Extremely dangerous earthquake close to the Napa Valley, California – no official report of injuries so far but a lot of damage
Last update: August 24, 2014 at 2:09 pm by By Armand Vervaeck
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Update 13:57 UTC : A typical strike-slip earthquake with a mainly horizontal movement OR in otrher words the most dangerous earthquake type in the world. Still no official reports about injured people. A lot of rumours though.
Update 13:27 UTC : Damage we can expect at a place like Napa Valley. What a terrible waste of energy for the wine makers. Hopefulkly they are well insured
Update 13:24 UTC : No official reports of injuries so far (let’s call this a miracle)
Update 13:18 UTC : 68,742 customers still without power across California; majority affected are in Napa and Sonoma counties
Update 13:13 UTC : Significant damage to downtown Napa, ordering rescue teams, people trapped in homes
The Napa City council reports that some streets in downtown Napa, Calif., are being closed following major damage to buildings
Update 11:45 UTC : Twitter user Mike Smith just wrote : Listening to a Napa County scanner stream. Sounds like a lot of injuries and damage in the Napa/Sonoma area.
Update 11:38 UTC : A building partly collapsed in Napa (see image below). ER fears that there are more cases like this one. Hard to say how many people might be injured but we are sure that there wil be people injured during this quake. Recent houses will be OK but alder not-refitted houses might be of risk.
Update 11:29 UTC : California Highway Patrol checking crossings and bridges for obvious signs of structural integrity after quake. For our readers from elsewhere in the world : The earthquake happened in the middle of the night and rescue services have to operate in the dark. millions of people have been awakened from the shaking of this earthquake
Update 11:23 UTC : There is a population of 280000 people in a radius of 20 km around the epicenter. Power outages are reported in North Bay area of San Francisco as well as Sonoma, Napa counties
Update 11:13 UTC : Until now much reports of shaken interiors from Napa and the Napa valley area
Update 11:08 UTC : People in Napa Valley are frightened and call it the biggest ever. The image below is from a house in Napa. San Francisco no reports of damage so far.
Ar ER we call a radius of 10 km around the epicenter as extremely dangerous and a radius of 30 km as dangerous for damage/injuries
Update 11:01 UTC : ER calls this earthquake extremely dangerous for serious damage and even injuries.
Update 10:59 UTC : We apologise for not being able to serve all our readers as the servers can only serve a limited number of people (thousands at a time) but demand is simply too high to cope
6km (4mi) NW of American Canyon, California
9km (6mi) SSW of Napa, California
13km (8mi) NNW of Vallejo, California
14km (9mi) SE of Sonoma, California
82km (51mi) WSW of Sacramento, California
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 6
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-08-24 03:20:44
Moderate earthquake in Yunnan/Sichuan, China injures 20 people and damages 1424 houses
Last update: August 17, 2014 at 4:10 pm by By Armand Vervaeck
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Update 15:37 UTC : Most recent information as brought by China Daily about this earthquake :
At least 19 people were injured after an earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale jolted Yongshan County in southwest China’s Yunnan Province at 6:07 am on Sunday, local authorities said.
The epicenter was in Wuji Township, 21 kilometers from the county seat. The source of the quake was 7 km deep.
20 injured in SW China earthquake
The quake was strongly felt in the neighboring counties of Suijiang, Daguan and Zhenxiong as well as the Zhaoyang District of Zhaotong City, which administers Yongshan, according to the provincial seismological bureau.
Nineteen people in Yongshan were injured and 1,424 houses were damaged as of 2 p.m., with 42 houses collapsed and 568 badly damaged. Cracks have been spotted in adobe houses and more than 10 cattle lots collapsed at Jinping Village, according to the county government.
Among the injured, ten have been sent to county hospitals for treatment and another nine are receiving medical care at township clinics.
About 50 km of roads, 41 km of tunnels and 21 km of power transmission lines were damaged in five townships. More than 1,000 local officials, policemen and militia personnel are working in the affected regions in rescue efforts and disaster investigations.
