2010 Earthquakes

Hundreds feared dead in Chinese earthquake

China | Apr 14 2010 | CNN – Nearly 400 people are feared dead after a rapid series of strong earthquakes hit a mountainous and impoverished area of China’s Qinghai province early Wednesday, state-run media said.

At least 10,000 others were injured, the Xinhua news agency reported, and many victims, including school children, were buried under debris. Rescuers were struggling to clear debris with their hands and save those trapped below.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake, as measured by the U.S. Geological Survey, struck at 7:49 a.m. local time (7:49 p.m. ET Tuesday), when many citizens were still at home and schools were beginning the day. The USGS also recorded several strong aftershocks — one of magnitude 5.8 — all within hours of the initial quake.

The epicenter was located in remote and rugged terrain, about 150 miles (240 kilometers) northwest of Qamdo, Tibet. Qinghai borders the autonomous regions of Tibet and Xingjiang and the provinces of Gansu and Sichuan.

Karsum Nyima, deputy director of news at local Yushu TV, told Xinhua that most of the houses in the area were made of wood with earthen walls. He said some had come tumbling down, including a Buddhist pagoda in a park. Complete story here..

Strong quake kills 2 in Mexico, rattles US states

TIJUANA, Mexico | Apr 04 2010 | AP Press – A powerful earthquake swayed buildings from Los Angeles to Tijuana, killing two people in Mexico, blacking out cities, forcing the evacuation of hospitals and nursing homes, and prompting an Arizona border town to shut down its downtown area.

The 7.2-magnitude quake centered just south of the U.S. border near Mexicali was one of the strongest earthquakes to hit region in decades.

“It sounds like it’s felt by at least 20 million people at this point,” USGS seismologist Lucy Jones said. “Most of Southern California felt this earthquake.”

Complete story here…

Taiwan Struck by Magnitude-6.4 Quake; 64 Injured

Taiwan | Mar 04 2010 | Bloomberg — A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck southern Taiwan, injuring 64 people and disrupting production at two of the island’s largest technology companies.

The quake hit at 8:18 a.m. local time today, 56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of Kaohsiung, a city of 1.5 million people, the Central Weather Bureau said on its Web site. The quake’s depth was 5 kilometers and was followed by more than 20 aftershocks of magnitudes of as much as 5.7.

At least 64 people were injured as of 7:30 p.m. local time after the quake triggered rockslides and damaged buildings, the National Fire Agency said it on its Web site. Three schools were shut today and another will be closed tomorrow, and the southern section of Taiwan’s High Speed Rail line was closed, it said. Complete story here…

1.5 Million Displaced After Chile Quake

RIO DE JANEIRO | Feb 28 2010 — A strong aftershock struck Chile on Sunday, a day after a destructive 8.8-magnitude earthquake left hundreds of people dead and a long swath of the country in smoky rubble.

The death toll was expected to rise, particularly around Concepción…More than 1.5 million people have displaced by the quake, according to local news services…

While this earthquake was far stronger than the 7.0-magnitude one that ravaged Haiti six weeks ago, the damage and death toll in Chile are likely to be far less extensive, in part because of strict building codes put in place after devastating earthquakes.

The quake Saturday, tied for the fifth largest in the world since 1900, set off tsunami waves that swamped some nearby islands before moving across the Pacific. Hawaii began evacuations before dawn, but by early afternoon there — more than 15 hours after the earthquake first struck 6,500 miles away — the fears of a destructive wave had passed. Countries including New Zealand, Japan, and the Philippines were on alert and ordered limited evacuations in anticipation of waves hitting Sunday. Complete story here…

Haiti appeals for aid; official fears 100,000 dead after earthquake

Port-au-Prince, Haiti (CNN) | Jan 13 2010 — Rescue workers struggled to clear rubble and bodies Wednesday from the streets of Haiti’s “flattened” capital, where a government official said the death toll from Tuesday’s 7.0-magnitude earthquake may exceed 100,000.

Thousands of injured people waited for care outside badly damaged hospitals, while an unknown number remained trapped inside collapsed buildings. Basic services like water and electricity were out, and Haitian President Rene Preval said his government needs help clearing streets so rescuers can reach some of the hardest-hit areas. Complete story here…

A Screen Capture

This screen capture from abs-cbnnews.com reveals fulfillment of Bible’s prophecy of the signs of the end of time.

We should not be scared but be prepared.