Monday, March 12, 2012

There will be no update Tuesday, March 13.


Australia - Emergency warning issued for WA bushfire. A fierce bushfire is threatening lives and homes in Western Australia's southwest, with authorities warning residents that they need to "act immediately to survive". Residents have been warned to leave now for a safer place if the way is clear, or be ready to defend their homes.

**The depth and strength of a human character
are defined by its moral reserves.
People reveal themselves completely only when
they are thrown out of the customary conditions of their life,
for only then do they have to fall back on their reserves.**
Leon Trotsky


LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
5.7 NORTHWESTERN KASHMIR

Yesterday -
3-11-12 -
5.1 SOUTHERN MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE
5.1 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.3 CARLSBERG RIDGE
5.0 SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS

Japan 2011 quake: Loss and recovery in numbers - National Police Agency of Japan figures show almost 300,000 buildings were destroyed and a further 1,000,000 damaged, either by the quake, tsunami or resulting fires. Almost 4000 roads, 78 bridges and 29 railways were also affected.
Photos - then and now.

VOLCANOES -

Alaska - Aleutian volcano explodes again. An explosion rattled Cleveland volcano Friday for the second time in two days, and cloudy weather again prevented clear views of any ash emission.

TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone 16s (Koji) was located approximately 1200 nm south-southeast of Diego Garcia.

Australia - A cyclone watch has been issued for parts of the Top End, with the Bureau of Meteorology saying a cyclone may develop on Wednesday. Areas from Cape Hotham and stretching west to Kalumburu in Western Australia are on cyclone watch, including Darwin and the Tiwi Islands.

SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -

China - High speed train track collapses in China. a section of a high-speed railway line that had already undergone test runs has collapsed in central China following heavy rain. The official Xinhua News Agency did not mention casualties in its report on the collapse of a 300-metre section of the railway line. It said hundreds of workers were rushing to repair the line between the Yangtze River cities of Wuhan and Yichang. The railway line is due to open in May. China has reaffirmed its intention to push ahead with the fast-paced build-up of the high-speed rail system, despite financial difficulties and worries safety may have been compromised in the rush to open new lines.