Self-proclaimed prophet says massive quake will hit Taiwan today. The Taiwanese man is predicting that a massive earthquake will strike Taiwan on Wednesday morning, killing more than a million people, but an official with the country's National Science Council says there's no indication of any seismic movements.
The self-proclaimed prophet, a blogger who calls himself Teacher Wang, has predicted that a 14-magnitude quake will strike the island at 10:42:37 am local time Wednesday. It will be followed by a massive tsunami more than 550 feet (170 meters) high on May 17. "The final countdown has started," the prophet said on Tuesday. The dual catastrophes will "rip the island in half." Wang has been assembling hundreds of shipping containers in Puli in Nantou County to shelter himself and his followers. Tons of rice along with bottled water and diesel fuel have been stockpiled.
But the National Science Council Deputy Minister said that checks of earthquake indicators, including groundwater levels, soil gas composition and magnetic intensity, have given no indication of an impending superquake. "Everything looks smooth." The largest earthquake ever recorded was a 9.5-magnitude temblor in Chile in 1960. March's earthquake off Japan measured 9.0 in magnitude.
Rome earthquake prophecy claims trigger cataclysmic mood - Rome's Colosseum will be among the buildings razed to the ground by an earthquake today, according the internet rumour mill. Today, Rome supposedly will be razed to the ground by an earthquake that will shatter more than 2,000 years' worth of monumental architecture including the Colosseum, the Pantheon and St Peter's. That, at least, is the fear of hundreds of thousands of Romans, spooked by the reputed forecast of a self-taught seismologist who died more than 30 years ago. Applications from the capital's public employees for a day off – and, presumably, out – were 18% higher than for the same day in 2011. Education officials were said to be expecting school attendances to be down by a fifth as parents decide it is better to be on the safe side.
The panic was set off by claims that Raffaele Bendandi, the "earthquake prophet", forecast a devastating tremor that would rip through the capital on 11 May. Bendandi, who was knighted by Mussolini, is said to have predicted several disasters, including the Friuli quake of 1976, which claimed almost 1,000 lives. Reports of his forecast have gained credence from the awesome rumour-mongering capabilities of the internet; the fact that Rome is undeniably on the edge of a seismic region, and the lingering recollection that a non-specialist predicted the earthquake that devastated the central Italian city of L'Aquila two years ago.
But, according to the head of a foundation set up in Bendandi's honour in his native town near Bologna, it is all an urban – indeed, very urban – legend. "I can state with absolute certainty that in Raffaele Bendandi's papers, there is no prediction of a earthquake in Rome on 11 May 2011. The date is not there. The place is not there."
Italy goes to enormous lengths to debunk today's quake myth - The country's Civil Protection department has posted a dense information packet on its website stressing that quakes can't be predicted. Toll-free numbers have been set aside at city hall to field questions. The national geophysics institute will open its doors to the public today to inform the curious and the concerned about seismology.
The effort is all designed to debunk a purported prediction of a major Roman quake on May 11. There is no evidence in Bendandi's papers of any such precise a prediction and blame has been put on unidentified forces who want to "frighten people and create this situation of panic that is attributed to a prediction Bendandi never made."
Despite the concerted effort by seismologists to calm nerves, some Romans are taking precautionary measures. A survey of farm-hotels around the capital indicate many Romans are leaving town for the day. "One cannot speak of an exodus, but there are cases of entire families that have decided to leave the city for the country." Officials have blamed the media and viral rumor-mongering on the Internet for fueling fears. On Tuesday, the Rome daily La Repubblica headlined its Rome section "Holiday and exodus, earthquake psychosis," reporting both official denials of a quake alongside predictions that many offices would be empty Wednesday.
Consumer group Codacons lodged a formal complaint with Rome prosecutors on Tuesday denouncing media outlets that added to the alarm.
