Home/Posts Tagged ‘earthquake’
Posts Tagged ‘earthquake’
Natural disasters, Science & Technology, Jul 11th, 2012,
Humans have believed that animals can predict earthquakes for thousands of years. I mean the human belief that earthquakes can be predicted by animals has been held for thousands of years – just in case you thought I was saying that animals might be able to forecast seismic activity a thousand years into the future. I’m glad we got that straightened out. Anyway, despite observations of animals fleeing the scene prior to a destructive quake since the Ancient Greeks saw rats, snakes and weasels leave Helice before that place was flattened, no real evidence was found for this amazing animal…
Tags: 1989, California, earthquake, japan, prediction, Vladimir Keilis-Borok
Natural disasters, Nature, Videos & Documentaries, May 20th, 2012,
4 people have been reported dead and around 50 injured due to an earthquake that struck northern Italy in the early hours of the morning. The quake struck just 4am, just 35km (22mi) north of Bologna, at the relatively shallow depth of about 10km below the surface. Several historical sites were damaged, including churches and a medieval castle. From BBC News: It was felt across a large swathe of northern Italy, including the cities of Bologna, Ferrara, Verona and Mantua and as far away as Milan and Venice. See the following Al Jazeera English video report for more: Meanwhile…
Tags: earthquake, Guatemala, Italy, video, volcano
Natural disasters, Apr 12th, 2012,
In the space of just two days, Mexico has been hit by two separate earthquakes of 6.5 and 6.9 magnitudes, respectively, while Indonesia suffered two quakes of 8.6 and 8.2 magnitudes off its coast, resulting in 5 deaths and 7 injuries. The quakes in Mexico came just over 3 weeks after a quake of 7.4 magnitude that caused extensive damage in the southwest of the country. No major damage has been reported concerning the latest earthquakes in Mexico, but they did raise concerns about possible resulting tsunamis, due to the location and nature of the quakes. From Reuters UK: The…
Tags: earthquake, fracking, Indonesia, magnitude, Mexico, tsunami
Pollution, Mar 27th, 2012,
Of Japan’s 54 nuclear power reactors, only one is currently operating, following the shutdown of a Kashiwazaki-Kariwa reactor by Tokyo Electric Power Co. The remaining nuclear reactor still in operation is expected to be taken offline in early May. Japan’s about face turn from nuclear power of course follows the nuclear disaster at Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, which saw Level 7 Nuclear Events at three of its reactors. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami that caused the meltdowns at Fukushima are not the only earthquake-related nuclear power troubles that Japan has faced. The recently shut down plant…
Tags: earthquake, Fukushima, japan, nuclear power, reactor, tsunami
Politics, Pollution, May 24th, 2011,
Four major power companies warned that the post-Fukujima backlash against nuclear power in Germany country could result in future winter blackouts. These blackouts would ostensibly occur if Germany decides to decommission all its nuclear power stations. The companies claim that solar and wind power could not meet demand in the case of insufficiently windy or sunny weather. Chancellor Angela Merkel recently signaled she would support closing all of Germany’s 17 nuclear power stations by 2022. Seven nuclear power stations have been off-grid ever since Merkel announced in the immediate aftermath of the Fukushima disaster a “three-month moratorium” on her controversial…
Tags: blackouts, earthquake, Fukushima, Germany, Green Party, japan, Merkel, nuclear, plants, power, reactors, tsunami
Nature, Videos & Documentaries, Apr 7th, 2011,
Japan’s meteorological institute issued a tsunami alert after a quake measured at 7.1 struck the country’s northeast Thursday night – the same part of the country which suffered from the massive 9.0 quake and resultant tsunami in March. The earthquake was first believed to be 7.4, but was later downgraded to 7.1 by the U.S. Geological Survey, and the tsunami warning has since been lifted. Nonetheless, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center cautioned: Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100km of the earthquake epicenter. 28,000 people are dead or still missing…
Tags: earthquake, japan, tsunami, warning
Animals, Natural disasters, Videos & Documentaries, Mar 31st, 2011,
There have been many victims of this month’s earthquake and resultant tsunami disaster in northern Japan. The loss of human life, livelihood and property is immense and the suffering continues. Less attention has been given to the countless animals – wild, domestic and livestock – who have also suffered and are still in dire need of help. The title of this post has two meanings because there are two categories of help. There are still many animals stranded in or facing terrible and dangerous conditions in the areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami. There are also many who have…
