Last update: August 14, 2012 at 3:09 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Massive very deep earthquake in the sea of Okhotsk
A Magnitude 7.7 (updated from 7.3 by USGS) earthquake hit the sea of Okhotsk 160 km from Poronaysk, Russia although it was a massive earthquake the depth of 625 km has decreased the shaking strongly, making it a IV on the Mercalli scale (light shaking) for a very wide area, no tsunami is possible because of the depth.
The earthquake has been felt as far as Japan!
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M6.2
UTC Time : Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 12:23:17 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Saturday, August 11, 2012 at 03:53:17 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 9.7 km
Geo-location(s) :
20 km (12 miles) WSW of Ahar, Iran
60 km (37 miles) ENE of Tabriz, Iran
Shaking map based on a Magnitude of 6.2 and a depth of 9.7 km – image courtesy USGS
Important update 13:00 UTC : The first M6.2 earthquake was followed 11 minutes later by an even stronger M6.3 aftershock. This second earthquake had a slightly different epicenter.
Based on preliminary data a strong to very strong earthquake happened a few minutes ago in Western Iran.
We are currently collecting more material and will report accordingly
Preliminary epicenter at 60 km from Tabriz. Tabriz has a population if 1.4 million people). Tabriz is not too close to the epicenter, wo damage, if any, will be moderate
The closest city to the epicenter is however Ahar, a city with a population of 94348 (latest census).
Theoretical intensity calculations are expecting very strong to severe shaking in the epicenter area.
We will start-up an in-depth article as soon as possible.
Update 14:29 UTC : The city of Varzeghan is reported by Iran media as the epicenter of this earthquake. Varzeghan or Varzgan is not a small village but rather a small town (see satellite image below).
Satellite image of the city of Varzeghan (Varzgan, vrzgan) epicenter of the August 11 2012 Iran earthquake
Important update 14:12 UTC : ER reader Mehran comments that Mehr news is reporting heavy damage to clay housing, victims transferred to hospitals, and the epicenter is reported to be the village of Varzgan.
Update 14:07 UTC : Emergency evaluation teams have been send to Tabriz and Ahar were telecommunications and power have been cut. Iran has very good organized emergency and SAR teams and can handle a lot of damaging earthquakes with their own troops and material. Earthquake-Report.com evaluates Iran earthquake response as one of the best in the world!
Update 13:54 UTC : Mobile telecommunication problems in Tabriz. Panic but no reports of damage or casualties yet. Iran has one of lowest attenuation q values meaning that seismic waves attenuate or diminish faster with distance than other parts of the world.
Update 13:53 UTC : USGS has just updated his Iran report and comes now with at least 6000 people who will have experienced the super dangerous Severe shaking (MMI VIII) and 186000 people having received a very strong shaking (MMI VII)
Satellite view of Ahar, Iran a city with 85000 inhabitants and close to the epicenter – image courtesy Google and its contributors
Important update 13:43 UTC : WAPMERR, the theoretical earthquake damage engine, has calculated that based on the Geofon earthquake data and epicenter, 100 to 500 deaths may be expected. Our experience with Geofon is that this estimate will be hopefully reviewed to lower numbers (like often elsewhere). WAPMERR is however an indication that this earthquake is a really dangerous one!
for more information and updates, go to: http://earthquake-report.com/2012/08/11/extremely-dangerous-shallow-earthquake-in-the-greater-tabriz-iran-area/
A brief explosion from Popocatépetl in Mexico on July 21, 2012. Popo has been one of the few volcanic newsmakers of the year. Webcam capture courtesy of CENAPRED.
One topic of discussion that has come up recently on Eruptions is how volcanically quiet 2012 has been so far. Unlike the last few years where there have been multiple significant eruptions that captured people’s attention, there have not been many such events in the past 7 months. Now, this is not to say that there hasn’t been volcanic activity – there has been plenty. However, we have not seen any large eruption that has been splashed across the media since Puyehue-Cordón Caulle last fall … and not to tempt fate, but it was noted on Twitter last night that there hasn’t been a M7 or greater earthquake since April on the planet. We still have 5 months to go, but so far 2012 has been turning out to the the opposite of the Mayan apocalypse that some people are expecting.
