tagged w/ Pacific Ring of Fire
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Estimated 6.8-magnitude quake strikes off coast of Papua New Guinea
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By the CNN Wire Staff
July 31, 2011 10:01 p.m. EDT
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
NEW: The Japan Meteorological Agency lifts any tsunami-related warnings or advisories
Earlier, the agency had said "there is a very small possibility" of a tsunami
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and Australia's similar agency reports no such threats
The earthquake hits 81 miles east of Wewak, New Guinea, says the U.S. Geological Survey
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(CNN) -- A preliminary 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck Monday morning off the coast of Papua New Guinea, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The quake struck around 9:39 a.m. and was centered 131 kilometers (81 miles) east of Wewak, which is on the northern coast of the Pacific nation, the U.S. Geological Survey reported. Its depth was reported at 16 kilometers (9 miles).
The Japan Meteorological Agency -- which had an identical measure for the quake's strength -- noted on its website that "there is a very small possibility of a destructive local tsunami" as a result. It said any tsunami likely would not be over half a meter (20 inches) high.
"However at some coasts, particularly near the epicenter, high tsunamis may arrive (larger) than our estimation," the agency said on its website.
But within about two hours after the quake struck, the Japanese agency reported there were no such warnings or advisories still in effect.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center did not issue any threats or warning, noting on its website that there was no danger of a tsunami striking Hawaii. Similarly, the Australia tsunami warning center said there was no threat to that nation.Estimated 6.8-magnitude quake strikes off coast of Papua New Guinea
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By the CNN... more
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A strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck beneath the sea off Papua New Guinea, US seismologists say, prompting a local tsunami alert.
According to the United States Geological Survey, there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which hit at 4:37am (local time) at a depth of 43 kilometres, 120 kilometres west of the island of Bougainville.
"Earthquakes of this size sometimes generate local tsunamis that can be destructive along coasts located within 100km of the earthquake epicentre," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, based in Hawaii, said in a statement.
But the centre says there is no risk of a destructive widespread tsunami from the quake.
It says Papua New Guinea sits on the so-called Pacific ring of fire, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
A giant tsunami in 1997, caused by an undersea earthquake or a landslide, killed more than 3,500 people near Aitapi on the north-west coast of mainland Papua New Guinea.
In 2007, a tsunami following an 8.1-magnitude earthquake killed at least 52 people in the Solomon Islands and left thousands homeless.
http://livesaildie.com/files/2007/04/tsunami-wave.jpgA strong 6.5-magnitude earthquake has struck beneath the sea off Papua New Guinea, US... more
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It's been quite a week for the Pacific Ring of Fire. Mount Merapi explodes in Java, and on the same day a 7.7 earthquake strikes off Sumatra. Now Krakatoa is rumbling to life, and up to 20 other volcanoes are on heightened alert. What the heck is going on?
http://talkingskull.com/article/something-happening-in-ring-of-fireIt's been quite a week for the Pacific Ring of Fire. Mount Merapi explodes in... more
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10/31/10 Updates: Updates: 449 Dead, 270 Injured, 96 Missing after 7.7 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami, Followed by Two Volcano Eruptions, In Indonesia | Videos | Photos
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ORIGINAL NEWS STORY...
112 dead, 500 missing after 7.7 quake triggers tsunami
http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/10/26/indonesia.quake/index.html?hpt=T1
At least 112 dead, more than 500 missing after Indonesia quake
From Andy Saputra, CNN
October 26, 2010 1:29 p.m. EDT
Indonesian resorts destroyed
Jakarta, Indonesia (CNN) -- At least 112 people were killed and 502 others were missing after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off Sumatra on Monday and triggered a tsunami, Indonesian officials said Tuesday.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the quake generated a "significant" tsunami. Some of the missing may include people who are unaccounted for after fleeing to higher ground, said Henri Dori Satoko, the head of the Mentawai Islands parliament.
Although communication with remote areas was difficult, some witnesses in West Sumatra reported seeing a wave 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) high. Other reports described the tsunami as being about 3 meters (almost 10 feet) high.
