magnitude quake in 2004 which sent huge tsunami waves that killed 230,000 people in 13 Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

Wednesday's large quake in Indonesia, as well as its aftershocks, occurred in a notoriously seismic area, where the Indian tectonic plate descends into the Earth beneath the Eurasian plate.

Indonesia Earthquake 2012: Magnitude 8.7 quake triggers tsunami alert

Indonesia Earthquake Map, April 11, 2012

An 8.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia on Wednesday, April 11, prompting officials to issue a tsunami warning for the whole Indian Ocean.

"Earthquakes of this size have the potential to generate a widespread destructive tsunami that can affect coastlines across the entire Indian Ocean basin," the United States Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the quake was recorded at 434 km (269 miles) southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. At a depth of 20.5 miles (33 km), the temblor hit the area at 2:38 p.m. (8:38 UTC).

"People are in a panic, and there are traffic jams everywhere in Banda Aceh," local Metro TV reported.

In 2004, Indonesia's Banda Aceh was struck by a magnitude 9.1 quake which sent huge tsunami waves that killed 230,000 people in 13 Indian Ocean countries, including Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.

March 22, 2012 Earthquake (Mega Quake Prediction)

March 22, 2012 Earthquake (Mega Quake Prediction)

The big earthquakes that have struck in some areas around the world in the past couple of years have been found to follow a pattern, allowing one to predict when the next mega quake is coming.

The pattern is being called the 188-day cycle and it says that a powerful quake occurs every 188 days. It predicts that an 'event' is likely to take place on or around March 22, 2012.

Here's an illustration of the said earthquake cycle:

February 28th, 2010: An 8.8-magnitude rocked Chile.

188 days later, September 4th, 2010: A magnitude 7.1 earthquake jolted Christchurch, New Zealand.

188 days later, March 11th, 2011: Japan was devastated by a 9.0-magnitude quake.

188 days later, September 15th, 2011: 6.0-, 6.2-, and 7.3-magnitude earthquakes struck New Zealand, Japan and Fiji, respectively.

188 days later, March 22, 2012: Another mega quake?

Experts, however, argue that it is impossible to predict an earthquake.

"Although it is understood that most earthquakes will concentrate at plate boundaries, there is no reliable method of accurately predicting the time, place, and magnitude of an earthquake. Earthquakes are difficult or impossible to predict because of their inherent randomness and near-chaotic behavior," the Pacific Disaster Center said.

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Surigao, Philippines Earthquake - March 16, 2012

Surigao, Philippines Earthquake -  March 16, 2012

A 5.9-magnitude earthquake struck Dinagat Islands Friday afternoon, which was also felt in Surigao City, Southern Leyte, Butuan City and other nearby areas.

The quake hit its epicenter, 20km west of Dinagat, at 3:58 P.M., said the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).

It added that the temblor, which was tectonic in origin and 16km deep, was felt at the following intensities at the corresponding areas:

Intensity VI - Surigao City
Intensity V - General Luna, Surigao del Norte; Basilisa, Dinagat; San Ricardo, Southern Leyte
Intensity IV - Carrascal, Surigao del Sur; Tandag City
Intensity III - Tolosa and Tacloban Leyte; Davao City; Bislig City; Borongan, Oras, Sulat, Dolores, Eastern Samar; Cateel, Taragona, Davao Oriental;
Cagayan de Oro City; Cagwait, Surigao del Sur; Catbalogan, Samar; Maasin & Hinunangan, Southern Leyte;
Intensity II - Cebu City; Butuan City; San Agustin, Surigao del Sur
Intensity I - Hibok-Hibok, Camiguin

According to Surigao del Norte Gov. Sol Matugas, 20 people were injured in a stampede at a mall packed with shoppers and 3 were hurt in a gymnasium where a cable broke in Surigao City.

Earthquakes frequently occur in the Philippines as it lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where rigid plates in the Earth's crust collide.

Mindoro Earthquake - March 8, 2012

Mindoro Earthquake Map (March 8, 2012)

A magnitude 5.1 quake struck Occidental Mindoro Thursday night which was felt in other areas of Luzon including the Philippine capital, Manila.