However, is 2012 anomalous? Hardly! Just like when there is a strong uptick in volcanic/earthquake activity, this lull is likely mainly due to the random distribution of volcanic events. Sometimes we get clusters of larger eruptions, sometimes we get quiet times. One quick way to look at this is to think about the number of VEI 4 or greater eruptions over the past 10 years (as a small sampling):
* Note: The estimated eruptive volumes for some of the major eruptions of 2011 are not well quantified due to their location (amongst other things). Puyehue-Cordón Caulle was clearly VEI 4+, but Nabro and Grímsvötn are, at the most, VEI 4, likely below that threshhold of 0.1 cubic km of erupted material.
So far in 2012, no eruption reaches anywhere close to the VEI 4 mark, with the most activity centered around the ever-active volcanoes such as those in the Kamchatka Peninsula (especially Karymsky, Kizimen and Shiveluch), Sakurajima, Kilauea and Santa Maria. New arrivals such as Popocatépetl and Nevado del Ruiz, have only produced minor explosions while some rumbling volcanoes such as Iliamna and Rincón de la Vieja have yet to do much of anything at all. This is all normal for the volcanoes of Earth – sometimes they have a busy years with large eruptions like in 2011 or 2008. Sometimes there are none of the larger eruptions that capture everyone’s attention, but volcanism marches on in the form of smaller eruptions that keep that heat circulating from the interior of the Earth to the surface. In the past, this might have been explained by missing data – it was surprisingly easy to “hide” an eruption – but with the increased monitoring, especially through seismic stations worldwide and satellite imagery, it is hard to imagine a large eruption going on unnoticed on Earth**.
Like I said, 2012 still has 5 months to go, so all this talk of a “quiet” volcanic year might be wiped away with a large eruption. However, just as the times of increased activity don’t suggest that the Earth is “out of control” or “heading to heightened eruptions and earthquakes” due to any number of unfounded reasons, this period of relative volcanic and seismic quiescence doesn’t mean that the Earth is doing anything different that business as usual. (And as noted on Twitter, it also doesn’t mean this is the “quiet before the storm”.)
** Note: One might argue that submarine eruptions could go unnoticed. However, a VEI 4+ would leave telltale signs as well, including pumice rafts, strong seismicity and changes in ocean temperature (locally). As an example, the very small eruption from El Hierro in 2011-12, albeit in shallower water, was easily seen from space.
P.S. 2012 has been a very active year for our closest star, the Sun. Now, I won’t go too far, but why has the Earth been so quiet tectonically when the Sun has been so active? I’ll leave that to the folks who think the Sun somehow plays the dominant role in earthquakes and eruptions.
Strong earthquake along the Mexico / Guatemala coast
Last update: July 29, 2012 at 12:52 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Strong earthquake along the Mexican coast
An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of M6.0 has occurred in the Pacific Ocean
Epicenter in the Pacific ocean in the Guatemala / Mexico (Chiapas) ocean area
29 km (18 miles) SSW (210°) from Suchiate, Chiapas, Mexico
64 km (40 miles) S (187°) from Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico
Hypocenter is reported by USGS at 35 km
We do not expect damage from this earthquake and based on the visiting numbers in our site, the shaking will be mostly weak to very weak. Theoretical analysis from USGS reports a max. light shaking (MMI IV) for 3.6 million people. People in this part of the world are very much acquainted to earthquakes and are used to today’s kind of shaking. Update : EMSC reports for the same earthquake a Magnitude of M5.5 at a depth of 80 km.
Last update: July 12, 2012 at 2:22 pm by By Ashish Khanal
Afghanistan-tajikistan Border Region
Jul 12 14:44 PM
5.0
138.0
At the current reported depth, we do not think that this earthquake will be damaging.
This earthquake has been felt in Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, etc.
All the reporting and to be trusted seismological agencies are reporting depths of +150 km.
The risk on landslides will however be present in this high mountain area.
Closest city to the epicenter : Fayzabad, Afghanistan.
Xinjiang, China earthquake – collapsed houses, +37 injured, 40 workers and 80 people trapped, 500 houses collapsed, 22000 people affected + more to come
Update 10:25 UTC
– The damage toll is getting heavier every hour
– Most of the houses in the area have cracks in the walls
– luckily no killed people so far, but based on our China experience and the remote areas still to be inspected, the current state of damage and injuries is only temporary.