That said, there likely will be an earthquake Wednesday: On average, there are 30 earthquakes registered every day in Italy. Rome, however, has only a moderate seismic risk compared to more volatile regions in the Apennine mountains. The last major quake in the region was the 6.3-magnitude temblor that struck the central Italian city of L'Aquila and its surroundings on April 6, 2009. More than 300 people were killed in the quake zone. The temblor was felt in Rome, 120 kilometers (75 miles) away, but caused no damage in the capital.
does not mean that the other guy is stupid.**
LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
Back in time
5.0 MINDANAO, PHILIPPINES
5.5 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 FIJI REGION
Yesterday -
5/10/11 -
5.0 CENTRAL EAST PACIFIC RISE
5.3 JILIN-HEILONGJIANG BDR, CHINA
5.0 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.2 MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.1 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.4 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.2 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.8 LOYALTY ISLANDS
6.8 LOYALTY ISLANDS
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.1 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.4 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
In Japan, A City Shifted By Earthquake Faces A New Reality - In Ishinomaki, Japan, the March 11 earthquake has changed the city. Surely, it's changed it emotionally, but it has also changed it physically. The earthquake was so powerful that some areas of Ishinomaki moved 17 feet to the southeast and sank 4 feet. The result is that everyday, as high tide approaches, the city floods:
Twice a day, the flow steadily increases until it is knee-deep, carrying fish and debris by front doors and trapping people in their homes. Those still on the streets slosh through the sea water in rubber boots or on bicycle. "I look out the window, and it's like our houses are in the middle of the ocean."
Residents are working around the new reality, getting home before the tide comes in for example. Many of them want the government to rebuild; they have unpaid mortgages and don't want to just pick and leave. But this is the new and permanent reality and the local government simply doesn't have the money rebuild the city. Still residents are grateful they survived and have no plans to leave.
TROPICAL STORMS -
TROPICAL STORM 03W (AERE) was LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 125 NM SOUTHWEST OF KADENA, OKINAWA.
Tropical storm Aere on Tuesday headed to southern Japan after lashing the Philippines and leaving 24 deaths. The storm is forecast to bring rain to southern Japan, including the area of Fukushima, which was heavily damaged by the tsunami on March 11.
PHILIPPINES - Tropical storm Aere kills 22 in six regions. Twenty-two people were killed, including three missing people thought dead, as tropical storm Aure dampened the summer with rains, landslides and floods that affected 173,915 people and displaced 69,536.
Cyclone brewing off Philippines - A potential cyclone is on track to enter the country on the heels of Tropical Storm “Bebeng" (international name: Aere), which is making its exit today.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
MONTANA - It may not be biblical, but with mountain snowpack at upwards of 200% of normal, this year’s spring runoff is expected to be epic, or AT THE VERY LEAST, RECORD-BREAKING, the National Weather Service said Monday. The mercury is expected to rise into the mid-60s later this week, and coupled with recent rains and heavy mountain snowpack, a “perfect storm” could be brewing. The waters of the West Gallatin River are expected to rise to flood stage and beyond by Saturday, and weather watchers expect moderate flooding at Gallatin Gateway and other areas. A National Weather Service spokeswoman said Monday the flooding this season could set new records, and emergency managers have wasted no time in urging residents to get ready.
Mountain snowpack in the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson river basins are “above to well-above normal,” and in some areas the SNOW-WATER CONTENT IS HIGHER THAN WE HAVE SEEN IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS. “Pretty much the entire state has more water than they know what to do with." Most of the mountains whose snowpack feed river basins throughout southwestern are holding record or near-record snow-water, which determines how full rivers and streams will get during runoff. "Most basins are holding 18 to 30 inches of water in that snow. And we’re pushing later and later as far as when this water should be coming out.” But lower-than-normal temperatures have kept snow in the mountains, and wetter-than-normal conditions have packed more snow in. In the Jefferson River basin, the current snow-water level hasn’t been seen since 1975. The story is the same in the Madison and Gallatin river basins, where snowpack is hovering from 140 to 160 percent of normal, and snow-water content is at more than 56 percent in some places.