About 200 firefighters from various cities have arrived in Yongshan for rescue.
Civil affairs authorities have sent 200 tents, 2,000 quilts and 2,000 coats to the county.
Twenty-two aftershocks had been reported as of 8 a.m. on Sunday. Communication in the county is unimpeded, according to the seismological bureau.
Yunnan governor Li Jiheng led a work team to Yongshan from Ludian, also a county in Zhaotong City, where a 6.5-magnitude earthquake on Aug. 3 killed more than 600 people and destroyed 80,000 homes.
The Yongshan earthquake is not an aftershock of the Ludian earthquake as the epicenters of the two quakes are 113 km away from each other, said Zhang Junwei, an official with the provincial seismological bureau.
Update 09:48 TC : The Chinese authorities published new data about this earthquake (only mainshock so far) : 16 collapsed houses, 196 severely damaged houses and 481 slightly damaged houses
Update 09:25 UTC : M4.0 and M4.2 aftershocks will normally trigger more minor damage (based on our China experience)
Update August 17 09:18 UTC : We had to change the title as the Chinese authorities said that we had to talk about a new earthquake and not an aftershock. The epicenter of this earthquake is 110 km north of the deadly Ludian quake.
So far the authorities reported 19 people injured, 11 houses collapsed, 37 houses severely damaged and 189 damaged to various extend.
Some minor damage was also reported from Sichuan
Update 22:19 UTC : We found out that this was a Yunnan aftershock of M4.8 at a depth of 5 km. Additional damage will certainly be inflicted in the epicenter area, but the damage will be hopefully not serious (what we expect)
Leibo County (from the epicenter approximately 19.7 kilometers)
Yongshan County (from the epicenter approximately 19.9 kilometers)
Meigu (from the epicenter approximately 44.6 kilometers)
King County (from the epicenter approximately 51.0 kilometers)
Zhaojue County (from the epicenter approximately 65.4 kilometers)
Suijiang County (from the epicenter approximately 71.5 kilometers)
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.1
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-08-17 06:08:02
Deadly earthquake in South Africa in Orkney and Klerksdorp – 1 fatality and 38 injured
Last update: August 6, 2014 at 4:22 pm by By Armand Vervaeck –
Update August 6, 16:12 UTC : Thirty-four workers at AngloGold Ashanti’s Vaal river operations have been treated for minor injuries and released from hospital. To be added 3 people in a training center at the gold mine and 1 man in Orkney, brings our total to 38 injured people.
Update 18:25 UTC : An aftershock has frightened the population of Orkney again late this afternoon. No specific Magnitude has been given.
Update 17:08 UTC : The earthquake shaking damaged 400 houses!
Update 17:02 UTC : The shaking map as published by the USGS. The max. theoretical shaking calculated by the USGS was MMI 6 or “strong shaking”. We however have the impression, based on the experience reports we have received, that the shaking as experienced in Orkney and Kerksdorp was MMI VII or very strong shaking.
Update 16:05 UTC : AngloGold Ashanti, a mining company, said 17 employees at two mines in the Orkney region sustained minor injuries. Earlier in the day 3 people were slightly injured in a training venue from the gold mine and 1 man was rescued from below a collapsed house. A total of 21 injured people
Update 15:47 UTC : Seismicity in South Africa, an excerpt of a ReInsurance report :
The south-western Cape has one of the highest levels of seismicity in South Africa, which is characterized by its dual source of seismicity comprising mine related events and tectonic origin earthquakes.
According to new research from Professor Kijko, director of the Aon Benfield Natural Hazard Centre Africa, the Western Cape Province, with Cape Town as the capital city, can expect a maximum earthquake close to magnitude 7.0. By comparison, the largest mine related event in the Johannesburg gold mine area is estimated at magnitude 5.6.
