(News Today) – The death toll from a powerful string of earthquakes that shook Indonesia’s Papua province last week has climbed to 17, a government official said Monday.

“Most of the deaths occurred when a truck carrying 13 people plunged off a cliff because of the earthquake,” said Priyadi Kardono, head of Indonesia’s national disaster management agency. “There are 2,556 houses badly damaged. We have a team there and aid has already started to be flown in.”

At least six earthquakes struck the region during a several-hour period Wednesday afternoon. Four quakes rattled the region within an hour’s time. The largest was a magnitude 7.0.

The epicenters of the earthquakes were clustered within 90 kilometers (56 miles) of each other and some 180 kilometers (110 miles) north of Enarotali, Indonesia.

“People ran out of their houses and headed for higher ground in fear of a tsunami,” Denni Siregar, the police chief of the Yapen Island sector, said shortly after the quakes.

Indonesia is on the so-called Ring of Fire, an arc of fault lines circling the Pacific Basin that is prone to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In 2004, a 9.1-magnitude underwater earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, triggering a tsunami that killed more than 200,000 people in 14 countries.

The tsunami, which washed away entire communities, caused nearly $10 billion in damage and more casualties than any other tsunami in history, according to the United Nations. Indonesia was among the hardest hit nations.

via Indonesian earthquake death toll climbs to 17 :: Hot News Today :: News Headlines Today :: Today News Update.

Thousands of scientists are protesting over a decision to prosecute italian seismologists for manslaughter – by failing to accurately predict the L'Aquila earthquake.

Six days before the magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit last April, there was a meeting of the Commissione Grandi Rischi – the Commission for High Risks – at which it was decided that there was not sufficient risk of a major quake to justify a serious alarm.

And because of this decision, two weeks ago the L’Aquila Prosecutor’s office decided to charge seven members of the Commission, other scientists and and civil protection officials with manslaughter through gross negligence.

Nearly four thousand scientists have now signed an open letter to Italian president Giorgio Napolitano protesting about the decision to prosecute.

“The allegations against the scientists are completely unfounded,” it reads. “Years of research worldwide have shown that there is currently no scientifically accepted method for short-term earthquake prediction that can reliably be used by Civil Protection authorities for rapid and effective emergency actions.”

Over 300 people were killed in the earthquake, and the case has been launched in response to claims that people would have fled the area if they'd been warned.

“Those involved were highly qualified individuals who should have provided the public with different answers,” L'Aquila's chief prosecutor, Alfredo Rossini, told La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. “People died and we could not just ignore this line of investigation.”

Richard C Aster, president of the Seismological Society of America, says the decision to prosecute shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what science can and cannot do.

“There is currently no scientifically validated method for short term earthquake prediction, much less one that could reliably be used by government authorities for rapid and effective warnings in Italy or elsewhere,” he says.

“Pursuing legal action against members of the seismological community after an earthquake is unprecedented and reflects a misunderstanding of the science of earthquakes.”

via Seismologists charged with manslaughter – Death by earthquake | TechEye.

Thousands of scientists are protesting over a decision to prosecute italian seismologists for manslaughter – by failing to accurately predict the L'Aquila earthquake.

Six days before the magnitude 6.3 earthquake hit last April, there was a meeting of the Commissione Grandi Rischi – the Commission for High Risks – at which it was decided that there was not sufficient risk of a major quake to justify a serious alarm.

And because of this decision, two weeks ago the L’Aquila Prosecutor’s office decided to charge seven members of the Commission, other scientists and and civil protection officials with manslaughter through gross negligence.

Nearly four thousand scientists have now signed an open letter to Italian president Giorgio Napolitano protesting about the decision to prosecute.

“The allegations against the scientists are completely unfounded,” it reads. “Years of research worldwide have shown that there is currently no scientifically accepted method for short-term earthquake prediction that can reliably be used by Civil Protection authorities for rapid and effective emergency actions.”

Over 300 people were killed in the earthquake, and the case has been launched in response to claims that people would have fled the area if they'd been warned.

“Those involved were highly qualified individuals who should have provided the public with different answers,” L'Aquila's chief prosecutor, Alfredo Rossini, told La Gazzetta del Mezzogiorno. “People died and we could not just ignore this line of investigation.”

Richard C Aster, president of the Seismological Society of America, says the decision to prosecute shows a fundamental misunderstanding of what science can and cannot do.

“There is currently no scientifically validated method for short term earthquake prediction, much less one that could reliably be used by government authorities for rapid and effective warnings in Italy or elsewhere,” he says.

“Pursuing legal action against members of the seismological community after an earthquake is unprecedented and reflects a misunderstanding of the science of earthquakes.”

via Seismologists charged with manslaughter – Death by earthquake | TechEye.

(NECN) – China's earthquake death toll has climbed to 60,000 and will likely get higher. China's premier now says the toll could rise to more than 80,000. Earlier Saturday, he met with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon to tour the disaster zone. Crews are now working to move survivors out of possible danger zones, including areas downstream from rivers dammed by landslides and near radiation sources that have been buried in the rubble.

via Death toll from earthquake in China climbs past 60,000.

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274 in one week alone.

Alaska rocked by earthquakes, 274 in past week

According to a report by the U.S. Geological Survey, Alaska has had 274 earthquakes in the past week. A magnitude 5.4 earthquake rocked Southern Alaska at 11:28 a.m. Alaska Time Zone on June 22, 2009. This would be 3:28 p.m. in Eastern Time Zone and 12: 28 p.m. in Pacific Time Zone. The earthquake was felt in Skwentna, Alaska; Willow, Alaska; Susitna, Alaska; and Anchorage Alaska. An official statement from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued at 11:20 a.m. Alaska Time, on June 22, 2009 stated that a tsunami would not be generated as a result from the earthquake. However additional studies and surveys will be conducted by the United States Geological Survey to determine the earthquakes effects, and tsunami risks.