Satoko said at least one village with a population of about 200 people was swept away, with only 40 people recovered.
Eight to 10 Australians on board a tourist vessel who had been feared missing were reported to be safe, Satoko said. "All foreign tourists are safe.".
The numbers of dead and injured were in flux because information was trickling in from remote parts of Indonesia, a country made up of myriad islands. The area believed hardest-hit was the Mentawai Islands, a popular surfing destination. In particular, Pagai Island was thought to have been affected, said Ita Balanda, a program manager for World Vision in Padang.
Large waves were keeping rescue crews and aid workers from reaching the area. An Indonesian Red Cross assessment team had set out for the island but was forced to turn back because of high seas and debris in the water, said Gayat, spokeswoman for the agency, who like many Indonesians only uses one name. She said the team will try again Wednesday morning.
The trip takes 10 hours, even under good conditions, Balanda said.
The quake struck at 9:42 p.m. Monday, triggering a tsunami warning that was later lifted when sea level readings indicated the threat had diminished or was over for most areas. Its epicenter was 240 kilometers (150 miles) south of Padang, at a depth of 20.6 kilometers (12.8 miles), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The magnitude was revised upward from a preliminary magnitude of 7.5.
"Big, slow, long earthquake last night, and a couple tremblers afterward," WavePark Mentawai Surfing Resort said on its website. "Turns out it was a 7.5 about 70 [kilometers] south of us." The resort said it saw "about six waves on the beach after about 20 minutes" but none was higher than usually seen during high tide.
"No damage here, but reports of damage to other resorts and charter boats further south," the posting said.
"The local residents in the Mentawai Islands reported seeing a tsunami as high as 3 meters [that] reached as far as 600 meters inland," said Mujiharto of the Indonesian Health Ministry.
The Perfect Wave, a surf travel company that said it had 32 clients in the area, also described the wave in a statement as about 3 meters (10 feet) high, and said it washed through a bay where two boats with clients on board were docked. One boat hit the other, which caught on fire, and all the guests jumped overboard. Nine guests and five crew members were washed into the jungle and took more than an hour to make their way to safety, the company said.
All those aboard were picked up by a third boat and were safe "apart from suffering some smoke inhalation and minor scratches," the statement said.
A surf guide aboard the third boat reported "there was a lot of debris floating in the water including bar stools and other pieces of furniture from Macaronis Resort," the company said. "No news on the state of the village at Silabu."
The resort, where six clients were staying, is "all but gone," the statement said.
"It's very difficult to access the coast right now because the sea is quite bad," said Gilles Bordessoule, owner of the Siloinak Surf Resort. He said his property was unaffected, but his staff was attempting to help the Macaronis Resort, which was "completely destroyed" along with two others. Two of the Macaronis guests are missing, he said.
He said the only means of communication with the affected area is by satellite phone, which is how he found out about the resort and received some other information. The fate of the other 130 kilometers (80 miles) of coastline is unknown, he said.
Bordessoule said he had been in contact with authorities and residents of the area and was told between 150 and 180 people are dead and body bags are needed.
World Vision's Balanda said her organization is working with the Indonesian government and the United Nations to figure out how to get to the hardest-hit area. Indonesian government resources have been sent to central Java, where Mount Merapi was erupting, she said, but said her group hopes one or two helicopters will be freed up to help with the quake and tsunami response. She said she is receiving information from a local nongovernmental organization as well as others in the region.
The Perfect Wave said it was working to obtain replacement passports for its clients and organize flights home.
The city of Padang and the Mentawai Islands are at the meeting place of two tectonic plates, making them vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis.
On December 26, 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off northern Sumatra. A tsunami generated by that earthquake killed more than 225,000 people in 14 countries -- mainly India, Indonesia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. The Indonesian region of Banda Aceh was hard-hit: About 150,000 died there.
CNN's Sarita Harilela and Brian Walker contributed to this report.10/31/10 Updates: Updates: 449 Dead, 270 Injured, 96 Missing after 7.7 Earthquake... more
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A lot of EQ activity in Alaska...
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