**Talking nonsense is man's only privilege that distinguishes him from all other organisms.**
Dostoevsky
LARGEST QUAKES so far today -
5.0 FIJI
5.5 MYANMAR
5.9 D'ENTRECASTEAUX ISLANDS REGION
Yesterday, 11/16/14 -
6.7 OFF E. COAST OF N. ISLAND, N.Z.
5.4 NIAS REGION, INDONESIA
5.2 OFF COAST OF COSTA RICA
5.0 ICELAND
11-15-14 -
5.0 SULAWESI, INDONESIA
5.1 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.4 MOLUCCA SEA
5.4 MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
5.0 MOLUCCA SEA
5.8 MOLUCCA SEA
7.1 MOLUCCA SEA
5.1 SOUTHERN PERU
5.4 NEAR COAST OF CENTRAL PERU
11-14-14 -
5.1 SOUTHERN PERU
5.4 ICELAND5.1 SOUTHERN PERU
5.0 RAT ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN ISLANDS
5.0 NEAR N COAST OF NEW GUINEA, PNG.
5.0 OFF EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
5.3 KURIL ISLANDS
5.2 KYRGYZSTAN
7.1 quake hits Indonesia, causes small tsunami - A strong undersea earthquake hit eastern Indonesia on Saturday, triggering a small tsunami and some panic but no casualties or major damage. The 7.1 quake occurred west of Halmahera island, which is about four hours' flight from the capital, Jakarta.
Indonesia's meteorological agency said a tsunami wave of 9 centimeters (3.54 inches) washed onto the small island of Jailolo but caused no damage. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center later lifted its advisory for potential hazardous waves for coastal communities. The quake was strongly felt in several cities in eastern Indonesia, sending many people to run from homes and other buildings.
The world's largest archipelago, Indonesia is prone to earthquakes due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an arc of volcanoes and fault lines in the Pacific Basin. In 2004, a monster quake off the tip of Sumatra Island triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in a dozen countries. Most of the deaths were on Sumatra.
VOLCANOES -
Alaska volcanic eruption intensifies; lava advances in Hawaii. Mt. Pavlof volcano in the Alaska Peninsula launched an ash plume 30,000 feet into the air on Saturday morning, while officials in Hawaii say lava continues to advance on a town that has been sitting in the path of a slow-moving molten slide since June.
Mt. Pavlof, which has been erupting since Wednesday, continues to see intense seismic activity, and pilots in the area were reporting ash clouds as high as 30,000 feet above sea level. The Federal Aviation Administration has yet to impose flight restrictions in the area, but the agency did issue several notices to pilots regarding the eruption.
In Hawaii, the state's civil defense agency said Saturday that the lava flow from Kilauea volcano that had advanced slowly on the town of Pahoa since June was continuing to edge closer, but still did not pose an immediate threat to residents. The lava, which has come within 200 yards of Pahoa Village Road in recent weeks, has smothered part of a cemetery and set fire to two structures, but there are no other buildings in its immediate vicinity. In a statement issued Saturday, Hawaii's civil defense agency said several "active breakouts" from the lava flow were burning asphalt and vegetation, and heavy smoke conditions could be persistent in the area. Many residents of Pahoa have evacuated or are prepared to do so.
TROPICAL STORMS -
* In the South Indian Ocean -
Tropical cyclone Adjali is located approximately 334 nm west-southwest of Diego Garcia.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
Storms claim lives in France and Italy - Storms and heavy rains have battered parts of western Europe, causing a number of fatalities. Three members of one family were killed in the south of France when their car was swept away. In Italy, some towns have been evacuated after heavy rain burst river banks and flooded streets. (video)
Deadly mudslides engulf homes in Switzerland and Italy - At least four people have been killed in landslides in southern Switzerland and northern Italy following days of torrential rain. Two women died when a wall of mud destroyed a house near the Swiss town of Lugano on Sunday. Over the border, a pensioner and his granddaughter were killed when a mudslide engulfed their home. The heavy rain is expected to continue across the region, and both countries have issued major flood alerts. The levels of lakes Lugano and Maggiore, seen below, are already dangerously high. (photos & video at link)
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