earthquakes Archives - Disasters News

Mar282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Massive 7.7 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Myanmar, Aftershocks Rattle Region

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A powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Friday March 28, causing widespread damage in Mandalay, the country's second-largest city. The quake, recorded at a depth of 10 km by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), was followed by a strong 6.4 magnitude aftershock. Tremors were felt as far as Bangkok, Thailand, where several buildings shook, and in parts of India and Bangladesh. In Mandalay, parts of the historic former royal palace suffered damage, and multiple buildings collapsed. The Sagaing region, southwest of Mandalay, reported the collapse of a 90-year-old bridge and damage to sections of the highway linking Mandalay to Yangon. In the capital Naypyitaw, religious shrines and homes sustained damage, but there were no immediate reports of casualties. Tha...

Mar182025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Mexico City Shallow Earthquakes Reveal Unexpected Risks Study Finds

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A new study has highlighted the surprising strength of ground shaking caused by recent shallow earthquakes in Mexico City, raising concerns about the potential impact of moderate seismic events on the city's buildings. Researchers Miguel Jaimes and Gerardo Suárez from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) have modeled earthquake scenarios to assess possible damage emphasizing the role of local geology in amplifying shaking. Published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, the study analyzed three regions based on past seismic activity: La Magdalena Contreras (2023), San Juan de Aragón (2018), and the Milpa Alta and Juchitepec earthquakes (1995 and 1985, respectively). Their findings suggest that even moderate earthquakes, up to magnitude 5.5, could cause signi...

Feb282025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Devastating Earthquake Strikes Nepal High Casualties Feared as Tremors Shake Himalayan Region

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Kathmandu: A powerful earthquake struck Nepal early Tuesday morning, sending shockwaves across the Himalayan region and triggering widespread destruction. The tremors, felt in neighboring India, China, and Bhutan, caused buildings to collapse, landslides to block key highways, and panic among millions. The full scale of the disaster is yet to be determined, but officials fear high casualties as rescue efforts intensify. According to seismologists, the quake was a result of the Indian tectonic plate pushing into the Eurasian plate at a rate of approximately 5 cm per year, a process that continuously builds stress beneath the Earth's surface. When this stress reaches a breaking point, it is released as a powerful seismic event. The Himalayas, being one of the most geologically active regi...

Feb72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake Hotspots: Why Suburban Areas Face Greater Devastation

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Disasters, Environment

A vast majority of earthquakes occur within the infamous Ring of Fire, a seismic hotspot encircling the Pacific Ocean. Yet, when these earthquakes strike, the areas that experience the most intense shaking aren’t always the ones that suffer the worst destruction. Recent research has uncovered a hidden factor contributing to earthquake devastation: migration patterns and housing vulnerabilities. The 1999 Chi-Chi Earthquake: A Case Study Taiwan’s catastrophic Chi-Chi earthquake in 1999, which claimed over 2,400 lives, presented an unexpected pattern of destruction. Contrary to expectations, the worst damage was not in the bustling city centers but in the suburbs and outer regions. Similar trends have been observed in earthquakes that hit China, Chile, and Nepal, raising questions about...

Jan222025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Ethiopia Faces Earthquake Surge, Volcanic Eruption Fears

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Ethiopia's Afar and Oromia regions have experienced a series of earthquakes since early 2025, sparking fears of volcanic eruptions near the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. The strongest quake, with a magnitude of 5.7, struck on January 4, a day after a 5.5-magnitude tremor hit the same area. Two additional earthquakes followed over the weekend of January 11. The Ethiopian Disaster Risk Management Council is relocating around 60,000 residents to temporary shelters, citing risks of further quakes and potential volcanic activity. The earthquakes are linked to magmatic activity, where magma (molten rock) is intruding beneath the Fentale and Dofen volcanoes. Ethiopia lies within the East African Rift System, a geologically active zone, making both earthquakes and volcanic activity common. ...

Jan72025 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake in Tibet Claims 95 Lives, Tremors Felt in India

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A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.1 struck Tibet near the Nepalese border early Tuesday morning, leaving 95 people dead, according to Chinese media Xinhua. The tremors, originating from Tingri county in Shigatse city, were felt across parts of India, including Bihar, Assam, and West Bengal. The quake's epicenter was located in Tingri, approximately 400 km southwest of Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Tingri is a popular tourism hub for visitors to Mount Everest. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported that the earthquake occurred at 6:35 am. Two aftershocks were recorded soon after: A 4.7-magnitude quake at 7:02 am at a depth of 10 km or 4.9-magnitude quake at 7:07 am at a depth of 30 km. Both aftershocks were centered in Xizang, Tibet, according to NCS updates shared...

Dec282024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

35 Years After Newcastle Earthquake, Calls for Better Preparedness Grow

Breaking News, Disasters, Learning & Developments

On December 29, A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook Newcastle, New South Wales, leaving a trail of devastation that claimed 13 lives, injured 162 people, and caused widespread destruction. Thirty-five years later, former Lord Mayor John McNaughton, a key figure in the city’s response, warns that Newcastle may still be unprepared for a future disaster of similar magnitude. The earthquake, lasting just six seconds, leveled buildings, toppled power lines, and brought life to a standstill. Among the hardest-hit sites was the Newcastle Workers Club, where nine people perished, and others were trapped beneath the rubble. McNaughton, now 87, recalls the chaos vividly. “I was on our sailing boat at Tea Gardens when I felt the quake. When I got ashore, people were in shock, not realizing how dev...

Dec242024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Melting Glaciers Linked to Increased Earthquake Activity in Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains

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Southern Colorado’s Sangre de Cristo Mountains, known for their dramatic rise from the flat San Luis Valley, have long been shaped by tectonic activity and glacial forces. Now, a groundbreaking study in Geology suggests that the melting of alpine glaciers thousands of years ago may have significantly increased earthquake frequency in the region by relieving pressure on the underlying fault system. The research connects Earth’s changing climate to tectonic movements, a rare link that sheds light on how warming temperatures like those seen today might trigger fault activity. “Areas where glaciers are retreating or where hydrologic changes occur over active faults could experience elevated earthquake activity,” explained study co-author Sean Gallen, a geologist at Colorado State University...

Nov142024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Earthquake of Magnitude 5.2 Jolts Jammu and Kashmir, No Reported Damage

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Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir – A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Jammu and Kashmir region on Wednesday morning, prompting people in the Kashmir Valley to rush outdoors in a panic. The tremor, originating in the Afghanistan region, was felt at 10:43 a.m. according to local officials. Though the quake was strong enough to be widely felt, initial reports indicate there were no casualties or significant damage to property. Authorities continue to monitor the situation, but early assessments suggest minimal impact on infrastructure. Residents of the valley, accustomed to seismic activity, were nonetheless alarmed as the quake briefly rattled buildings and caused moment. From News Desk

Oct192024 by Editor DeskNo Comments

Revolutionizing Seismology: Machine Learning in Earthquake Detection

Breaking News, Disasters

In 2017, Ross experienced a breakthrough that could reshape the field of seismology. Observing the prowess of machine learning programs in processing and categorizing vast sets of images with unmatched speed and accuracy, he wondered: could this technology be adapted to detect earthquakes? Ross and his team began their innovative journey by collecting seismic waveforms from across Southern California, using data previously identified by scientists as genuine earthquakes. They created templates—essentially, snapshots of each earthquake's unique seismic wave pattern. With these templates in hand, they developed an algorithm designed to comb through seismic records, searching for quakes that matched these specific patterns. However, the initial program had its limitations. It was a prec...