Historically, the most severe earthquake of magnitude 6.3 occurred on 29 September 1969 in Ceres, 100 km northeast of Cape Town. The event resulted in 12 lost lives and numerous damaged buildings in the town of Tulbagh.
On 4 September 1809, a seismic event estimated at magnitude 6.3, occurred at the Milnerton Fault, a mere 10km from Cape Town CBD and the location of the Cape Town Stadium. The largest mine related event in the history of South Africa occurred on 5 March 2005 in the Klerksdorp (Stilfontein) gold mining district, 200km west of Johannesburg, which reached a magnitude of 5.3. Below ground, substantial damage was observed within the mines, while above ground, the structural damage to property was relatively low.
South Africa Spotlight on Earthquake Mining related events add a low magnitude, high frequency facet to earthquake risk in Johannesburg. It is also believed that accumulation of water within old mine shafts of several kilometres deep can trigger small, and occasionally moderate sized, seismic events.
The tectonic origin and mining related events are considered to be largely uncorrelated. As mining activity around Johannesburg diminishes with the depletion of gold reserves, so has the risk of mining induced seismic events originating below the city.
Based on this study, there is a very big chance that also this earthquake was Mining Induced and NOT tectonic. In other words a human triggered earthquake .
(Thank you Stéphane BAIZE for this related information.)
Update 15:28 UTC : The damage at the asphalt at the Waterbeesdam. Image via Twitter courtesy and copyright @MvanRyneveld. This kind of opening in the ground normally indicates a divergent or normal faulting earthquake (2 plates are pulling way from each other). Far too soon, as said earlier what the origin from the quake would be. Our map below shows however another quake who occurred right on the same spot on June 15 ! It was nearly as strong as this one but without being felt all over South Africa. The June 15 one was shallower which explains in part the radius that is was felt. Click here for our report on June 15!
Update 15:19 UTC : We are HAPPY tot report that NO MINERS are being trapped in the Orkney mines any longer.
Johannesburg:Paramedics on Tuesday confirmed no miners were trapped in mines around Orkney in the North West following an earthquake that shook the region.
ER24 officials who had been sent to one mine following reports that some miners were trapped in 11 shafts were standing down, said spokeswoman Luyanda Majija. “There are no entrapments. Most miners working in various mines have been brought out,” Majija said.” Most shafts have been evacuated.”Around 2.30pm, only one person had been confirmed dead. “A 31-year-old man was found deceased in an old mining village,” Majija said. “He was found lying under some debris. “The incident occurred close to the epicentre of the earthquake, recorded at a magnitude of 5.5 by the Council for Geosciences in SA. (Source : Africa News Network)
Update 14:03 UTC : This was a violent earthquake for South African standards, but was “only” M5.3. We have to remark however that the shaking lasted extremely long for an earthquake from this Magnitude. Below an image from the damage in Orkney (courtesy and copyright News24).
Update 13:29 UTC : The South Africa earthquake is the 4th deadly earthquake in only 8 days time!
Update 13:12 UTC : The situation in the gold mine(s) shafts is far from sure. In 1 mine, everybody was safely brought at the surface, which is really great news.
Update 12:57 UTC : We are of course far from sure but the source of the earthquake may not be mining induced but tectonic based on the experience reports we receive from the direct epicenter area and the fact that this earthquake was felt in a 500 km radius.
Update 12:54 UTC : Every I HAVE FELT IT REPORT we receive from Klerksdorp and Orkney describes damage. This will be by far the most damaging earthquake in South-Africa since a long time.
Update 12:54 UTC : An impressive Experience Report from an ER reader living in Orkney, the direct epicenter
I could hear it coming.. at first I thought it was just the normal mining operations but then when it hit us, the whole house was shaking and stuff started falling out of the cupboards and off shelfs. I stormed outside to see if my 75 year old father was okay and I found him in the garden. The quake knocked him off his feet and his head hit a rock in the garden. He was in total shock but he is okay. My house is full of cracks. Scary !!
