Community | September 15, 2011 | 7 comments

7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Fiji Islands

source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/09/15/fiji.earthquake/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

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EthicalVegan
CNN...

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7.3-magnitude quake strikes in Pacific, near Fiji islands

By the CNN Wire Staff
September 15, 2011 5:42 p.m. EDT

t1larg.fiji.earthquake.map.jpg

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

The U.S. Geological Survey says its depth was 626 kilometers, or 390 miles
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center says a "destructive tsunami was not generated"
The quake's epicenter was estimated as 74 miles south-southwest of Fiji's Ndoi Island

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(CNN) -- A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck early Friday in the Fiji islands region of the Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.

According to the U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, "a destructive tsunami was not generated, based on earthquake and historical tsunami data."

The quake struck at a depth of 626 kilometers, or about 390 miles below the earth's surface, the Geological Survey said on its website. Its epicenter was 74 miles south-southwest of Fiji's Ndoi Island, 281 miles south-southeast of the Fijian capital, Suva, and 264 miles west of Nuku'alofa in Tonga, according to the U.S. agency's estimations.

It happened just after 7:30 a.m. Friday, or 3:30 p.m. ET. Initially, it was reported as 7.2 magnitude.

Besides the U.S.-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the Japan Meteorological Agency also did not release any tsunami warnings or advisories as a result of the quake.

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7 comments // 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Fiji Islands

  • JanforGore
  • JanforGore
    • 0
      JanforGore  

    • Not far from the earthquake in Christchurch not too long ago. I would state my flimsy theory about this but I might get trounced... oh hell, what do I care. ;-). I am thinking that the amount of ice melting and calving off Antarctica may have something to do with the plate shifting. Of course, I don't know for sure, just theory. There just seem to be more frquent quakes there in line with the melting.

    • 8 months ago
  • squarethecircle
  • tverdell
  • EmperorThan
    • +2
      EmperorThan  
    • tverdell:

      Strong earthquakes have always existed. There's something called PLATE TECTONICS on Earth (you didn't hear it from me)

      In fact there isn't even an increase in earthquake activity or even strong earthquake activity in recent years, just more happening near populated areas than in the past. Why? Because there are more people on Earth now than in the past. In 1985 there was 4.7 billion people, now there's 7 billion. It's just exponential growth.

      Fracking has been cited as a possible cause of MINOR earthquakes in places like Arkansas but so far there's been no real data to support these claims. And before you rebuttal with something completely stupid like "WELL THE USGS IS JUST COVERING UP THE DATA OBVIOUSLY!" just don't.

      http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqarchives/year/eqstats.php

    • 8 months ago
  • EthicalVegan
    • 0
      EthicalVegan  
    • Image

    • LALate News...

      http://news.lalate.com/2011/09/15/fiji-earthquake-today-does-not-prompt-tsunami-...

      Fiji Earthquake Today Does Not Prompt Tsunami Alert for California, West Coast

      Posted: September 15th, 2011 in Earthquake by LALATE

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      LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – A massive Fiji neighboring earthquake today has not prompted a tsunami alert. A Fiji earthquake struck today September 15, 2011 registering 7.4 magnitude. Subsequent news reports have downgraded the quake to 7.2 magnitude. It was northeast of Australia and New Zealand claims news.

      Officials confirm to news that no tsunami threat has resulted from today’s earthquake. The NOAA West Coast & Alaska Tsunami Warning Center tells news moments ago that a “strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast.” NOAA adds that “NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.”

      NOAA states that, based upon “on the depth of the earthquake within the earth, a tsunami IS NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska coasts.” The quake struck thirty minutes ago NOAA tells news. “At 12:31 PM Pacific Daylight Time on September 15, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.4″. But it registered a significant depth, occurring “in the Fiji Islands region at 612km depth.”

      Pacific coastal regions of California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska are not under tsunami alert. The quake struck more than three hundred fifty-miles below the earth’s surface, USGS reports to news. It was seventy-four miles from Ndoi Island in Fiji. It was centered roughly two hundred fifty miles west of Tonga and one thousand miles from New Zealand.

      As reported earlier on LALATE Thursday, Fiji suffered another quake today. Hours earlier, a 5.5 quake struck near Sigave, Ile Futuna, but also registered a substantial depth.

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    • 8 months ago
  • EthicalVegan
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