Earthquakes

'Swarm' of earthquakes hit Alaska's western Aleutian Islands without damage

A series of moderate to strong earthquakes that struck Alaska's western Aleutian Islands and offshore areas Sunday comprised what scientists call a swarm," but the state's earthquake monitors said the seismic events should not cause residents to worry. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in the area around Adak, Amchitka and Kiska islands some 2,200 km west of Anchorage. Of the three remote islands, only Adak Island, with a population of about 300 people, is inhabited. Nine quakes measuring at least magnitude 5.0 struck on or near the islands and in a cluster offshore to the south Sunday morning and afternoon, according to the Alaska Earthquake Centre. Three of the quakes measured 6.0 or stronger, with the biggest a 6.3 temblor offshore. In a summary posted on its website Sunday night, the earthquake center said the 6.3 magnitude quake at a depth of about 18 km did not raise concern on its own because of its offshore location and the lack of damage reports, while

Strong earthquake strikes off California, tsunami warning cancelled

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake shook a large area of Northern California on Thursday, knocking items of grocery store shelves, sending children scrambling under desks and prompting a brief tsunami warning for 5.3 million people along the US West Coast. The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County, about 130 miles (209 km) from the Oregon border, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It was felt as far south as San Francisco, some 270 miles (435 km) away, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks. There were no immediate reports of major damage or injury. A tsunami warning was issued shortly after the temblor struck and covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California's Monterey Bay north into Oregon. It was a strong quake, our building shook, we're fine but I have a mess to clean up right now, said Julie Kreitzer, owner of Golden Gait Mercantile, a store packed wit

Cuba hit by 6.8 magnitude earthquake after hurricanes and power blackouts

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook eastern Cuba on Sunday, after weeks of hurricanes and blackouts that have left many on the island reeling. The epicentre of the quake was located approximately 25 miles (40 km) south of Bartolom Mas, Cuba, according to a report by the United States Geological Survey. The rumbling was felt across the eastern stretch of Cuba, including in bigger cities like Santiago de Cuba. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Residents in Santiago, Cuba's second largest city, were left shaken on Sunday. Yolanda Tabo, 76, said people in the city flocked to the streets and were still nervously sitting in their doorways. She said she felt at least two aftershocks following the quake, but that among friends and family she hadn't heard of any damages. You had to see how everything was moving, the walls, everything," she told The Associated Press. The earthquake comes during another tough stretch for Cuba. On Wednesday, Category 3 Hurricane Rafael ripp

Small tsunami waves wash ashore on remote Japanese islands post earthquake

Small tsunami waves washed ashore on remote Japanese islands on Tuesday morning after an earthquake that may have been triggered by volcanic activity. The offshore quake was not felt, and the tsunami advisory was lifted about three hours later. No damage or injuries were reported. The Japan Meteorological Agency had advised that waves up to 1 metre (yard) above tide levels could occur on the coasts of the Izu and Ogasawara island chains after the magnitude 5.9 quake occurred off the Izu Islands. The US Geological Survey measured the quake's strength at 5.6 magnitude. About 21,500 people live on the islands in the Izu group and about 2,500 on the Ogasawara Islands. JMA said a tsunami of about 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) was detected in the Yaene district on Hachijo Island about 30 minutes after the quake. Smaller waves were detected on three other islands Kozushima, Miyakejima and Izu Oshima. The offshore quake occurred about 180 kilometers (111 miles) south of Hachijo island

Heavy rain pounds northcentral Japan still recovering from deadly quake

Heavy rain pounded Japan's northcentral region of Noto on Saturday which triggered landslides and swollen rivers to overflow, flooding homes and stranding some residents in the region still recovering from a deadly earthquake earlier this year. The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the highest level of heavy rain across several cities in the Ishikawa prefecture, including the worst-hit Wajima where authorities said one person was missing. At least 12 rivers in Ishikawa breached their banks as of late Saturday morning, according to the Land and Infrastructure Ministry. Residents were urged to use maximum caution against possible mudslides and building damage. Up to 20 centimeters (7.8 inches) of rainfall is predicted in the region within the next 24 hours through Sunday noon, due to the rainbands that cause torrential rain above the Hokuriku region, JMA said. So far, there have been no reports of injuries from the heavy rain. But many homes were flooded and some residents in two ..

Islamabad, parts of Pakistan jolted by 5.7 magnitude earthquake: Met Dept

A 5.7 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday jolted parts of Pakistan, including the capital Islamabad, according to the country's meteorological department. The quake's epicentre was situated near the Dera Ghazi Khan region in the southwestern part of the Punjab province at a depth of 10 kilometres, Geo News reported, citing the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD). There were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. The earthquake originated at 12:28 pm Pakistan Standard Time (PST) and was recorded at magnitude 5.7 on the Richter scale, according to the Met Department. It was felt in several parts of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab provinces, including the capital Islamabad. Meanwhile, the earthquake's tremors were felt across Delhi and the neighbouring regions in India. India's National Center for Seismology said the earthquake was of magnitude 5.8. Authorities in the Punjab province were on alert "to deal with the aftershocks of the earthquake", a spokesperson of t

5.8-magnitude earthquake jolts Pakistan, tremors felt in Delhi NCR

Delhi earthquake: After Afghanistan, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake has shaken Pakistan. Tremors felt in many Northern regions of India, including Delhi NCR

Earthquake in Afghanistan; mild tremors felt in Delhi, nearby regions

As reports of earthquake tremors surfaced, many took to social media platforms to share their experiences. No casualties or damage have been reported

Istanbul, Turkey's biggest city, worries next earthquake will be a big one

Earthquakes are unpredictable but also inevitable, and experts say Istanbul might be due one

Japanese worried after first-ever megaquake advisory. What does it mean?