Update 12:28 UTC : 3 people were hurt at a training center in the Orkney Gold mine
Update 12:08 UTC : Some mineworkers at Orkney in the North West were trapped following an earth tremor on Tuesday, said emergency workers. ER24 spokesperson Luyanda Majija said they had received reports that the tremor has had a significant impact on one mine (source: http://www.timeslive.co.za/) Old buildings, old mining houses have collapsed, lots of debris, says ER24′s Werner Vermaak
Update 1200 UTC : We have now confirmation that a man in his 30′s was killed in the Orkney/Klerksdorp
Update 11:44 UTC : We have unconfirmed reports of 1 fatality. A man was caught by a collapsing wall in Orkney, the direct epicenter area
Update 11:44 UTC : Some people are trapped below a collapsed building in Orkney
Update 11:43 UTC : We have still server problems due to too many concurrent users. We apologize for that.
Update 11:36 UTC : There are now unconfirmed reports that a building has collapsed in Klerksdorp
Update 11:34 UTC : Klerksdorp : Massive shaking was working under vehicle when it started moving in the air ! A bunch of businessess roofs fell in and evaquated
Update 11:33 UTC : At least 2 minors have been injured in the Orkney mine + damage reported on buildings (mainly cracks, no collapses)
Update 11:31 UTC : Klerksdorp : Our entire school building shook and we were thrown off balance. Our school has 3 storeys and I was in the middle when it shook, we dove for the door along with our geography teacher and we were told to evacuate the building. We are on the football field, damage done to multiple classrooms.
Update 11:06 UTC : The earthquake has been felt as far as Durban and Cape Town. Offices were evacuated in Durban and Johannesburg. Our biggest concern is now the many mines and their underground workers in the area.
Important message : Due to the too high demand our servers have a hard time to cope.
Update 10:49 UTC : This report came in a couple of moments ago from Kerksdorp, the direct epicenter area, mentioning severe shaking
No structural damage so far. No electricity. Photo frames falling off walls and breaking. Hope the mines in vicinity is ok but doubt it.
Update 10:39 : This earthquake is severely dangerous because the epicenter is located right below Orkney and Klerksdorp. The breaking point is extremely shallow, which increases the risk on damage a lot.
BREAKING NEWS: We have detected a strong readers increase in Johannesburg, which normally indicates that an earthquake was felt. Are you one of the people who felt the shaking of this earthquake ? If yes, may we kindly request you to let us know what you have felt and if you have damage or not. Please use the form below. Update 10:30 UTC : The earthquake was also felt in Botswana, no other details yet Update 10:35 UTC : Preliminary data is showing a Magnitude 6.0 (Geofon), which is for sure a damaging earthquake if true. Epicenter is located (preliminary) in Klerksdorp
6km (4mi) E of Orkney, South Africa
15km (9mi) S of Stilfontein, South Africa
16km (10mi) SSE of Klerksdorp, South Africa
32km (20mi) NW of Viljoenskroon, South Africa
199km (124mi) SW of Pretoria, South Africa
144 km SW of Soweto, South Africa / pop: 1,695,047 / local time: 12:22:36.4 2014-08-05
18 km SE of Orkney, South Africa / pop: 145,801 / local time: 12:22:36.4 2014-08-05
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 5.4
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-08-05 12:22:36
Rare “Supersonic” Alaskan Quake Prompts Mass Russian Troop Move
By: Sorcha Faal, and as reported to her Western Subscribers
A new report by the Emergency Situations Ministry (EMERCOM) circulating in the Kremlin today states that President Putin has ordered 5,000 additional military personal to “immediately embark” to both the Far Eastern Military District and Cuba after receiving confirmation earlier today that Alaska had been hit with a rare 6.0 magnitude supersonic earthquake.