Tags: animals, disaster, dogs, earthquake, japan, rescue, tsunami
Nature, Pollution, Mar 16th, 2011,
Japan is struggling to cope with a difficult tsunami/earthquake relief effort in the face of cold temperatures, food shortages, power outages and nuclear crisis. Please refer to this post for a list of links for aid agencies to donate to the relief effort. From the Guardian’s previous live blog (no longer being updated): The country faces an increasingly desperate humanitarian crisis caused by the direct effects of Friday’s huge earthquake and resultant tsunami, one made worse by freezing weather. The official death toll has now hit 4,255 deaths, with 8,194 people registered as unaccounted for. Survivors, many of them homeless,…
Tags: cold, disaster, earthquake, Fukushima, japan, nuclear, relief effort, tsunami
Pollution, Videos & Documentaries, Mar 15th, 2011,
Japan has suffered greatly in recent days after a 9.0 earthquake struck the north of the country and triggered a tsunami which destroyed countless homes and likely killed over 10,000 people. Millions have been left without electricity, while food and water scarcity as well as lack of heat are threatening parts of northern Japan. Most of the media, however, has been gripped by the explosions and resultant radiation leaks at three reactors at a Japanese nuclear power plant called Fukushima Daiichi in Fukushima prefecture. The nuclear safety crisis that Japan now finds itself in the grip of is perhaps the…
Tags: Daiichi, diaster, earthquake, explosion, Fukushima, japan, nuclear, plant, radiation, tsunami
Natural disasters, Mar 13th, 2011,
In addition to Google Person Finder’s 2011 Japan Earthquake service and ShelterBox’s aid program for victims, several other organizations are mobilizing to help those affected by the recent tsunami and earthquake in northern Japan. Japanese authorities have upgraded the quake to a 9.0 on the Richter scale. I have been keeping up to date on the situation via the Guardian’s live news blog, where it was posted that Save the Children has set up a fund for Japan’s earthquake/tsunami victims. You can access Save the Children’s UK earthquake/tsunami site here and the US version here. Yahoo News has also provided…
Tags: aid, donate, earthquake, help, japan, tsunami, victims
Nature, Mar 11th, 2011,
Japan is reeling from one of the worst earthquakes in recorded history and the resultant tsunami and flooding. The quake measured at 8.9 on the Richter scale, causing severe damage and massive floods in the northeast of the country. Aftershocks continue to affect the nation while other pacific countries, particularly Oceanic islands, the Philippines and Indonesia are preparing for tsunamis. Though it’s early days yet, there are ways being set up to aid victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Google Person Finder has set up a page for the 2011 Japan Earthquake for people to post messages looking for lost loved…
Tags: aid, earthquake, help, japan, Person Finder, ShelterBox, tsunami
Climate Change, Nature, Science & Technology, Jan 4th, 2011,
2010 was a record-breaking year for natural disasters. According to Insurance ERM, a website dedicated to enterprise risk management, this makes 2010 the second-highest year of natural catastrophes since 1980. With a current yearly average of 785 natural catastrophes, 2010 saw in increase of more than 20% in occurrences of natural disasters. Furthermore, the high number of weather related natural disasters like storms and floods, about 90% of all reported catastrophes in 2010, is a further indication of advancing climate change. Several major catastrophes in 2010 resulted in substantial losses and an exceptionally high number of fatalities. The overall picture…
Tags: 2010, 950 natural disasters in 2010, Climate change, earthquake, flooding, global warming, great natural catastrophes, hurricanes, insurance ERM, natural catastrophes, natural disasters
Climate Change, Nature, Nov 3rd, 2010,
Haiti is facing yet another disaster as hurricane Tomas approaches its shores. While still fighting against the rise of cholera in and around Port-au-Prince, the Haitian Red Cross is now working together with Civil Protection officials to get the more than 1.3 million earthquake survivors to safer grounds and out of their current camps. In the meantime, Haitian authorities are on high alert, watching tropical storm Tomas gain strength as it moves towards the Caribbean. Weather forecast predict there is a 60 percent chance that hurricane Tomas will hit Haiti within the coming days.