According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), the tectonic quake, which was 22km deep, hit its epicenter (15km southeast of Looc, Occidental Mindoro) at 11:30pm. It was felt at the following intensities in the following areas:

Intensity IV - Looc, Occidental Mindoro;
Intensity III - Puerto Galera, Oriental Mindoro; Quezon City; Manila; Muntinlupa City; and
Intensity I - Lucban, Quezon.

The PHIVOLCS said it is expecting aftershocks from the quake. No damage is however being expected.

Earthquakes occur frequently in the Philippines as it is sitting on the "Ring of Fire" where continental plates often collide. On average, 20 quakes, most of them are weak, are being recorded everyday in the country.

Masbate Earthquake - March 6, 2012

Masbate Earthquake - March 6, 2012

An earthquake with a Richter scale reading of magnitude 5.2 jolted Masbate and other areas in the Bicol Region on Tuesday, March 6, 2012, injuring at least nine people and causing cracks on some roads and buildings.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported that the temblor, which was tectonic in origin, struck at 7:06am and centered at 3km North of Masbate. It added that the quake has a depth of 23km and was felt at the following intensities in the following areas:

Intensity VI - Masbate City;
Intensity IV - Irosin, Sorsogon; Cabid-an, Sorsogon City; Roxas City;
Intensity III - Sigma, Capiz; Catarman and Capul Island, Northern Samar; Almagro and Tagapul-an, Western Samar;
Intensity II - Iloilo City; Legaspi City; and
Intensity I- Kalibo and Numancia, Aklan.

Three weak aftershocks were also recorded by the institute following the main quake.

Latest reports say the quake toppled an old abandoned building in Masbate and also caused power interruptions.

There were, however, no reported casualties from the quake. - NoypiStuff

Earthquake in Cebu: Tsunami reports cause panic (Video)

A number of people in Cebu City panicked after a tsunami scare following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake that struck Negros-Cebu Region before noon on Monday, February 6, 2012.

In this video posted by "p0chacco" on Youtube, people are seen running in the streets, blocking the vehicles. This is after false reports of rising seawater level in the coastal areas of Cebu City came out.


The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology issued a tsunami alert for coastal areas of Negros Oriental and Cebu but was lifted at 2:30 p.m.

According to the United States Geological Survey, the quake centered 80 km West Southwest of Cebu.

In Cebu City, the temblor reportedly lasted for about 30 seconds and was felt at Intensity V.

Read more details about the quake here: http://noypistuff.blogspot.com/2012/02/68-magnitude-earthquake-hits-negros.html

6.8-magnitude earthquake hits Cebu, Negros

An earthquake with a measurement of magnitude 6.8 jolted Negros-Cebu Region, Philippines, on Monday, February 6, 2012, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

Map of the earthquake that rattled Negros and Cebu, Philippines on February 6, 2012 (Source: Phivolcs)

The quake, which has a depth of 33km, struck the area at 11:49 am. Its epicenter was recorded off 72 km (44 miles) N of Dumaguete, Negros Oriental, Philippines or 80 km (49 miles) WSW of Cebu, Philippines.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has yet to release a bulletin on the said earthquake.

Update:  Phivolcs reported the tectonic quake as magnitude 6.9.

According to the institute, the temblor was felt at following intensities in these areas:

Intensity VII - Dumaguete City; Vallehermoso, Negros Oriental
Intensity VI - La Carlota City and La Castellana, Negros Occidental; Argao, Cebu
Intensity V - Roxas City; Dao and Ivisan, Capiz; Iloilo City; Ayungon, Negros Oriental; Kanlaon City; Lapu-lapu City; Guimaras; Cebu City; San Carlos City;
Bacolod City; Sagay City; Tagbilaran City; Candoni, Binalbagan, Negros Occidental
Intensity IV - San Jose de Buenavista, Pandan, Anini-y, Patnungon, Antique; Kalibo, Aklan; Dipolog City; Sipalay, Negros Occidental; Ormoc City
Intensity III - Butuan City, Agusan del Norte; Legaspi City, Albay; Carmen, Cagayan de Oro; Tacloban City; Catbalogan; Saint Bernard, Southern Leyte;
Masbate, Masbate; Cagayan de Oro City
Intensity II - Cabid-an, Sorsogon; Borongan, Eastern Samar; Mambajao, Camiguin;
Intensity I - Pagadian City

Philvolcs added that damage and aftershocks are expected from the quake.