To be noted, this report says, are that EMERCOM forces being dispatched to Cuba are not signals intelligence operatives as previously described by the propaganda emanating from the US as Putin denied their media reports that Russia was planning to reopen the Soviet-age SIGINT facility in Lourdes, Cuba which was once was the largest foreign listening post of its kind.
Instead, EMERCOM officials say in their report, the military forces being deployed to both the Far East and Cuba consist of highly trained experts needed to confront catastrophic natural disasters “in all of their forms”, including massive population relocation.
Raising the fears of EMERCOM, this report continues, were reports last month from the European Space Agency (ESA) that the data collected by their Swarm Satellites revealed that the Earth’s magnetic field has changed significantly during the past six months, with the biggest weak spots in the magnetic field having been found over the Western Hemisphere [photo top left], but has strengthened over the southern Indian Ocean since January 2014.
Where ESA scientists state these recent changes to our planets magnetic field may indicate that the Earth’s magnetic poles are about to flip, this report says, Russian experts “strongly disagree” by saying these dramatic readings give “continuing confirmation” to what is called “The Expanding Earth Theory” and may herald the complete destruction of the western regions of North America bordering the Pacific Ocean.
So concerned have Russian officials become of the events now happening, and as we reported on in our 13 June report Russia Issues Grim Report On North American Magnetic Anomaly, both scientific missions and satellite surveillance of North America have confirmed not only ESA’s findings, but have further identified “critical magnetic anomalies” radiating across nearly this entire region.
Critical to remember in understanding this EMERCOM report were the great concerns raised by Russian experts relating to the 24 May 2013 8.3 magnitude earthquake occurring off the coast of Russia in the Sea of Okhotsk, and at a depth of 642 kilometers (398 miles) was the deepest earthquake in the recorded history of mankind and was thought to be impossible to occur.
Even more critical, this report says, was the rare supersonic quake which followed this unprecedented event which upended ideas about where these unusual earthquakes strike.
Only six supersonic (or supershear) earthquakes have ever been identified, all in the last 15 years. Until now, they all showed similar features, occurring relatively near the Earth’s surface and on the same kind of fault. But the remarkably super-fast and super-deep earthquake that hit below Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula in the Sea of Okhotsk broke the pattern.
Now with today’s Alaskan quake joining this select group of supersonic earthquakes, EMERCOM officials in this report warn, it must be recognized by Western authorities that the “old rules” no longer apply and that North America may indeed be entering a period of seismic instability unheard of in modern times.
And with big earthquakes doubling in size the world over in 2014, this report further warns, the Western refusal to link these quakes with the rapidly deteriorating magnetic field is leaving tens-of-millions of their citizens at risk.
Being strongly linked by “disturbing magnetic anomalies” to the Yellowstone supervolcano region where roads there are now melting into “asphalt soup”, this report further notes, those peoples now living in the Cascadia Subduction Zone would receive the least warning when disaster strikes.
And with new reports coming from the United States that their military forces are now aggressively training at the US Army base called “Doomsday Disneyland” to control their own citizens, this report concludes, the Obama regime, apparently, knows the dangers coming to their nation as well as EMERCOM officials do.
4 km S of İzmir, Turkey / pop: 2,500,603 / local time: 18:48:33.1 2014-07-19
4 km S of İzmir, Turkey / pop: 2,500,603 / local time: 18:48:33.1 2014-07-19
1 km NE of Karabağlar, Turkey / pop: 458,000 / local time: 18:48:33.1 2014-07-19
Most important Earthquake Data:
Magnitude : 3.7
Local Time (conversion only below land) : 2014-07-19 18:48:33
The pressure on the craton edge is showing at multiple weak points along its perimeter, Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and Yellowstone as well….. earthquake swarms occurring at the fracking operations, and dormant volcanic magma chambers.
In the midwest, at the fracking operation in Arkansas, there has been a period of relative “silence” across the whole of the state.
Today , June 4 2014, the silence was broken by a borderline 4.0M earthquake at a newer Arkansas fracking operation. Also at the location, a possible old dormant volcanic core (sugarloaf mountain).