Tags: earthquake, Haiti, hurricane, hurricane tomas, tropical storm
Climate Change, Nature, Oct 27th, 2010,
Last Monday we reported an earthquake of 7,5 on the Richter scale hit south of Sumatra. Yesterday Java’s Merapi volcano erupted, killing 25 people. Then a tsunami hit the western part of Indonesia, killing at least 113 people, many more still reported missing. Although the Indonesian authorities did alert the population on Monday for the dangers of a possible tsunami following the 7,5 magnitude earthquake, they revoked the alarm soon after. The tsunami eventually did reach the western part of Indonesia, with 3-meter high waves breaking on the shores of several islands. 400 homes where washed away in the process….
Tags: earthquake, Indonesia, Java, natural disaster, tsunami, volcano, yanomami
Climate Change, Health, Oct 26th, 2010,
Cholera is a terrible disease. It’s an infection of the small intestine that causes profuse watery diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It’s transmitted mainly through contaminated drinking water or food. It can be treaded with antibiotics and with rehydration solutions. Still, cholera is a major cause of death in the world that affects the weak and the poor long before it can spread to the rich and wealthy in western countries. And it’s easy to understand why. As an infection it starts with contaminated water or food and needs to be treaded with medicine (obviously) but also with clean water…
Tags: cholera, clean water, earthquake, Haiti, outbreak
Climate Change, Nature, Oct 25th, 2010,
An earthquake with a magnitude of 7,5 on the Richter scale hit south of Sumatra earlier today, in the area of the Mentawi islands. A tsunami alarm was issued shortly after the earthquake to warn local population, but the alarm has been revoked in the meantime. There is currently no report of damages or casualties caused by the earthquake.
Tags: earthquake, Richter scale, Sumatra, tsunami
Nature, Sep 18th, 2010,
And you just thought you lived over a tube line. The threat of earthquakes in London is far greater than previously estimated, according to the British Geological Survey. Though not exactly an earthquake hotspot, the southeast of England should be more prepared for seismic activity that could cause damage to buildings. Back in 1931 a 6.1 magnitude quake occurred of the coast of Yorkshire, but was powerful enough to knock the head off of a wax figure in Madame Tussauds in London. In 1580 two people died and many buildings were damaged due to tremors originating on the Dover Strait….
Tags: British Geological Survey, earthquake, london, quake
Health, Nature, Weird Stuff, Jun 23rd, 2010,
An earthquake hit eastern Canada today. Yes, Canada. The 5.0 magnitude quake struck along the Ontario-Quebec border region around 1:41 PM EST, at a depth of approximately 12 miles (19.2). Tremors lasted about 30 seconds, shaking homes and businesses, but there are no reports of injuries or damages. A number of businesses in the Ottawa area were also evacuated. Apparently, the tremors could also be felt in several US states, including: Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Vermont and West Virginia. I can’t speak for the other states, but I felt nothing of the sort in Pennsylvania….
Tags: 5.0, breaking news, Canada, earthquake, eastern Canada, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Quebec, tremors, US, Vermont, West Virginia
Natural disasters, Wildlife & Flora, Jun 14th, 2010,
A 7.5 earthquake struck near India’s Andaman and Nicobar Islands early yesterday morning. Although tsunami warnings were issued, they have been withdrawn since. Power went out in some areas and tremors from the quake were also felt on India, which was more than 600 miles (1,000 km) from the epicenter. The good news is there are no reports of any damages or casualties to speak of, despite the fact that the area is known as an earthquake hotspot, thanks to the converging of the Burmese microplate with the Indian tectonic plate along the Andaman trench. You can check out this…
Tags: 7.5, Andaman Islands, earthquake, India, Nicobar Islands, no casualties, no damages, tremors, tsunami warning
Uncategorized, Apr 14th, 2010,
A series of earthquakes – the largest having a magnitude of 6.9 – struck a Tibetan region of western China today, killing at least 400 people according to an AP report. A further 10,000 were injured as houses collapsed and many remained trapped under fallen buildings – particularly schools – in Qinghai province. From a Wall Street Journal report: The quake hit shortly before 8 a.m. local time Wednesday, jolting Yushu prefecture, part of the Chinese province of Qinghai near the edge of the Tibetan plateau. About 97% of the population in Yushu is ethnically Tibetan. Many earn their living…
Tags: 400, China, dead, earthquake, earthquakes, Qinghai, Tibetan, Western