Aftershocks include an M2.1 earthquake that was felt at 12:18 Alaska Time Zone, or 4:18 Eastern Time in the same regions of Skwentna, Willow, Susitna, and Anchorage, Alaska. It is recommended that all those who live in regions affected by earthquakes have a survival kit prepared and are ready to take shelter as needed. Here is a free guide that teaches how to prepare for an earthquake in Alaska. It is in pdf format and 27 pages. To download the Alaska Earthquake Survival Guide, right click the link and choose “save target as” or “save link as”. You may also click the link to read the earthquake survival guide online.

USGS Map of Earthquakes: Alaska Region

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Roanoke | Roanoke Earthquake | 2.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Roanoke Area

Roanoke, VA – The United States Geological Survey is confirming a small earthquake in the Roanoke area early Saturday morning. It was a 2.6 magnitude quake and, so far, there are no reports of damage.

Another sub-par review because someone thinks we are wrong about the information in LETHAL. When actually, we are right.

Earthquakes are a real threat in Washington State, the most recent occurrence being in 1996. The potential for more happening in the future is there, because of existing, known fault lines.

Tornadoes are often also real threat in Washington State.  In 1972, Washington lead the country in tornado deaths. And in 1997, 6 tornadoes touched down in Washington state in a single day.

 April 5, 1972 – Washington’s Deadliest Tornado Outbreak

* An F3 tornado touched down in Vancouver

* 6 deaths and 300 injured, Washington led nation in tornado deaths that year

* Tornado swept through a grocery store, bowling alley, and grade school near where Vancouver Mall is today

* 50 million dollars in damage

* Later that day, another F3 tornado touched down west of Spokane

* And an F2 tornado struck rural Stevens county

* Numerous severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds were reported over other areas of eastern Washington 

As for the Great White Shark in the woods, it’s likely the user is in a coastal forest, and when in a coastal area, we list the dangers that the oceans represent, as a general rule.

It’s frustrating that our app consistently gets bad reviews for having information that is accurate, but unexpected or against “common wisdom.” Oh well.

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Small earthquakes rumble near Gilroy, but pose little threat

3:31 PM
 By Christopher Quirk

Gilroy has been beset by a flurry of small earthquakes in the past week, but does not face a threat of a significant earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey.The earthquakes are centered around a typically dormant location five miles west southwest of Gilroy, according to the USGS. Five earthquakes between 2.0 and 3.3 magnitude were recorded in five days, but they do not presage any larger, more dangerous earthquakes, said USGS seismologist Steve Walter.

“This is nothing really unusual in the big scheme of things but i haven’t seen activity in that particular area since before 2000,” he said.

The earthquakes are happening on the Sargent Fault, which runs primarily northwest-southeast and cuts across U.S. 101 south of Gilroy, according to USGS maps. The fault also meets up to the north with the San Andreas Fault, which runs on the west side of the Sargent Fault.

The Sargent Fault is a small but active fault, showing numerous rumblings since 1970, Walter said. While it has produced some earthquakes in the range of 4.0-magnitude, it does not pose a significant threat, he said.

“This fault isn’t really capable itself of creating a major earthquake,” Walter said.

The tectonic activity first started showing 12:04 a.m. Wednesday when a 2.1-magnitude quake hit, according to the USGS. Another 2.1 temblor followed at 4:30 a.m. the same morning.

The next day, a third 2.1-magnitude quake hit the same spot at 7:26 a.m. and 3.3-magnitude quake struck at 3:32 p.m., according to the USGS.

Finally, a fifth earthquake came at 4:32 a.m. Sunday and measured 2.8 on the Richter scale, according to the USGS.

Previous to this set of earthquakes, there was no earthquake larger than 2.0 magnitude within a close proximity to Gilroy since a 4.6-magnitude earthquake shook the South Valley March 30, according to the USGS. The epicenter of that temblor was 11 miles north of Morgan Hill.

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CONTINUING COVERAGE: Earthquake Reported in Southeast Ohio

GALLIA COUNTY, Ohio (WSAZ) — The U.S. Geological Survey reports that a 3.3 magnitude earthquake hit in southeast Ohio Friday morning.

WSAZ.com has received dozens of breaking news reports via web, e-mail, and phone from people in and around Gallia and Jackson counties in Ohio who felt the quake.

According to the USGS Website, a 3.3 magnitude earthquake has been reported about four miles west of Gallipolis, Ohio. The USGS initially reported that the quake was a 3.4 with an epicenter was near Jackson, but since updated the location and weakened the intensity. According to government officials, the earthquake centered about 3.1 miles underground.

The earthquake was first reported at 9:42 a.m. Friday.

Residents living in and around Gallia County have called to report they felt the ground shake, as well as some office and apartment buildings.

So far no damage has been reported.

A 3.3 magnitude earthquake is considered minor and often felt, but no serious damage is reported.

According to the USGS website, eight minor earthquakes have already been reported across the world as of 10:00 a.m. Friday.

Here is a map of the location of the quake:

View Larger Map

Click here for more information about the quake from the USGS.

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3.8 earthquake hits Orange County

5:09 PM | April 23, 2009

Parts of Southern California were rattled by a 3.8 earthquake this afternoon, but there were no reports of injuries or damage.

The quake struck about two miles northeast of Yorba Linda just before 5 p.m., according to the United States Geological Survey.

Early reports indicate the temblor was felt across northern Orange County and parts of southern Riverside and San Bernardino counties.