Tectonic Activity

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May 2009
- 5 Dead in Honduras Quake; Toll Expected to Rise
  
  Reuters | May 28, 09 1:18 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Five deaths have been confirmed after the 7.1-magnitude earthquake that rocked Honduras and Guatemala early today. Four victims were children between 3 and 15, crushed under their collapsed home, Reuters reports. "There will be many more dead," said a Honduran official. Buildings in both Central American states suffered structural damage in the offshore quake. A tsunami warning issued after the temblor has been lifted. More »
- 7.1 Quake Strikes Off Honduras
  
  Reuters | May 28, 09 5:15 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A powerful earthquake struck early this morning about 40 miles northeast of an island off the coast of Honduras, Reuters reports. No injuries have been reported, but the 7.1 magnitude quake triggered a tsunami watch for Honduras, Belize and Guatemala. The quake's epicenter is nearest to Roatan, an island popular with tourists that is surrounded by the world's second largest coral reef. More »
- 5.7 Quake Shakes Tall Buildings in Mexico City
  
  Associated Press | May 22, 09 4:54 PM CDT
  
  (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 quake had a magnitude of 5.7 and was centered 90 miles southeast of the capital. More »
April 2009
- Pope Visits Quake-Struck Central Italy
  
  BBC | Apr 28, 09 5:36 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Pope Benedict has arrived in central Italy to visit survivors of the earthquake that killed nearly 300 people earlier this month and left 65,000 homeless, reports the BBC. The pontiff began his visit with greetings to victims in a village where all the buildings have become uninhabitable; later today, he will visit a dormitory where several students were killed. More »
- Italy Seeks to Move G8 to Quake-Hit Town
  
  Reuters | Apr 23, 09 8:17 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Silvio Berlusconi pledged today to move this summer's G8 summit to L'Aquila, where an earthquake killed 296 people and destroyed the homes of 65,000, Reuters reports. The meeting is set to take place on a small island off Sardinia, but the Italian PM said he would rather see the money for the summit help rebuild the destroyed region. "What seat would be more appropriate than a land wounded by the earthquake?" Berlusconi said. More »
- Dozens Feared Dead in Afghan Quakes
  
  Reuters | Apr 17, 09 5:08 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Two strong earthquakes killed at least 22 people in eastern Afghanistan early today and authorities fear many more bodies are in the rubble, reports Reuters. A 5.5 magnitude earthquake before dawn was followed by a 5.1 aftershock two hours later. Hundreds of mud-brick houses have collapsed in remote villages. More »
- Berlusconi's Latest Gaffe: Quake Homeless 'Camping'
  
  Guardian (UK) | Apr 8, 09 9:16 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Silvio Berlusconi is drawing fire for reportedly saying the thousands made homeless by Monday's earthquake should see the experience as a "camping weekend," the Guardian reports. The gaffe-prone Italian prime minister, touring an emergency encampment, said the displaced survivors "lacked nothing," although hundreds still didn't even have tents as the temperature plummeted on a rainy night. More »
- Experts Rush to Save Art in Quake Zone
  
  Wall Street Journal | Apr 8, 09 7:35 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Italian art experts are scrambling to rescue artistic treasures in quake-hit central Italy, the Wall Street Journal reports. The head of the local branch of the Ministry of Culture is braving aftershocks and unsafe structures in an effort to assess the damage and see what can be saved. Thousands of paintings and sculptures are trapped in one crumbling castle alone. More »
- Aftershocks Rock Italy as Quake Toll Hits 207
  
  BBC | Apr 7, 09 7:46 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Strong aftershocks briefly halted the search for survivors and sent rescuers scrambling for safety in central Italy today, as the death toll from yesterday's earthquake hit 207. At least 1,500 people were injured and 17,000 were made homeless. One person was pulled alive from the rubble today after nearly 23 hours, reports the BBC, but hopes are fading for the 15 others still missing. More »
- Italy Quake Caused Massive Damage to Medieval Heritage
  
  ANSA (Italy) | Apr 7, 09 2:18 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The 6.3 earthquake in Italy yesterday caused massive damage to what had been one of Europe's best-preserved medieval cities, ANSA reports. Large sections of a famous 13th-century basilica and three other historic churches in the mountain city of L'Aquila have crumbled. An ornate 1584 gate to the community has been destroyed, and a damaged castle that holds the local museum is too dangerous to enter. Archaeologists also fear the 3rd-century Baths of Caracella in Rome were significantly damaged. More »
- Death Toll in Italy Quake Rises to 150
  