The National Weather Service is predicting a “better than 98 percent chance” of moderate to major flooding on the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson rivers. “The worst flooding we expect starting next week and continuing for about the next four or five weeks. It’s going to be a long haul.” With recent rains, the Gallatin is expected to come up as temperatures begin to rise, and will reach flood stage Friday or Saturday. The story is the same for the Jefferson River at Three Forks. “We are seeing some stream rises just with the precipitation we are having and with the warmer temperatures we’ve had before this storm moved in, so things are starting to change. Our chances for any type of flooding are just really good.”
Mississippi flood damages could reach billions - Flooding along the Mississippi River, already swamping cities and farmland and crimping business from river barges to casinos, could cost billions, up to $4 billion. "It's not like a tornado disaster, where it's over and the damage can be assessed. But we're sure it's going to have a pretty big impact."
Losses in Arkansas are estimated at more than $500 million. In Memphis, where the river crested Tuesday, damage was estimated at $320 million. Agricultural losses in Mississippi, including grain and catfish farms, could hit $800 million. The impact on the broader U.S. economy remains unclear. Jobless claims could rise if flooding keeps workers idle, while manufacturing could suffer if shipping lanes are disrupted on the Mississippi. Short term, flooding fears are lifting crude oil prices on concerns over 11 Southern refineries. Corn and wheat prices also rose on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, although the region is not a big producer of either.
All 19 Mississippi casinos along the river are expected to be shuttered by this weekend, costing state and local governments millions in lost tax revenue on such services as 6,000 hotel rooms. There's also the loss of income for 13,000 employees. The casinos normally bring in $87 million in May. The fallout is hurting local businesses that cater to about 25,000 daily visitors. "We need the casinos running as soon as possible." Flooding has also taken its toll on farmers. In Humphreys County, Mississippi, one couple moved most furniture from their home and had an 8-foot levee built to protect it. But their wheat crop may be doomed. "We have 2,700 acres ready to harvest in 10 days that will completely go under."
HEALTH THREATS -
Health news -
Mold findings prompt bottled water recall - An Arkansas company is recalling certain lots of its Mountain Pure brand bottled water after tests found mold contamination. The affected water was found in a shipment ordered by the city of Clinton, Arkansas, for use while some communities are under a precautionary boil orders to reduce the possibility of diarrheal illness. The area was recently hit by severe storms. The chance of illness in healthy people who drink the contaminated water is unlikely, but the risk may be higher in people with weakened immune systems. Tests are ongoing to identify the type of mold and how the water became contaminated.
FDA links vibriosis cases to Florida oyster area - An investigation into eight confirmed and one suspected Vibrio infection in people who ate raw or lightly steamed oysters in Florida triggered a warning to avoid eating or selling oysters harvested from a growing area in Apalachicola Bay, Florida. The patients with toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O75 infections are from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, and Indiana. Florida officials closed the growing area on Apr 29 and have asked harvesters and dealers to recall oysters that were harvested from the area. V cholerae O75 is related to the V cholerae organism that causes cholera, but the O75 strain causes less severe illness.
Meat producers urge\ing lawmakers to reject new food safety fees - A collection of 25 trade groups representing the meat, poultry, and egg industries sent a letter to a US Senate group working on federal deficit issues to drop an Obama Administration plan to impose taxes and fees to cover a host of federal inspection activities; legislation that has not been submitted yet. The letter noted that food safety inspection is a public health activity that benefits everyone and should be funded by appropriations. The group added that food inspections are required by law and have been funded by tax dollars for the past century. An earlier fiscal commission report proposed similar fees, but they were dropped from the final report. One fee in the Obama Administration's proposal would reportedly cover routine actions, such as risk assessments, hazard analyses, and inspection planning. A second one is a performance-based fee that would pay for additional inspections, follow-up sampling, and other actions required as part of the response to a foodborne illness outbreak. The lobby groups claimed that burden for the new fees would be heaviest on low- and middle-income families.
