Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global

No 5+ Earthquakes to Report Today.

Tsunami Debris Reaches California

Japanese fishing boat washed by 2011 tsunami has been confirmed as the first piece of debris to reach the coast of California. The 20-foot boat is the first remnant from the disaster zone to reach the state.

Tsunami boat belonging to the Takata High School in Rikuzentakata, in Iwate Prefecture of Japan reached Crescent City of California on April 7, 2013. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, and the Japanese Consulate in San Francisco confirmed this news.

Storms and Floods

Santa Cruz Tsunami Damage

As the remote Island group continues to be hit be aftershocks from the magnitude 8 earthquake on 6 February, rescue teams struggled to reach remote villages in the Solomon Islands. The tsunami flooded the nearest airstrip and left it littered with debris, preventing relief workers from reaching the region by air.

The dozens of strong aftershocks are keeping frightened residents from returning to the coast and going back to their homes because there's nothing left, so they are residing in temporary shelters on higher ground.

Tsunami damage in Temotu province of the Solomon Islands.

Earthquakes

Magnitude 5+ Earthquakes - Global

6.2; 6.1; 6.0; 5.3; three x 5.2; two x 5.1; two x 5.0; four x 4.9 and five x 4.8 Aftershocks hit the Santa Cruz Islands.

The death toll from the tsunami that hit the Solomon Islands following the powerful 8.0 Earthquake yesterday now stands at 15. Approximately 400 houses collapsed in five villages in the Solomon Islands. 80 properties were damaged on the west side of the Santa Cruz Islands where a 1.5 metre tsunami was reported. Due to the remoteness of the affected areas, reports of damage are still coming in.

5.6 Earthquake hits southern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.2 Earthquake hits Tonga.

5.1 Earthquake hits northern Sumatra, Indonesia.

5.1 Earthquake hits south-east of the Loyalty Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Admiralty Island region.

5.0 Earthquake hits the northern Mid-atlantic ridge.

5.0 Earthquake hits the Nias region, Indonesia.

Earthquakes

7.3 Earthquake hits near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake struck off Japan's eastern coast about 7:18pm (AEDT). Buildings were reported to have swayed violently in Tokyo. At 8:19pm workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant were told to retreat to a fortified building at the plant as a precaution. A one-metre high tsunami hit Japan's north-east coast at 8:10pm. Evacuations have been ordered in some places.

6.2 and 5.5 Aftershocks hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan.

Two 5.0 Aftershocks hit near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. Three 4.8 and three 4.7 Aftershocks also rattled the region.

5.1 and 4.9 Earthquakes hit the Bouvet Island region near the southern mid-atlantic ridge.

5.1 Earthquake hits south of the Sandwich Islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Tarapaca, Chile.

5.0 Earthquake hits the New Britain region, Papua New Guinea.

4.9 Earthquake hits southern Greece.

Nuclear Radiation

Genetic mutations have been found in three generations of butterflies from areas near Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant.

Scientists found 34 per cent of 3rd generation butterflies had abnormalities, including smaller wings and damaged eyes.

The findings will raise fears over the long-term effects of the leaks on other species and people who were exposed in the days and weeks after the accident, as radiation spread over a large area and forced thousands to evacuate.

 

Earthquakes

7.7 Earthquake hits the Sea of Okhotsk. No tsunami warning issued.

5.4 Earthquke hits Pakistan.

5.2 Earthquake hits the Bonin Islands off Japan.

5.2 Earthquake hits the South Sandwich Islands region.

5.1 and 4.8 Earthquakes hit Taiwan.

 

Earthquakes

6.6 Earthquake hits Simeulue, Sumatra, Indonesia. One person killed while thousands flee in panic. No tsunami generated.

6.5 Earthquake hits the Solomon islands.

5.0 Earthquake hits Catamarca, Argentina.

 

Nuclear Power

The Japanese government has given the go-ahead to bring the first nuclear reactor back online after last year's earthquake and tsunami.

High levels of radioactivity continue to be reported in the sea far off the coast from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

 

Tsunami

A huge, 165 tonne dock torn from a Japanese port by last year's tsunami has washed up on the coast of Oregon near Portland 8 058 kilometers away.

A Harley-Davidson motorcycle from Japan has been found on Graham Island off the coast of Canada.

The main body of debris from the tsunami has congregated into a vast patch of ocean in the northern Pacific and is expected to disperse (or sink) over time.