Overall, the plate is in a state of flux due to greater Pacific movement. The Pacific plate is causing unrest to “spill over” normal subduction zones (like the West Coast US) , causing pressure to be placed on the relatively stable unsubducted craton (plate). The edge of the plate is being moved by the pressure coming from the NW.
Here are the past 7 days of 4.0M+ earthquakes in the West Pacific, clearly heavy unrest taking place , spilling across the edges of the Pacific plate in all adjacent areas.
Panama TV is reporting that many walls collapsed in the Western Part of the country. Additionally, a water pipe broke in San Cristobal which set a number of houses inundated. In Chiriqui the facade from the National Bank of Panama was damaged.
The area felt many aftershocks so far.
Update 07:04 UTC : The map below shows the location of the epicenter in function of the (complicated) tectonics of that area – The Yellow line is the Convergent fault or the subduction zone where the Oceanic Cocos Plate dives below the Caribbean Plate. The Blue line the transform zone with a mainly horizontal movement.
Update 07:01 UTC : The seismogram of this earthquake
Update 06:54 UTC : Below the theoretical shakemap based on the USGS data (other agencies are showing a M6.4 Magnitude)
Update 06:47 UTC : It is currently the middle of the night in Central America. Based on the shaking numbers we are receiving from our readers (in back office) people are confirming what we expected from the beginning : Mex. a light shaking.
Update 06:44 UTC : ER does not expect serious damage from this earthquake – Main reason : Distance to the coast
Update 06:43 UTC : NO tsunami risk following the report of the PTWC (locally strong currents and minor waves are always possible)
126km (78mi) SSE of Punta de Burica, Panama
152km (94mi) SSE of Puerto Armuelles, Panama
153km (95mi) S of Pedregal, Panama
160km (99mi) S of David, Panama
373km (232mi) SSE of San Jose, Costa Ric
“The rate of earthquakes in Oklahoma has increased remarkably since October 2013 – by about 50 percent – significantly increasing the chance for a damaging magnitude 5.5 or greater quake in central Oklahoma.
A new U.S. Geological Survey and Oklahoma Geological Survey analysis found that 145 earthquakes of magnitude 3.0 or greater occurred in Oklahoma from January 2014 (through May 2; see accompanying graphic). The previous annual record, set in 2013, was 109 earthquakes, while the long-term average earthquake rate, from 1978 to 2008, was just two magnitude 3.0 or larger earthquakes per year. Important to people living in central and north-central Oklahoma is that the likelihood of future, damaging earthquakes has increased as a result of the increased number of small and moderate shocks.
Oklahoma’s heightened earthquake activity since 2009 includes 20 magnitude 4.0 to 4.8 quakes, plus the largest earthquake in Oklahoma’s history – a magnitude 5.6 earthquake that occurred near Prague on Nov. 5, 2011. The 2011 Prague earthquake damaged a number of homes and the historic Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee. Prior to the 2011 Prague earthquake, the largest earthquake of Oklahoma’s history was a magnitude 5.5 earthquake that occurred in 1952 near El Reno and damaged state buildings in Oklahoma City.
“While it’s been known for decades that Oklahoma is ‘earthquake country’, we hope that this new advisory of increased hazard will become a crucial consideration in earthquake preparedness for residents, schools and businesses in the area,” said Dr. Bill Leith, Senior Science Advisor for Earthquakes and Geologic Hazards at USGS. “Building owners and government officials should have a special concern for older, unreinforced brick structures, which are vulnerable to serious damage during sufficient shaking.”
USGS statistically analyzed the recent earthquake rate changes and found that they do not seem to be due to typical, random fluctuations in natural seismicity rates. Significant changes in both the background rate of events and earthquake triggers needed to have occurred in order to explain the increases in seismicity, which is not typically observed when modeling natural earthquakes.
