**In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice.
But in practice, there is.**
Yogi Berra
LARGEST QUAKES so far today -
None 5.0 or higher.
Yesterday, 11/16/13 -
5.6 OFF W COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
5.4 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN
5.3 VOLCANO ISLANDS, JAPAN REGION
5.1 SCOTIA SEA (south of Chile)
5.2 SCOTIA SEA
5.3 SCOTIA SEA
5.0 SCOTIA SEA
5.2 SCOTIA SEA
5.1 SCOTIA SEA
6.9 SCOTIA SEA
5.1 OFF COAST OF SOUTHERN PERU
11/15/13 -
5.0 NORTHERN SUMATRA, INDONESIA
5.2 RYUKYU ISLANDS, JAPAN
5.5 HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION
5.0 PAKISTAN
5.0 BOUGAINVILLE REGION, P.N.G.
5.5 MENDOZA, ARGENTINA
5.3 ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.
5.0 MARIANA ISLANDS REGION
A 5.4 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan on Saturday evening, causing skyscrapers to shake in Tokyo.
Strong 6.9 magnitude earthquake hits far south Atlantic - A strong 6.9 magnitude undersea earthquake struck in the Scotia Sea, between the furthest tip of South America and Antarctica.
VOLCANOES -
Indonesia - More than 5,000 people have fled their homes in Indonesia's North Sumatra province after a series of volcanic eruptions, a disaster management official said on Friday. The Mount Sinabung volcano in Karo district has erupted intermittently since September, prompting authorities to raise the alert status to the second-highest level.
On Thursday it spewed hot ash 7,000 metres into the sky. The number of displaced residents surged to more than 5,500 on Thursday from about 1,800 last week. “The frequency of the eruptions has caused fear among the population and forced them to seek refuge in churches, mosques and other buildings away from the volcano. There have been no fatalities so far."
Displaced residents complained that they did not have enough food and blankets in the shelters and children had started to suffer from respiratory problems and diarrhoea. “If no one is taking care of us here, let us go back to our homes and die there,” a woman said. Mount Sinabung had been dormant for 400 years before it erupted in August 2010. There are nearly 130 active volcanoes across the Indonesian archipelago and eruptions are common.
TROPICAL STORMS -
Current tropical storms - maps and details.
No current tropical storms.
Tropical storm Thirty struck India at about 06:00 GMT on Saturday, November 16.
Storm Podul weakens into tropical depression, killing 5 in Vietnam - Typhoon Podul, after moving towards the offshore of Vietnam's central provinces from Phu Yen to Binh Thuan, weakened into a tropical depression on Friday, killing at least five people and inundating thousands of houses.
On Friday, the depression had wind speeds of about 40- 60 kph and gusts of up to 90 kph, causing high flood in the region. As of Friday afternoon, the center of the depression was over the sea of central Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan provinces over 1,100 km south of capita Hanoi, with winds of between 50-61 kph.
Heavy downpours caused unexpected high and fast flood in Quang Ngai province some 750 km south of Hanoi, forcing over 25,000 local people living along the Ve and Tra Khuc rivers to evacuate to high places. Local roads were eroded or inundated, causing traffic jams for many vehicles, including three trans-Vietnam trains which had to temporarily stop on their mid-way in central Binh Dinh province bordering Quang Ngai in the south.
'Hellish' search continues for bodies in the Philippines.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
Australia - Sunshine Coast residents were pelted with hail the size of tennis balls on Saturday as dangerous thunderstorms hit south-east Queensland. A line of hail storms battered region during the afternoon causing widespread damage in Brisbane, the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
The State Emergency Service (SES) responded to hundreds of calls for help on the Sunshine Coast with damage to homes, cars and buildings. One person was taken to hospital with serious head injuries after he was struck by a large piece of hail. SES workers were out in force repairing damage to roofs and broken windows. Authorities say the worst hit areas were Maroochydore and Mooloolaba.
Meanwhile, dozens of SES volunteers were called to Coffs Harbour on the New South Wales mid north coast after it bore the brunt of a wild weather system. There were reports of major damage to homes and businesses, particularly around Sawtell and Toormina, after hail, heavy rain, and damaging winds lashed the region. Almost 350 calls for help were made to the State Emergency Service. (photo)
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