Strong quake shakes Chile

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck central Chile, the US Geological Survey reported, causing scenes of panic in an area devastated by a massive quake two years ago.

But there were no immediate reports of deaths or significant damage, officials in Chile said.

In its first quake damage report, the Office of National Emergencies said one person was injured in a car accident in the Bio Bio region.

"For now we do not have reports of any fatalities. There is some evidence of people injured, unfortunately from pieces of walls that fell," Interior Minister Rodrigo Hinzpeter said.

The USGS said the quake struck at 2237 GMT some 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Talca in Chile's Maule region, the same area ravaged by a massive 8.8 earthquake in late February 2010.

Hundreds of people ran into the streets in Talca in panic during the quake, which was felt for nearly a minute.

Chilean news media reported electrical blackouts and broken phone lines in the area around Talca, 300 kilometers (186 miles) south of the capital, Santiago.

Tall buildings shook in Santiago, and fear gripped people in shopping centers, supermarkets and the city's stadium where a football game was under way.

Some injuries were reported from falling debris in the interior of a Catholic church in Santiago.

"We were at mass when material started falling," a priest told the local medial. "The people became frightened and left."

The USGS initially reported the quake's magnitude as 7.2 but later downgraded it to 7.1.

According to the USGS, which monitors earthquakes worldwide, the epicenter of Sunday's earthquake was 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) below the ground surface.

The Maule coastal region has been periodically shaken by powerful aftershocks since the February 27, 2010 quake, which claimed more than 500 lives and billions of dollars in damage.

Most of the deaths in that quake occurred from tsunamis that slammed into coastal towns and villages.

On Sunday, Chile's Office of National Emergencies (ONEMI), which came under fierce criticism for not issuing a tsunami warning on time in 2010, issued an evacuation order for all coastal residents living along a long swath of central southern Chile.

But it later canceled the order when naval experts said there was no chance of a tsunami.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, taking note of the earthquake in Chile, said "a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected."

Another 7.2 magnitude quake strikes central Chile

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck central Chile Sunday, in an area hit by an 8.8 earthquake in 2010, the US Geological Survey said.

The USGS said the latest quake occurred at 2237 GMT 32 kilometers (20 miles) northwest of Talca, Chile, at a depth of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, taking note of the earthquake in Chile, said "a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected."

The Maule coastal region in central Chile where the quake occurred has been periodically shaken by powerful aftershocks since an 8.8 magnitude quake February 27, 2010 that claimed more than 500 lives and billions of dollars in damage.

Many of the deaths in that quake occurred from local tsunamis that wiped out coastal villages.

Strong earthquake hits Japan - CNN



A 6.8-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan on Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Japanese Meteorological Agency issued a brief tsunami advisory, warning of a half-meter wave. The tsunami advisory was called off a short time after the agency issued it.
The quake was centered about 270 kilometers (170 miles) off the east coast.
There were no immediate reports of damage, police said.
This temblor comes three days after the one-year anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands in Japan, and triggered the world's worst nuclear crisis in a quarter century.

BIG Tsunami alert again 6.8 earthquake hits Japan



A magnitude 6.8 earthquake has struck off the northeastern coast of Japan. The national meteorological agency has issued a tsunami advisory.
The quake happened at a depth of some 10 km. Kyodo news agency says the earthquake has reportedly left Japan’s nuclear facilities unscathed.
The tsunami warning is meant for the coastal Aomori and Iwate prefectures as well as central and eastern Hokkaido coast.
The estimate put the height of the tsunami at about half a meter. So far, two waves measuring 20 and 10 cm respectively reached the Japanese coast, according to NHK TV channel.
The authorities advised residents of the coastal areas to evacuate to higher ground.
Wednesday’s tremor came just days after Japan marked the anniversary of the March 11, 2011 disaster. At the time, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the strongest seismic event to ever hit the country, triggered a massive tsunami.
The disaster killed almost 15,900 people in Japan and badly damaged the Fukushima nuclear power plant, causing the world’s worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

source: opawtech.com

West Liberty Tornado March 2, 2012

Another Big Tornado Hit West Liberty, Please please be all safe.
If you see one, just run don't take photos or a video, it won't spare your life.

This ain't another huge tornado but its an unusual series of devastating tornadoes that tore through parts of the South on March 2, 2012 and some part of Midwestern in United States late last week.

According to a report: Over 100 are said to have been reported on Friday alone. A number of residents -- as well as storm chasers -- captured images of these disasters in action.

In this video, for example, a tornado is seem forming over what's said to be West Liberty, Kentucky on Friday.


as seen in opawtech.com