– The Chinese seismological agency has recorded 13 aftershocks of M3.0 or higher. 2 aftershocks surpassed the 4 level, an M4.2 at 08:46 local time and a M4.3 at 15:35 local time. All aftershocks have epicenters in the same area and the depths are more or less similar than the mainshock.
– Water distribution, roads, electricity, classrooms, hospitals, offices and other public facilities have various degrees of damage. Relief work is underway.
Big rocks on State Highway 2017 after a landslide – image courtesy and copyright Chinanews.com
Very important Update 06:47 UTC :
– a lot of houses collapsed during the shaking
– at least 37 people were injured
– As of 10:30 local time, there were 7223 households, containing 22000 people affected
– 40 workers have been trapped as well as 80 people when a landslide occurred at State Highway 217, Xinyuan county. The 40 workers were near a mountain top, and 80 people were at hot springs.70 police to the scene to conduct the rescue. An extra 40 soldiers and 10 local police were also sent later.
– 1650 rooms (around 500 houses) have been destroyed, 11300 rooms with moderate damage, and 8050 rooms with minor damage.
– 684 stalls have been damaged including 258 which collapsed killing 112 head of cattle and 245 sheep
– There have also been landslides reported given the torrential rain in the area combined with the shaking.
– temporary blackouts in a wide area
– emergency forces are currently trying to reach more distant locations. Chinese authorities have dispatched 220 assessment staff (analyzing what is needed and inspecting the damage) and 4500 specializeed SAR rescue troops.
– The quake also triggered landslides and caused cave-ins on several national and regional highways in Xinjiang, bringing traffic to a halt and making emergency help extremely difficult
– strong shaking was experienced in Urumqi, the capital of the province
– Two earthquakes measuring more than 7 on the Richter scale have jolted the region since 1900.
Emergency and rescue troops are helping a woman getting away from her partly collapsed house – image courtesy 92jn.com
Update 00:06 UTC : We will have to wait at least another 3 to 4 hours before the assessment and emergency teams have reached the epicenter area. Trains have been stopped on various rails when the safety system enforced an emergency stop. Rails are currently being expected to avoid further problems (it is known that earthquakes often bend rails due to ground motion)
Update 23:52 UTC : Emergency plans have been activated. The Chinese authorities are talking from a “larger earthquake disaster” although they have no detailed information yet. Chinese media are indicating that SAR and assessment personnel has been rushed to the earthquake zone. They have the ability to help people and will tell the disasters offices what material they will need. Chinese will inspect EVERY house for eventual damage in the greater earthquake area. Chinese emergency forces are not perfect but based on what we have seen in the past earthquakes we have followed, ER calls them extremely well organized and disciplined people.
Update 23:48 UTC : The area is considered in China as very scenic and has some tourist infrastructure. We expect the majority of tourists to be Chinese.
Update 23:30 UTC : Hongqiaolong looks to us the closest village to the epicenter. The epicenter is however poorly constrained (10 km more or less in another direction may be a big difference). This village and the nearby village of Wulan Hate, are called by ER at extremely high risk for damage and injuries is approx. 20 km from the epicenter. The village is located at an altitude of 2800 meter, the mountain range were the epicenter took place at approx. 3400 meter. The picture shows the traditional Chinese villages which we know are very vulnerable for earthquake damage.
The village of Hongqiaolong is at approx. 20 km from the epicenter. – Click on the picture to make it bigger
Update 22:58 UTC : Chinese seismological services have reported 7 M+3 aftershocks so far.
Update 22:55 UTC : Houses in a 50 km area are mostly simple and made from Brick, rocks and adobe. Generally spoken Chinese houses have little resistance against earthquakes. New constructions however are build with a very high earthquake resistance.
Update 22:53 UTC : Some tourists living in the Xinjiang Nalati prairie cabins told the Chinese media that the earthquake duration was more than 20 seconds (numbers are very variable), and very strong shaking. Among the many residents in Urumqi, the capital was awakened by the earthquake, panic, people running down the stairs to escape (NEVER do this but remain in the house close to an inner wall until the shaking has stopped).
Update 22:42 UTC : Blackouts are reported in the greater epicenter area.