The analysis suggests that a likely contributing factor to the increase in earthquakes is triggering by wastewater injected into deep geologic formations. This phenomenon is known as injection-induced seismicity, which has been documented for nearly half a century, with new cases identified recently in Arkansas, Ohio, Texas and Colorado. A recent publication by the USGS suggests that a magnitude 5.0 foreshock to the 2011 Prague, Okla., earthquake was human-induced by fluid injection; that earthquake may have then triggered the mainshock and its aftershocks. OGS studies also indicate that some of the earthquakes in Oklahoma are due to fluid injection. The OGS and USGS continue to study the Prague earthquake sequence in relation to nearby injection activities.
Collaborative USGS and OGS research to understand earthquake rate increase in the central Oklahoma area includes quantifying the changes in earthquake rate, assessing the implications of the increased small and moderate earthquake activity for large earthquake hazards, and evaluating possible links between these earthquakes and wastewater disposal from oil and gas production activities. The OGS is also focused on seismicity in north-central Oklahoma.
To more accurately determine the locations and magnitudes of earthquakes in Oklahoma, the OGS has increased the number of monitoring stations and now operates a seismograph network of 15 permanent stations and 17 temporary stations, many of which are on loan from the USGS. There are also three permanent seismic stations operated by the USGS and the Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology. Data from this network are shared in real-time with the USGS National Earthquake Information Center, which provides 24×7 reporting on earthquakes worldwide.”
Update May 3 : Local newspaper kabartimur reports : In Ulima dozens of homes + the Nur Hamza Mosque (Ambalau Island) were damaged to various extend (some severely). One person got injured by a collapsed wall. Most of the houses in the village are showing cracks in the walls. People spend the night outside out of fear for aftershocks.
Update May 3 : Our first estimate was unfortunately the good one. At least 20 houses were damaged to various extend in the village of Uilima (District Ambalau) a tiny island near Buru Island (Palau Buru). The quakes epicenter (preliminary location of the epicenters has always a serious error margin) was closest to Ambelau Island. The regency has not yet asked for help from the regional BPBD.
Update 09:31 UTC : we decrease our damage estimate based on the reports of local BMKG who is predicting a max. weak shaking at Ambon vs a light shaking as predicted by USGS
Update 09:19 UTC : The theoretical injuries/fatalities engine from Max Wyss expects neither injuries nor fatalities as a result of this earthquake. ER maintains his slight damage expectation
Update 09:11 UTC : The below data are showing a max. shaking of MMI V (and not MMI III as said earlier) = Moderate shaking may have been felt by 21000 people
Update 09:07 UTC : The picture below is the Geofon seismogram at the Indonesia station of Bandaneira (Banda Sea area)
Update 09:05 UTC : USGS reports a Magnitude of Mw6.0 at a depth of 54 km. Max. expected shaking MMI III (weak shaking).
Update : the earthquake occurred at intermediate depth of 45 km. We maintain however our moderately dangerous outlook precisely because of the depth. The epicenter is located in the sea in between both islands, but the intermediate depth will bring the shaking in a wider area and thus also on the islands.
572 km N of Dili, East Timor / pop: 150,000 / local time: 17:43:37.0 2014-05-02
75 km W of Ambon, Indonesia / pop: 355,596 / local time: 17:43:37.0 2014-05-02
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Update 06:51 UTC : A DESTRUCTIVE TSUNAMI WAS NOT GENERATED BECAUSE THIS EARTHQUAKE IS LOCATED TOO DEEP INSIDE THE EARTH.
Update : The distance to the closest islands is big enough to call this earthquake “harmless” (no damage expected)
206km (128mi) WNW of Ile Hunter, New Caledonia
321km (199mi) ESE of We, New Caledonia
393km (244mi) ENE of Mont-Dore, New Caledonia
404km (251mi) E of Dumbea, New Caledonia
406km (252mi) ENE of Noumea, New Caledonia