Japan, one of the most earthquake-prone nations on earth, issued its first-ever megaquake advisory last week after a powerful quake struck off the southeastern coast of the southern main island of Kyushu. The magnitude 7.1 quake caused no deaths or severe damage but the advisory has led to widespread confusion and a lingering sense of worry in a country well accustomed to regular quakes about when the next big one will hit. The Associated Press explains what the advisory means, what people are being told to do, and what could happen if a massive quake hits Japan. What is a megaquake advisory? The Japan Meteorological Agency issued the advisory after concluding that the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck on August 8 on the western edge of the Nankai Trough increased the likelihood of another big one. There is a 70-80 per cent chance of a magnitude 8 or 9 quake associated with the Nankai Trough within the next 30 years, and the probability is now higher than normal after the latest .

4.4 magnitude quake felt in LA, San Diego; buildings sway, no big damage

A 4.4 magnitude earthquake was strongly felt from the Los Angeles area all the way to San Diego, swaying buildings, rattling dishes and setting off car alarms, but no major damage or injuries were immediately reported. Monday's quake was centred near the Los Angeles neighbourhood of Highland Park, about 6.5 miles (10.5 kilometres) northeast of Los Angeles' City Hall, and about 7.5 miles (12.1 kilometres) below the surface, the US Geological Survey said. The quake was felt from greater Los Angeles south to San Diego and east to the Palm Springs desert region, according to the USGS community reporting page. A small number of reports were filed from the southern San Joaquin Valley about 100 miles (160 kilometres) northwest of LA. It shook a medical building, a live interview on ESPN was interrupted, and the ground swayed in Anaheim, where Disneyland is located in Orange County. Dishes rattled in the storied LA neighbourhood of Laurel Canyon, home to many celebrities, and photos on soci

Japanese PM cancels Central Asia visit due to mega earthquake advisory

Japan Met department said a higher-than-usual probability of a megaquake is predicted around the Nankai Trough

Japan issues its first 'megaquake' warning after powerful tremors in Kyushu

A megaquake in what's known as the Nankai trough could surpass the damage from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northern coast of the main island of Honshu

Japanese govt issues its first 'megaquake' warning after powerful tremor

Defined as a major tremor occurring in 100- to 150-year cycles, a megaquake could surpass the damage from the March 2011 earthquake

Earthquake of 4.2 magnitude jolts Taplejung region in eastern Nepal

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 struck the Taplejung district in eastern Nepal on Sunday, authorities said. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, they added. According to the National Earthquake Monitoring Centre, the epicentre of the quake was at Ankhop. The tremor, recorded at 4:04 PM, was also felt in neighbouring Panchthar district, it said.

Can we predict earthquakes? China says it has found an AI-powered solution

Scientists in China have developed a first-of-its-kind AI-model designed to analyse extensive datasets to enhance the accuracy and speed of detection of seismic signals and predict earthquakes

Earthquake 2,500 years ago could have changed Ganga's course: Study

An earthquake around 2,500 years ago could have caused the Ganga river to abruptly change course, according to a new study published. Researchers said the "undocumented" quake, possibly of magnitude 7-8, rerouted the main channel of the river in present day Bangladesh, a country vulnerable to big seismic shocks. "I don't think we have ever seen such a big one (earthquake) anywhere," said study co-author Michael Steckler, a geophysicist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia Climate School, US. "It could have easily inundated anyone and anything in the wrong place at the wrong time," Steckler said. The study was published in the journal Nature Communications. Originating in the Himalayas, the river Ganga eventually combines with other major rivers, including the Brahmaputra and the Meghna, before culminating in the Bay of Bengal. The rivers form the world's second-largest system, the Amazon being the largest. Many river-course changes, called 'avulsions', including some tha

Earthquakes shake Japan, collapse five homes damaged in January quake

Earthquakes early on Monday again struck Japan's north-central region of Ishikawa, still recovering from the destruction left by a powerful quake on January 1, but the latest shaking caused only minor damage. A magnitude 5.9 temblor on the northern top of the Noto Peninsula was followed minutes later by a 4.8 and then several smaller quakes within the next two hours, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. There was no danger of a tsunami. Two houses that had been damaged in the January 1 quake collapsed in Wajiima city but no injuries or other damage was reported so far, according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency. JMA seismology and tsunami official Satoshi Harada said Monday's quakes were believed to be aftershocks of the magnitude 7.6 earthquake on January 1. Seismic activity has since slightly subsided but Harada urged people to be cautious, especially near buildings that were damaged earlier. Shinkansen super-express trains and other train services were temporarily ..

Taiwan hit by dozens of earthquakes; sees no major damage, casualties

Taiwan's Central Weather Administration said the spate of earthquakes starting Monday afternoon - which it put at about 180 - were aftershocks from the large April 3 quake

Taiwan's strongest earthquake leaves 9 dead, 934 injured, dozens stranded

Taiwan is regularly jolted by quakes and its population is among the best prepared for them, but authorities said they had expected a relatively mild earthquake and accordingly did not send out alerts