Update 22:35 UTC : the earthquake was strongly felt in Urumqi, Shihezi, Changji, Tacheng, Usu and Kuitun. People in these cities are standing in the streets out of fear for more aftershocks. None of these cities would have experienced a theoretical strong shaking (although people are talking different of course)
Update 22:25 UTC : People living in Urumqi (Urumqi is the capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People’s Republic of China) are reporting heavy shaking that lasted 1 minute. This is an additional reason to be concerned. The longer a strong shaking is lasting, the more chance on severe damage. Urumqi is located at approx. 200 km from the epicenter.
Update 22:16 UTC : The Xinjiang seismological bureau is currently organizing SAR teams to be dispatched to the epicenter area. SAR = Search and Rescue teams
Update 22:15 UTC : At least (but probably a lot more) aftershocks have hit the epicenter area. The 2 strongest ones measured M3.9.
Update 22:12 UTC : Chinese authorities have updated the data and are reporting now M6.6 at a depth of 7 km.
Update 22:10 UTC : Chinese seismological staff is among the best trained staff in the world. These people are very well organized and take swift action whenever an earthquake happens. China has a long history of cruel earthquakes.
Update 22:07 UTC : It will take many hours before an in-depth damage report comes in as the epicenter area is very remote and as roads my be blocked by avalanches, damages road cover etc.
Update 22:04 UTC : The shaking has been well felt in the neighboring countries like Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Update 21:58 UTC : The shaking MMI data given below are based on a Magnitude of 6.3. The Chinese authorities however are reporting a 6.7 magnitude at an even shallower depth.
Update 21:54 UTC : One of the biggest treats in this area are landslides.
Landscape approx. 15 km from the epicenter – image courtesy 老何
Update 21:53 UTC : There are luckily NO hydrodams or Nuclear Plants in the greater epicenter area.
Update 21:51 UTC : The landscape in the area tells us high slopes on a high plateau but also a lot of soft land in the area.
Update 21:45 UTC : USGS is predicting a VII MMI (very strong shaking for 1,000 people. 9000 people should feel a strong shaking.
Update 21:45 UTC : GDACS report that 5 people are living in a 5 km radius, 27 in a 10 km radius, 483 in a 20 km radius and 8664 in a 50 km radius. 183,832 in a 100 km radius. We call the 50 km radius at risk for this earthquake.
Update 21:42 UTC : Earthquake-Report.com calls a radius of 50 km at high risk for serious damage and injuries
Update 21:40 UTC : 150,000 people are living in a 100 km radius
Update 21:37 UTC : The Chinese seismological authorities reported a depth of 7 km at a Magnitude of 6.7.
The preliminary Magnitude reported at EMSC is 6.3 at a depth of 2 km
The preliminary Magnitude reported at USGS is 6.3 at a depth of 2 km
The epicenter is located in the Xinjiang mountains at the crossroads between the O217 and G218. Nearest big city (at a safe distance) : Xinjuan
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 6.3 (USGS) 6.7 (CEN)
UTC Time : Friday, June 29, 2012 at 21:07:32 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 05:07:32 AM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 9.8 km (USGS) 7 km (CEN)
Geo-location(s) :
Closest village / city Gongnaisigouxiang at approx. 25 km
99 km (61 miles) S of Dushanzi, China Xinjuan at +100 km
151 km (94 miles) SW (230°) from Shihezi, Xinjiang, China
Update 25/06 – 15:45 UTC -The number of earthquakes is picking up again
– Today will have the highest number of (M+2) earthquakes since September 30, 2011 (pre-eruption process at El Hierro).IGN has still a delay of several hours and we have counted already 88 M+2 earthquakes.
We have compared data from the full length of the eruption process. On November 3 (fierce action) 62 M+2 earthquakes were registered. On October 6, 2011, 88 M+2 were registered.
Update 25/06 – 15:28 UTC – As stipulated in the 14:36 UTC update, we see a drastic decrease in number and strength of the earthquakes. It looks like the strongest swarm episode is over for now and we expect no further deterioration of the situation if the current activity continues.
