Earthquake

How warning system failed Indonesia’s earthquake and tsunami victims

A tsunami warning was sent out - lasting just over 30 minutes - but it appears to have drastically underestimated the scale of the tsunami that would follow. So what went wrong?

A 7.5 magnitude earthquake occurred just off the island of Sulawesi at 18:03 local time (10:03 GMT) on Friday, triggering dozens of aftershocks.

Indonesia's meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG issued a tsunami warning just after the initial quake, warning of potential waves of 0.5 to three metres.

But it lifted the warning just over 30 minutes later.

Dozens dead in Indonesia earthquake and tsunami

 

Waves of up to 2m (6.6ft) high swept through Palu on Sulawesi island.

Video on social media shows people screaming and fleeing in panic and a mosque amongst the buildings damaged.

Last month, a series of deadly earthquakes struck the Indonesian island of Lombok, with the biggest, on 5 August, killing more than 460.

Indonesia's disaster agency said at least 48 people have been killed from the latest quake but that the figure could rise.

Scores die as quake again hits Indonesian island

Hundreds of people have been wounded by the quake, disaster management officials added.

The 7 magnitude tremor damaged thousands of buildings and triggered power cuts.

On the neighbouring island of Bali, video footage showed people running from their homes screaming.

It comes a week after another quake hit Lombok, a popular tourist site for its beaches and hiking trails, killing at least 16 people.

The US Geological Survey said the latest quake, off the north coast of Lombok, struck 10km (6.21 miles) underground.

Japan earthquake: Child and two men dead and hundreds injured

Airports in the area were closed for several hours, train lines interrupted and factories had to halt production.

The 6.1 magnitude quake did not trigger a tsunami warning and nuclear plants in the area are operating normally.

Japan lies in a particularly earthquake-prone region and accounts for around 20% of quakes worldwide of magnitude 6.0 or more.

Monday's quake in Osaka occurred just before 08:00 local time (23:00 GMT Sunday) north of the city.

A nine-year old girl killed by a falling wall at her school was one of three confirmed fatalities.

5.6 quake off Tonga says USGS

There were no immediate reports of damages or casualties from the quake, which hit at a depth of 10 km, about 100 km off Hihifo which is on Niuatoputapu.   

The earthquake was also recorded south-southeast off the coast of Sigave in the French territory of Wallis and Futuna.

No tsunami warning was issued by the Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre.   

5.6 magnitude earthquake strikes near Tonga

The quake, 10 kilometres in depth, hit the area at 12.48pm.

The region has been struck by 10 earthquakes in the past month.

An earthquake of the same magnitude and depth hit the region just weeks ago.

     

Hawaii volcano: 6.9 magnitude earthquake follows eruption

The Civil Defense Agency said there were fissures on three streets and told any remaining residents to evacuate.

It said there were deadly levels of dangerous sulphur dioxide gas in the air and emergency crews would not be able to help anyone affected.

The new activity comes a day after Kilauea volcano erupted.

A number of increasingly strong earthquakes rocked the area after the eruption, with a 6.9 magnitude quake reportedly occurring south of the volcano.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center tweeted that there was no tsunami threat from the quake.

Hawaii quake prompts fears of possible volcanic eruption

Reports from Hawaii said the quake followed hundreds of smaller earthquakes that have prompted preparations for a possible eruption.

The US Geological Survey has issued a volcano watch after an open vent below the nearby lava lake collapsed and triggered the quakes.

Plumes of pink smoke have been coming up out of the volcano and the quake was widely felt by residents.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre reported there was no tsunami warning issued.

 

     

Fears of deaths following PNG quake

According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the magnitude-7.5 earthquake struck at a depth of 35km in Komo-Magarima district.

It hit at 4am local time, according to the USGS.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said there was no risk of a tsunami in the aftermath of the quake.

The mobile phone network in the region has been disrupted, frustrating attempts by people in other parts of PNG to gauge initial reports of damage from the quake.

Strong earthquake strikes Indonesia; 2 dead

The 6.5-magnitude quake was centered in Cipatujah, in the western part of Java, the US Geological Survey said, at a depth of 91.9 kilometers (about 57 miles).

Residents felt the quake about 190 miles away (305 kilometers) in the capital of Jakarta, where people briefly evacuated to the ground floor of their high-rises.

Tremors were also felt in the cities of Bandung, more than 63.5 miles away (102.1 kilometers) and Yogyakarta, more than 211 miles away (339.9 kilometers), authorities said.