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NEWS ABOUT: US Geological Survey

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Chile Panics as 6.2 Quake Hits

No damage reported as quake hits uncomfortable close to last disaster

(AP) - A magnitude-6.2 earthquake struck today just off the shore of south-central Chile, the same area devastated by a massive temblor two years ago, though there were no immediate reports of damage. Today's quake was centered 31 miles northwest of Concepcion, and relatively shallow at 12 miles deep. But... More »

5.6 Quake Shakes Oklahoma

Series of temblors rattles state more accustomed to tornadoes

(AP) - A magnitude 5.6 earthquake last night was the strongest in a series that shook Oklahoma—a state more accustomed to tornadoes—cracking buildings, buckling a highway, and rattling nerves. The 5.6 quake was the state's strongest ever and shook a college football stadium 50 miles away, while... More »

US Installing Quake Sensors in Northern Mexico

Machine will spot quakes heading north of the border

(Newser) - Next time the ground shakes in Mexico, the Department of Defense and the US Geological Survey want to know about it. The agencies are spending $500,000 to install earthquake monitoring machines in Mexican border regions, the Los Angeles Times reports. Officials say they don't want a repeat of... More »

Big Question of Yesterday's Quake: Why Virginia?

And will it happen again?

(Newser) - "Smack dab in the middle of Virginia" doesn't seem like the likeliest earthquake epicenter locale, and yesterday's quake has plenty of East Coasters wondering why it struck there—and if it'll happen again. The Christian Science Monitor tosses out the word "rare": USGS seismic hazard... More »

Largest Quake Since 1973 Rocks Colorado

5.3-magnitude shaker rattles homes near New Mexico border

(Newser) - The strongest earthquake to hit Colorado in nearly 40 years has shaken homes near the New Mexico border and caused rockslides along highways—but there have been no immediate reports of injuries. The 5.3-magnitude quake struck close to midnight, centered some 180 miles south of Denver, AP reports. Two... More »

Two 7.0-Magnitude Quakes Strike Burma

Caused buildings to sway in Bangkok

(AP) - Two 7.0-magnitude earthquakes hit northeastern Burma less than a minute apart today, shaking the ground as far away as Bangkok, where buildings swayed. The quakes struck near the country's borders with Thailand and Laos, about 70 miles from the northern Thai city of Chiang Rai. The US Geological Survey... More »

Indonesia Issues Tsunami Warning After 6.8 Quake

Temblor struck off Papua New Guinea

(AP) - Indonesia says it issued a tsunami warning after a powerful quake hit off Papua New Guinea. The US Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 and was centered 325 miles northeast of the capital, Port Morseby. It struck 31 miles beneath the ocean floor. Fauzi,... More »

6.0 Quake Shakes Guatemala, but No Damage

Quake also hit El Salvador

(AP) - A strong earthquake has rocked Guatemala and parts of El Salvador, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in either country. The US Geological Survey says the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.0, and hit this morning about 60 miles southwest of Guatemala City, where... More »

South Pacific Avoids Tsunami After Big Earthquakes

Warning issued after off Vanuatu, canceled after only small wave materializes

(Newser) - Tsunami warnings for a swath of the South Pacific—including American Samoa, Australia and New Zealand—issued after a pair of strong underwater earthquakes have been canceled after only a small wave materialized. Many residents had already moved to higher ground after the 7.8 and 7.1 temblors; American... More »

More Quakes Slam Indonesia, Still Counting Its Dead

Witness describes crumbled, burning wreckage in Padang

(Newser) - Indonesia, still counting the dead and searching for the missing from yesterday’s 7.6 earthquake, was rattled by two more earthquakes this morning local time. The US Geological Survey recorded a 6.8 quake 140 miles from Padang, the western Sumatran city nearest yesterday’s epicenter; just 20 minutes... More »

Test Finds Mercury in Every Fish

A quarter contaminated beyond EPA safety limit

(AP) - Catch a fish in one of America's streams, and there's a good chance it will have at least trace amounts of mercury. The most comprehensive survey to date from the US Geological Survey tested more than 1,000 fish from nearly 300 streams around the nation—and found mercury in... More »

4 Earthquakes Strike Off Mexican Coast

No damage reported; 6.9 tremor felt as far away as Phoenix, LA

(Newser) - A series of four earthquakes hit within an hour today under Mexico’s Gulf of California, BNO News reports. The second of the tremors, which at 9 miles deep were relatively shallow and thus more dangerous, registered a 6.9 on the Richter scale. No damage was immediately reported, and... More »

5.7 Quake Shakes Tall Buildings in Mexico City

(AP) - A strong earthquake swayed skyscrapers in Mexico City and rattled colonial buildings in neighboring Puebla state today, sending frightened people into the streets. There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. "There is absolute calm, zero damage,” a Puebla official said. The US Geological Survey said the... More »

4.7 Quake Shakes Southern Cal

(Newser) - A 4.7 magnitude earthquake rattled much of southern California last night and caused minor property damage, reports the Los Angeles Times. Windows were broken and items toppled off shelves when the temblor struck east of Los Angeles Airport. No injuries were reported. The 15-second shaker was deep, originating some... More »

5.6 Aftershock Rattles Quake Zone

(AP) - A strong tremor has shaken quake-hit areas of central Italy and sent rescuers and residents fleeing from damaged buildings in L'Aquila. Chunks of concrete dropped from the buildings there and the shock was felt as far away as Rome. The US Geological Survey reported that the temblor registered 5.6... More »

Alaskans Erupt Over Jindal Volcano Jab

(Newser) - Alaskans of all stripes are incensed by Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal’s disparaging comments Tuesday about the necessity of volcano monitoring, the Anchorage Daily News reports. It’s “a matter of life and death in Alaska,” Sen. Mark Begich wrote the Republican. Even Gov. Sarah Palin’s office... More »

Arctic Holds 3 Years of Oil

A fifth of world's untapped reserves may be under melting ice

(Newser) - Enough oil is believed to lie under the rapidly thawing Arctic to last the world 3 years, Reuters reports. The USGS released a forecast yesterday estimating the region has 90 billion recoverable barrels of oil and vast natural gas reserves. The agency's director said the information was vital in order... More »

7.8 Earthquake Rocks China

Strikes near city of 10 million; 5 reported dead

(Newser) - A major 7.8 magnitude earthquake rocked central China today, with shaking felt a thousand miles away in Beijing, and in Thailand and Vietnam. Exact damage or injuries were not known, but the quake hit about 60 miles from Chengdu, a city of 10 million in China's Sichuan province, reports... More »

Big Quake Will Rock Calif. by 2038: Study

Scientists warn state to plan for 7.5 mag temblor

(Newser) - A major earthquake is almost inevitable in California in the next 30 years, a new study says. The likely target is Southern California, which has a 97% chance of a 6.7 magnitude quake and 37% chance of a 7.5. Because it has suffered more big quakes in the... More »

Drugs Found in US Water Supply

Water drunk by 41M people contaminated

(Newser) - Small amounts of a wide range of prescription and over-the-counter drugs have been found in drinking water used daily by 41 million Americans in 24 major cities. A major AP investigation found pain killers, anti-seizure drugs, angina and cholesterol medications, mood-altering drugs, and other pharmaceuticals in tap water, the water... More »

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