– Earthquake Animation of Julio del Castillo Vivero in cooperation with Avcan – magma trail has been currently blocked at El Julan (last set of bullets)
Update 25/06 – 14:36 UTC – We have the impression that, based on the HT hourly graphics, HT and the number of earthquakes has decreased considerably although we still notice strong ones. Probable explanation : Flow decreased due to blocked lava tubes, but pressurizes the paths even more which is related to a number of stronger quakes
– 82 earthquakes (the most important ones) listed by IGN until 12:12 UTC (we are now more than 2 hours later)
– The AVCAN map below shows the “road” the magma is following while pressurizing the below the island tunnels. The magma is gradually moving from the El Golfo island towards a cluster below the old volcano crater and finally towards El Julan (south coast). It still has to travel a little bit towards the submarine crater to restart the eruption process. The main question now is whether it will reach and reopen the cone or withdraw before that.
Map (without green line) courtesy AVCAN – quake locations based on official IGN list
The El Julan coast where the magma seems to have been blocked (last recorded group of listed earthquakes) – image Joke Volta
for more information and updates, go to: http://earthquake-report.com/2011/09/25/el-hierro-canary-islands-spain-volcanic-risk-alert-increased-to-yellow/
This damaging earthquake has hit on the Sichuan-Yunnan border. Both seismological bureaus are sending teams to survey the damage.
UPDATE:- 2 killed, 17 seriously injured and 86 slightly injured.
UPDATE:- A second person has been found dead in the rubble. This value may rise given the fact that communications are down within the epicentral region.
Houses have collapsed in the epicentral region.
Earthquake damage (Courtesy: China News)
The Yunnan Provincial Civil Affairs Department, Yunnan Provincial Committee for Disaster Reduction and the provincial Civil Affairs Department has launched three emergency responses, and are transporting to the disaster area 300 tents, 500 blankets, 500 coats. At the same time, the Working Group of the provincial Civil Affairs Department is helping guide disaster relief work.
UPDATE:- The earthquake has occurred in the Ninglang-Yanyuan region.
1 person has been killed and at least 2 seriously injured and 100 people have been slightly injured. In Ninglang!
Damage is expected to be greater than 30 million dollars via historic damage estimates.
PAGER has determined from the algorithm that the earthquake will cause between 10 and 100 million dollars damage, and 0 deaths (30% chance of 1-10 deaths). The predicted intensity is VII.
The location of the Chinese Quake (Courtesy:Yunnan Seismological Bureau)
This earthquake is CATDAT RED.
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : M5.7 (CEA)
UTC Time : 7:59:32, Sunday 24th June 2012
Local time at epicenter : 15:59:32, Sunday 24th June 2012
Depth (Hypocenter) : 11km
Geo-location(s) : Close to Lijiang City. At least 900,000 people live within a damaging radius.
for more information and updates, go to: http://earthquake-report.com/2012/06/24/shallow-earthquake-on-the-sichuanyunnan-border-1-killed-200-injured/
UPDATE:- From the epicenter, reports are that there was major panic with people jumping out of houses, however at this point there is no damage being reported.
Many people fleed from hospitals in Singkil, scared of a collapse. They are currently outside, awaiting aftershocks.
The last major quake in the epicentral region was around a year ago, claiming a life and damaging 100s of buildings.
An intermediate depth earthquake has hit Sumatra near Aceh. Shaking could hit a VI intensity.
The earthquake has been reported as a weak shaking tapering off quite quickly which is good news from these localities.
This earthquake was felt by people in Penang in Malaysia quite strongly.
A tsunami warning was issued, but for such a deep hypocenter it is usually unlikely that such a large tsunami would result. Only due to underwater landslides.
BMKG Shakemap of the earthquake (courtesy: BMKG)
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : Ml6.6 (BMKG)
UTC Time : 23rd June 2012
Local time at epicenter : 23rd June 2012 – 11:34:52 Indonesian WIB
Depth (Hypocenter) : 103km
Geo-location(s) : 24 km NW of KOTA-SUBULUSSALAM-NAD, 40 km NW of KAB-ACEHSINGKIL , 42 km SE of KAB-ACEHSELATAN , 127 km SW of MEDAN-SUMUT , 1417 km NW of JAKARTA-INDONESIA
for more information and updates, go to: http://earthquake-report.com/2012/06/23/m6-6-earthquake-hits-sumatra/
