LARGEST QUAKES -
This morning -
7.0 EASTERN NEW GUINEA REG., P.N.G.
5.0 OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
6.7 OFFSHORE VALPARAISO, CHILE
Yesterday -
4/16/12 -
5.2 SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.7 SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.1 OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
5.3 OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
5.5 SOUTHERN GREECE
5.0 GULF OF CALIFORNIA
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (They update every 30 minutes)
Papua New Guinea - A 7.0-magnitude quake struck off the northeast of Papua New Guinea today, but there was no tsunami warning issued. The quake hit at 5.13pm AEST, 141km north of the country's second largest city of Lae and 443km from the capital Port Moresby at a depth of 201km. "A destructive tsunami was not generated based on earthquake and historical tsunami data."
Quakes of such magnitude are common in impoverished Papua New Guinea, which sits on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire, a hot spot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates. Last month, the country was hit by a 6.7-magnitude earthquake but while the tremor was widely felt it was too deep to cause much damage. Earlier in March, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the New Britain region of the country, with no damage or injuries reported. A giant tsunami in 1998, caused by an undersea earthquake, killed more than 2,000 people near Aitape, on the country's northwest coast.
Chile - A strong magnitude-6.7 earthquake has shaken central Chile, prompting authorities to order a preventative evacuation of a stretch of coastline. There were no immediate reports of damage or deaths, but the quake was felt for almost a minute in the port city of Valparaiso and in the capital, Santiago. The Chilean navy's hydrographic and oceanographic service discounted the possibility of a tsunami, but authorities maintained an order for people to move to higher ground along a roughly 804km stretch of coastline running from Constitucion to Tongoy, north of Santiago.
The US Geological Survey says the quake's epicentre was 42km northeast of Valparaiso, and it had a depth of 37km. It struck just minutes before midnight local time Monday (1.50pm AEST). The quake knocked out power and telephone service in various parts of Santiago, but the National Emergency Office of the Interior Ministry said that it had received no reports of major damage or injuries so far. There were reports of rockslides on a highway outside of Santiago, and residents of Valparaiso said the facades of some old buildings had fallen. Chile's airports and roadways appeared undamaged.
Chile is highly earthquake-prone. A magnitude-7.1 earthquake struck central Chile on March 25, the strongest and longest that many people said they had felt since a huge quake devastated that region two years ago. In 2010, the 8.8-magnitude quake caused a tsunami that obliterated much of the coastal downtown of Constitucion.
VOLCANOES -
Mexico - Popocatepetl volcano: largest eruption in 2012 on April 16. Popocatepetl volcano near Mexico City had one of its largest eruptions this year yesterday. An explosion produced an ash plume rising 2 km and caused ash fall, up to 7 cm thick, in over 30 communities near the volcano.
Eruption Update for April 16, 2012 - Costa Rica, Mexico, Italy, Alaska and Iceland. (photos)
TROPICAL STORMS -
No current tropical storms.
HEALTH THREATS -
Sushi Salmonella outbreak probe prompts raw tuna recall.
RECALLS & ALERTS:
Dole Fresh Vegetables is voluntarily recalling 756 cases of DOLE Seven Lettuces salad due to a possible health risk from Salmonella.