  Times (UK) | Apr 6, 09 2:33 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - The death toll in today’s Italian earthquake rose to more than 150 as rescue workers and volunteers continued the search for survivors, the Times reports. About 15,000 buildings were damaged, and residents are being warned to stay away until engineers can evaluate them. “We are working without stopping for breath,” a Red Cross official said. “We believe there may be hundreds of people still alive underneath.” More »
- At Least 92 Dead as 6.3 Quake Rocks Italy
  
  Guardian (UK) | Apr 6, 09 9:06 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - At least 92 people are reported dead and some 1500 injured after a powerful 6.3 earthquake shook a large swath of central Italy at 3:32am local time, reports the Guardian. Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has declared a state of emergency as the quake toppled churches, houses, and office buildings while people slept, leaving an estimated 50000 homeless. More »
- Redoubt Spits Up 50K-Foot Plume
  
  Associated Press | Apr 4, 09 3:14 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - The Mount Redoubt volcano in Alaska has had another large eruption after being relatively quiet for nearly a week. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the volcano about 100 miles southwest of Anchorage erupted early today, sending a plume of volcanic ash 50,000 feet into the sky—one of the largest eruptions since the volcano became active on March 22. More »
March 2009
- Redoubt Spews Ash 50K Feet High
  
  Associated Press | Mar 28, 09 6:28 PM CDT
  
  (AP) - Alaska's Mount Redoubt has erupted again, spewing an ash cloud 50,000 feet up into the air. The Alaska Volcano Observatory in Anchorage says the volcano had a significant eruption after midnight today, and coughed up ash that is expected to move north toward the Alaska Range, missing Anchorage, which is about 100 miles from the volcano. More »
- Another Quake Rumbles Near San Andreas
  
  Los Angeles Times | Mar 24, 09 10:09 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - A 4.7-magnitude earthquake shook southern California this morning, the latest in a series of small quakes to hit the area. This weekend a series of lower-intensity quakes hit perilously close to the San Andreas fault, making seismologists nervous about the "Big One"—a quake that would devastate LA. So far no injuries have been reported. More »
- Alaska Volcano Erupts
  
  CNN | Mar 23, 09 3:01 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Rumbling Alaska volcano Mount Redoubt has erupted three times since late yesterday, reports AP. The first eruption was obscured by darkness and snow, but was detected by the US Geological Survey. Mud slides were possible into the nearly Drift and Crescent rivers after the blast that shot steam 50,000 feet into the air. More »
- Undersea Volcano Erupts in Pacific 'Ring of Fire'
  
  Associated Press | Mar 19, 09 8:20 AM CDT
  
  (AP) - Scientists sailed today to inspect an undersea volcano that has been erupting for days near Tonga—shooting smoke, steam, and ash thousands of feet into the sky above the South Pacific ocean. The eruption doesn't pose any danger to islanders at this stage, authorities say, and there have been no reports of fish or other animals being affected. More »
February 2009
- Powerful Quakes Rock Indonesia
  
  CNN | Feb 12, 09 4:39 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - A series of powerful earthquakes injured at least 50 people and damaged hundreds of buildings in Indonesia's Talaud Islands today, reports CNN. A 7.2 magnitude quake centered north of Sulawesi was followed by some 20 strong aftershocks. Islanders fled to higher ground after a tsunami warning was issued; it was later lifted. Government officials are still trying to contact remote islands to learn the scale of the damage. More »
- Volcano Showers Tokyo With Ash
  
  Reuters | Feb 2, 09 3:16 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Powdery ash showered Tokyo this morning as Japan's Mount Asama volcano erupted 90 miles away, Reuters reports. Smoke burst a mile into the air and rocks flew onto sparse neighboring towns, but there was little damage and no visible lava from the explosion. Scientists have warned people not to approach the areas, the Telegraph adds. More »
January 2009
- Alaska Volcano Continues to Rumble, Fume
  
  KTUU | Jan 29, 09 3:19 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Researchers are keeping a close eye on Alaska’s Mt. Redoubt, a volcano that could erupt any time, KTUU-TV reports. The peak—located about 110 miles southwest of Anchorage—has seen increased earthquakes and tremors in recent days, CNN adds. Mt. Redoubt last erupted in 1989-90. More »