Update 2: Tsunami Alert 2 has been issued for coastal areas of Negros Oriental and Cebu.

Update 3: In an interview with ABS-CBN, National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) chief Benito Ramos said the quake has killed a child from Tayasan, Negros Oriental - a wall fell on the child during the quake.

Update 4:  As of 1 p.m., at least 16 aftershocks were recorded by Phivolcs. - GMA News

Update 5: Tsunami alert has been canceled by Phivolcs at 2:30 p.m. - ABS-CBN News

The Philippines sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire where volcanic and seismic activities are more frequent than in most areas of the world.

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Magnitude 6 earthquake jolts Samar, Philippines

Samar Earthquake map | Source: USGS

A magnitude 6.0 quake rattled Samar, Philippines on Saturday, February 4, 2012, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

According to the USGS, the temblor struck at 9:09 in the evening at its epicenter, 101 km North of Guiuan, Samar, Philippines. It has a depth of 60.2 km.

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the quake.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) has yet to release a bulletin on the said earthquake.

Update: Philvolcs reported the same quake at 5.9 magnitude.

The institute added that the quake was felt at following intensities in these areas:

Intensity IV - Gamay, Northern Samar and
Intensity III - Palo, Leyte; Tacloban,Leyte; San Policarpo, Eastern Samar; Tolosa, Leyte; Catbalogan, Samar; and Oras E. Samar.

As of 11 p.m., Philvolcs has monitored at least 4 aftershocks, with the strongest registering at magnitude 5.

The Philippine archipelago lies on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Magnitude 5.7 earthquake jolts Babuyan Islands

Map of the said earthquake in the Philippines on January 15

An earthquake with a Richter scale measurement of magnitude 5.7 struck Babuyan Island Regions, Philippines, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported Sunday.

According to the USGS, the quake hit its epicenter (126 km NNE of Laoag, Luzon, Philippines) at 12:36 a.m. on January 15, 2012. It has a depth of 22.4 km.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), meanwhile, reported a 5.5 magnitude quake which centered at 19.40°N, 121.12°E, the same area identified in the USGS report. However, there has been no additional information about the temblor from Phivolcs as of press time.

There were no immediate reports of causalities and damage from the quake.

The Philippines lies on the "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Note: The date of this blog is not the Philippine Standard Time.

7.3 quake triggers tsunami alert in Indonesia

7.3 quake jolts Indonesia | USGS map

A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia early Wednesday, prompting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to issue a tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake, which has a depth of 29.1 km, hit at 12:37 a.m. local time, about 423 km southwest of Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.

"The quake was in the sea and a tsunami warning is in force, but so far we have no reports of casualties or damage," an official at Indonesia's Meteorology and Geophysics Agency told AFP.

According to an Associated Press report, residents in the provincial capital, Banda Aceh and other cities along the coast were rattled from their sleep. They fled their homes and poured into the streets.

Local officials lifted the tsunami alert, nearly two hours after the quake struck.

Indonesia sits on "Pacific Ring of Fire" where continental plates collide, causing frequent volcanic activity.

Turkey Earthquake, October 23, 2011 | Magnitude 7.2 quake jolts Van City

Turkey Earthquake, October 23, 2011 Epicenter

A strong earthquake has struck Eastern Turkey Sunday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

According to the USGS, the quake measured a magnitude of 7.2 on the Ritchter Scale and centered at 17 km (10 miles) North Northeast of Van, Turkey. It struck the area at 1:41 p.m. local time (10:41 UTC).

The depth of the quake is 20 km (12.4 miles), the USGS said.

Recent reports say the powerful quake caused buildings to collapse, killing a number of people. Several dozens of individuals were also hurt.

“The quake was strongly felt in Van and neighboring towns, and caused damage and deaths based on initial assessments,” the prime minister’s office said.

Crossed by fault lines, Turkey experiences earthquakes frequently.

