Posts for 'Earthquake' Category

Researchers have explained why Canterbury escaped with no loss of life and little damage compared with the devastation in Haiti. Nearly a week on, comparisons are being made because both quakes had a magnitude of 7.1, occurred at a relatively shallow depth and were centred near population centres - one 40km west of Christchurch, the other 25km west of Port-au-Prince.

But an article in the New York Times lays out the points of difference. Haiti is a Third World nation and the poorest in the Americas, which formed the basis of the first distinguishing feature: "Poverty kills."Second was the difference in ground motion in the two quakes.

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Prime Minister John Key today said an estimated 100,000 homes were damaged by Saturday's 7.1-magnitude earthquake - nearly half of all dwellings in the Canterbury region. Mr Key made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, when it was announced the Government will give $5 million to the Mayoral Relief Fund for those affected by the quake.

The 100,000 figure shows the true extent of the quake's damage. Prime Minister John Key said the Mayoral fund has been set up for those not covered by social welfare. The fund, with the added help of the public and some banks, is now up to $6m. Mr Key said of the 160,000 homes in the Christchurch, Selwyn and Waimakariri areas, 100,000 could be damaged and some will be beyond repair.

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It is the traditions and elegant customs of judo that lend it depth and that priceless sense of mutual respect that so many modern activities struggle to achieve. The mere effort of learning the etiquette and adhering to it as the very foundation stone of judo elevates a player above anything remotely resembling poor sportsmanship and it is fair to say that rudeness and general belligerence around dojos and competitive events is virtually unheard of. It is arguable that etiquette is the one thing that allows a strange paradox of judo to remain in balance - the paradox being that fierce competitive spirit can live in perfect harmony with great mutual respect, friendship and mutual benefit. Without a fixed and strict etiquette, judo would become a slave to the same forces that push other contact sports into and out of respectability, fashion and favour. Etiquette in judo is not negotiable, nor is it flexible or left as a matter of choice by individuals or clubs. It is the one element of judo that stands above all the others, including skill levels and technique, knowledge and competitive success. With a sincere observance of good etiquette, one can practice one`s heart out and compete with utter committment and not yet loose any friends nor demean ones self in any way. Thus, quite clearly, good etiquette actually speeds one`s progress by constantly suppressing negative influences such as ill will between players, disfavour with coaches, reluctance to partner with you in randori or uchi komi, uninviting atmosphere in the dojo and such like. If you practice good etiquette, you will automatically find that coaches and senior players will be much more willing to give you time and patience and to help you work through your personal obstacles.

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California Earthquakes

California earthquakes are developed by movement of huge blocks of the earth's crust; the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate. The Pacific Plate is moving northwest, scraping horizontally past the North American Plate at a rate of about 2 inches per year. About two-thirds of this movement occurs on the San Andreas fault and some other parallel faults. Over time, these faults produce about half of the significant earthquakes of the region, as well as many minor earthquakes.

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A strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake has been reported southeast of the Ryukyu Islands in Japan. There have been no immediate reports of any significant damages or alerts of a tsunami. On Wednesday, Japan was hit with a 6.4-magnitude earthquake near the Ryukyu Islands, according to the United States Geological Survey. Earlier, the USGS had the earthquake measured at 6.1 but later upgraded it.

The Associated Press reports that there have been no reports of fatalities, injured or significant damages. The proper authorities have not issued a tsunami alert for the region. The earthquake was located 145 miles east of Okinawa and 890 miles southwest of Tokyo. The earthquake had a depth of 6.2 miles. This is not the first time that Japan has been hit by a 6.0-magnitude+ earthquake. In March, Tokyo was struck by a 6.6-magnitude quake. In 1995, Kobe, Japan was rocked by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake, which killed 6,400 people.

The risk of a major earthquake striking the Pacific Northwest within the next half-century is greater than once thought, researchers have found using a new series of geological observations another reminder to British Columbians to be prepared. Earlier estimates forecasted that a major earthquake similar in size to those which hit China, Mexico and Chile in recent months is likely to strike the B.C. coast once every 500 years. That estimate was based on the long-accepted belief that the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which lies off the west coast of North America and runs from Northern California up to British Columbia, will trigger one large earthquake for the entire zone.

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A strong earthquake with a magnitude of 6.4 on the Richter scale occurred in western Brazil at 12.18am Tuesday.
According to a statement from the Malaysian Meteorogical Department, the epicentre is located at 8.1 degress south and 71.6 degrees west, 749km northeast of Lima, Peru, and 18,879km southwest of Kunak, Sabah. There is no tsunami threat to Malaysia, the statement adds.

Seismologists say a 5.9-magnitude earthquake has shaken southern Peru. There are no immediate reports of injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey says the temblor struck at 5:46 p.m. local time (2246GMT) Sunday. Its epicenter was near the city of Ayacucho, and about 225 miles (360 kilometers) from the capital of Lima. The USGS measured the depth of the quake at 68 miles (110 kilometers). RPP radio says shaking was felt in the regions of Ayacucho, Apurimac, Ica and southern Lima.

Benton County residents ran into the streets searching for answers Thursday night after a 2.6 magnitude earthquake gave everyone a shaky surprise. The earthquake took place at 7:01 p.m. "I heard a boom, and a rumble and my dishes started shaking, I ran to the bedroom to my husband and I asked, 'what was that?'" That was the reaction from Katie, who was washing dishes in Bentonville at the time of the quake.

Her husband said he's scared; two earthquakes have now hit the county in less than a month. "I'm not very stable I'm ready to run," said Katie's husband. "I'd rather have a tornado than have earthquakes, because you can run away from a tornado, an earthquake you're just going to fall in the ground.

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A magnitude 6.4 earthquake has struck near the Bio-Bio region of Chile, just off the central coast. There are no reports of major damage or injuries from the latest temblor and no Tsunami watches or warnings have been issued. Chile Earthquake: Magnitude 6.4 Quake Strikes Off Chile’s Central Coast The USGS said that a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck the central coast of Chile at about 9:45 p.m. EST this evening, May 3, 2010.

The epicenter was approximately 94 miles S-SW of Concepcion, Chile and had a depth of 12 miles. The region has undergone hundred’s of quakes since the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck on February 27, 2010, causing at least 486 people to lose their lives. A 5.9 magnitude hit the area yesterday. Tens of thousands of people are said to still be living in huts and tents since the February quake.

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