Major Earthquake Hits China’s Sichuan Province
iStockphoto(SICHUAN, China) — A major earthquake hit China’s Sichuan province early Saturday morning, killing over 150 people and injuring thousands more.
The earthquake struck just after 8 a.m. in the hills of Sichuan province, in China’s…
Japan Rattled by 6.2 Magnitude Quake, No Tsunami Warning Issued
Zoonar/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A 6.2 magnitude earthquake shook Japan on Monday, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. The quake hit at 4:23 p.m. local time in northern Tochigi Prefecture and was 10 kilometers deep. It registered 5 on the Japan…
Earthquake Strikes Afghanistan
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(KABUL) — A 5.8 magnitude earthquake struck Afghanistan on Saturday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It hit a hundred miles outside of Kabul, but was felt as far away as Pakistan. ABC correspondent Muhammad Lila said sma…
6.3-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Southern California
Jason Reed/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of southern California on Friday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, but no injuries or damages have been reported.The quake, which was downgraded from a prel…
Tsunami Warning Lifted After 7.3 Earthquake Strikes Near Japan
Jason Reed/Thinkstock(TOKYO) — A tsunami warning has been lifted for the northeastern region of Japan following a 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck off the coast of Miyagi prefecture on Friday.The quake rattled the coast of Japan just after 5 p.m. …
6.1-Magnitude Earthquake Hits North-Central Region of Chile
Jason Reed/Thinkstock(SANTIAGO) — The North Central area of Chile was struck by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake Wednesday, according to local authorities.According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was located 55 miles north of…
Uproar in Italy over Scientists Convicted for Not Predicting Earthquake
Jason Reed/Thinkstock(ROME) — Italy is a tough place for scientists, especially those whose specialty is to predict earthquakes.
On Monday, a court convicted seven scientists and experts on manslaughter charges because they didn’t foresee the 6.3-temb…
Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter for Failing to Predict Italian Quake
Zoonar/Thinkstock(LONDON) — Giustino Parisse knelt by his children’s beds, trying to relax them. They had been jolted awake by a small earthquake near the picturesque Italian town of L’Aquila. He told them that scientists and local officials had appea…
Scientists Convicted of Manslaughter for Failing to Predict Italian Quake
Zoonar/Thinkstock(LONDON) — Giustino Parisse knelt by his children’s beds, trying to relax them. They had been jolted awake by a small earthquake near the picturesque Italian town of L’Aquila. He told them that scientists and local officials had appea…
Great ShakeOut: Millions to Participate in Multi-State Quake Drill
Jason Reed/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — It’s impossible to know when an earthquake will hit, but preparing for one can save your life. That’s the purpose behind Thursday’s “Great ShakeOut.”The earthquake rehearsal drill will take place across more tha…
Colombia Hit by 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake
Zoonar/Thinkstock(BOGOTA, Colombia) — A 7.1 magnitude earrthquake struck the Colombian town of La Vega, about 50 miles north of Bogota shortly before noon on Sunday. The quake, which was 93.5 miles deep, hit the town at 11:31 a.m. local time.There wer…
‘Miracle Pine Tree’ Removed from Tsunami-Ravaged City in Japan
Sankei via Getty Images(TOKYO) — The tsunami-ravaged city of Rikuzentakata, Japan, has cut down the lone pine tree that survived the disaster 18 months ago and came to symbolize hope. But there are plans to keep the preserved tree on display.Cre…
5.6-Magnitude Quake Hits Southwestern China; Dozens Dead
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(BEIJING) — A 5.6-magnitude earthquake shook China’s southwestern Yunnan and Guizhou provinces on Friday, leaving at least 43 people dead and 150 others injured, according to the Xinhua News Agency.The U.S. Geological Survey says…
7.6 Earthquake Hits Costa Rica; Tsunami Warning in Effect
iStockphoto/ThinkstockUPDATE: Tsunami warnings have been canceled.(SAN JOSE, Costa Rica) — A 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck northwestern Costa Rica on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning for parts of Central America.The 25-mile deep quake hit the …
7.6 Magnitude Quake Strikes Off Eastern Coast of Philippines
Hemera/Thinkstock(MANILA, Philippines) — A 7.6 magnitude earthquake that was 21.7 miles deep has struck off the eastern coast of the Philippine Islands. The quake hit 58 miles east of Sulangan at 8:47 p.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological …
Shunned Japanese Fukushima Plant Workers Face Emotional Toll
STR/AFP/Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The March 2011 earthquake that triggered plant explosions and a meltdown in a Japanese nuclear power plant caused a chain reaction in the psyche of the workers at the plant, making them more vulnerable to emotional str…
Iran Now Accepting Foreign Aid to Assist Earthquake Victims
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images(TEHRAN, Iran) — Iran acknowledged on Tuesday that it needs outside help to assist the victims of two powerful earthquakes that struck the northwestern province of East Azerbaijan last weekend.More than 300 people were kill…
White House Encourages Donations to Help Iran Earthquake Victims
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images(TEHRAN, Iran) — Most of the 300 people killed by two powerful earthquakes that struck northwestern Iran last weekend were women and children, according to U.S. officials familiar with the rescue efforts. As many as 5…
Hundreds Killed, Thousands Wounded in Iran Earthquakes
ATTA KENARE/AFP/Getty Images(TEHRAN, Iran) — Northwestern Iran was rocked by magnitude 6.3 and 6.4 earthquakes on Saturday, leaving at least 300 people dead and thousands more injured in East Azerbaijan province.Since many of the wounded were describe…
Washington Monument Could Remain Closed Until 2014
iStockphoto/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — Visitors to Washington, D.C., may not be able to tour the Washington Monument until 2014, due to extensive repairs resulting from last summer’s earthquake.Exterior scaffolding will have to be erected on the outside…