Vanautu Earthquake, September 4, 2011: Magnitude 7.0 quake hits Tanna

Vanautu Earthquake Map, September 4, 2011

A powerful earthquake has struck the South Pacific island of Vanuatu on Sunday, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

According to the USGS, the quake measured 7.0 magnitude on the Richter Scale and was 132.4 km (82.3 miles) deep. It centered at 122 km (75 miles) SSE of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu and jolted the area at 09:55:36 AM on September 24, 2011 (Vanuatu Time).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake did not generate a destructive tsunami.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries from the Vanautu quake.

Vanuatu sits on the "Pacific Ring of Fire", an geographic zone where seismic activities are frequently experienced.

Alaska Earthquake 2011: Magnitude 6.8 quake jolts Alaska

Alaska Earthquake Map, September 2, 2011 | USGS

A major earthquake with a preliminary measurement of magnitude 7.1 has jolted the remote portions of Alaska, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported Friday.

The USGS issued, then later canceled, a tsunami warning and also lowered the magnitude to 6.8.

The quake centered at 45 km (27 miles) Southwest of Amukta Island, Alaska, approximately half-way between Atka and Nikolski. The 35.5 km deep temblor hit the area at 10:55 UTC (01:55 AM, local time).

Almost half an hour later, an aftershock which measured 4.5 occurred, the USGS said. Earlier reports had it much closer to the surface.

There were no reports of damage or injuries from the quakes.

According to an Alaska Native News report, the area frequently experiences earthquakes "every day, although a majority of them have a magnitude less than this."

"There have been numerous earthquakes in the Alaska region in the past week with a majority of the larger ones taking place off-shore of Kodiak Island far out to sea. The last comparable earthquake of similar size occurred on June 23, 2011, at shortly after 6 in the evening and was located in approximately in the same place. It measured 7.2," the report added.

Earthquake in the Philippines, August 25, 2011 | 4.5-magnitude quake jolts Panay

A tectonic earthquake which registered a Richter Scale reading of magnitude 4.5 struck Panay Thursday morning, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) reported.

The red dot marks the epicenter of the August 25, 2011 Panay earthquake | Source: Phivolcs

According to Phivolcs, the quake centered at San Jose de Buenavista, Antique and has a depth of 16 kilometers.



The temblor was felt at the following intensities in the following areas:



Intensity IV - Valderrama, Antique



Intensity III - San Jose de Buenavista, Hamtic, Barbaza, Sebaste, Sibalom, Pandan, Culasi & Libertad Antique; Iloilo City



Intensity II - Bingawan, New Lucena, Oton, Leon, (Iloilo); Lezo, New Washington, Kalibo & Malay, (Aklan)



The were no immediate reports of damage to property or casualities from the quake.



Meanwhile, here are the Phivolcs description of the intensities above :



Intensity IV (Moderately Strong) - Felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors. Light sleepers are awakened. Vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck. Hanging objects swing considerably. Dinner, plates, glasses, windows and doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers oscillate strongly. Rumbling sound may sometimes be heard.



Intensity III (Weak) - Felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings. Vibration is felt like one passing of a light truck. Dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people. Hanging objects swing moderately. Still water in containers oscillates moderately.



Intensity II (Slightly Felt) - Felt by few individuals at rest indoors. Hanging objects swing slightly. Still Water in containers oscillates noticeably.

Virginia quake rattles Eastern US, Canada

Virginia quake map |  Source: USGS

The magnitude 5.8 Virginia quake on Tuesday was felt as far away as Canada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, according to reports.

The quake, which had an epicenter located 14 km (9 miles) South Southwest of Mineral, Virgina, struck the area at 17:51:04 UTC (1:51 PM EDT) at a depth of 6 km (3.7 miles), the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

The intraplate earthquake reportedly was the strongest in Virginia's recorded history since 1897.

There are reports that many buildings were evacuated in New York and Philadelphia including the Capitol building and the Pentagon in Washington, DC.

The temblor reportedly caused some damage to the Pentagon, the Washington National Cathedral and the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. 

Civilians and military personnel evacuate the Pentagon after an earthquake on Tuesday. | Photo: Jason Graham

In Virginia, two nuclear plants were taken offline because of the quake. A couple of airports were also temporarily closed.

There were no immediate reports of casualties from the quake.