Earthquakes
EMSC Crete, Greece
Mar 31 22:56 PM
3.0 15.0 MAP
USGS Hawaii Region, Hawaii
Mar 31 22:49 PM
3.0 37.1 MAP
EMSC Guam Region
Mar 31 22:36 PM
4.9 55.0 MAP
USGS Guam Region
Mar 31 22:36 PM
4.9 51.9 MAP
GEOFON Mindanao, Philippines
Mar 31 22:36 PM
4.6 10.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Honshu, Japan
Mar 31 22:30 PM
4.3 86.0 MAP
GEOFON South Of Mariana Islands
Mar 31 22:03 PM
4.9 10.0 MAP
USGS Guam Region
Mar 31 22:03 PM
4.9 8.8 MAP
EMSC Guam Region
Mar 31 22:03 PM
5.0 5.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Mar 31 22:00 PM
2.7 53.3 MAP
EMSC France
Mar 31 22:00 PM
3.2 5.0 MAP
EMSC Maule, Chile
Mar 31 21:52 PM
4.4 41.0 MAP
USGS Maule, Chile
Mar 31 21:52 PM
4.4 40.7 MAP
USGS Pakistan
Mar 31 21:42 PM
4.2 38.2 MAP
EMSC Pakistan
Mar 31 21:42 PM
4.2 38.0 MAP
EMSC Turkey-iran Border Region
Mar 31 21:38 PM
2.4 5.0 MAP
USGS Central Alaska
Mar 31 21:33 PM
3.2 7.3 MAP
EMSC Romania
Mar 31 21:29 PM
3.1 142.0 MAP
EMSC Vanuatu
Mar 31 19:59 PM
4.9 67.0 MAP
USGS Vanuatu
Mar 31 19:59 PM
4.8 71.8 MAP
GEOFON Vanuatu Islands
Mar 31 19:59 PM
4.8 10.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 18:55 PM
2.6 4.0 MAP
GEOFON Near Coast Of Chiapas, Mexico
Mar 31 18:55 PM
4.5 65.0 MAP
USGS Offshore Guatemala
Mar 31 18:55 PM
4.4 70.2 MAP
EMSC Offshore Guatemala
Mar 31 18:55 PM
4.5 53.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 18:36 PM
2.4 2.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 17:31 PM
3.3 16.0 MAP
USGS Puerto Rico Region
Mar 31 17:28 PM
2.5 23.1 MAP
EMSC Offshore El Salvador
Mar 31 17:13 PM
4.5 62.0 MAP
USGS Off The Coast Of El Salvador
Mar 31 17:13 PM
4.5 61.9 MAP
GEOFON Tonga Islands
Mar 31 17:06 PM
5.3 109.0 MAP
USGS Tonga
Mar 31 17:06 PM
5.4 122.8 MAP
EMSC Tonga
Mar 31 17:06 PM
5.5 60.0 MAP
EMSC Sea Of Japan
Mar 31 16:51 PM
4.1 393.0 MAP
USGS Sea Of Japan
Mar 31 16:51 PM
4.1 393.4 MAP
EMSC Caucasus Region, Russia
Mar 31 16:49 PM
3.7 5.0 MAP
EMSC Azerbaijan
Mar 31 16:39 PM
3.5 60.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Mar 31 15:27 PM
2.5 20.4 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 14:09 PM
2.9 7.0 MAP
USGS Baja California, Mexico
Mar 31 13:21 PM
2.7 16.0 MAP
EMSC Sicily, Italy
Mar 31 13:09 PM
2.4 8.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 12:54 PM
2.4 14.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 12:41 PM
3.6 2.0 MAP
EMSC Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 12:38 PM
4.9 52.0 MAP
USGS Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 12:38 PM
4.9 35.2 MAP
GEOFON Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 12:38 PM
4.9 10.0 MAP
USGS Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Mar 31 11:56 AM
3.9 20.1 MAP
USGS Oklahoma
Mar 31 11:54 AM
3.3 5.0 MAP
EMSC Aegean Sea
Mar 31 10:42 AM
2.4 15.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 10:41 AM
3.3 2.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 10:38 AM
4.1 2.0 MAP
USGS Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 10:38 AM
4.1 5.0 MAP
USGS Channel Islands Region, California
Mar 31 09:53 AM
3.0 3.5 MAP
GEOFON Near Coast Of Venezuela
Mar 31 09:47 AM
4.8 10.0 MAP
EMSC Sucre, Venezuela
Mar 31 09:47 AM
4.9 10.0 MAP
USGS Sucre, Venezuela
Mar 31 09:47 AM
4.9 9.8 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 09:32 AM
2.5 5.0 MAP
EMSC Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Is.
Mar 31 09:19 AM
5.0 10.0 MAP
USGS South Of The Aleutian Islands
Mar 31 09:19 AM
4.6 35.0 MAP
GEOFON Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands
Mar 31 09:19 AM
5.0 10.0 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 09:17 AM
3.2 7.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Mar 31 07:02 AM
2.9 137.5 MAP
EMSC Eastern Turkey
Mar 31 05:09 AM
2.9 7.0 MAP
USGS Puerto Rico Region
Mar 31 04:55 AM
2.8 58.2 MAP
EMSC Switzerland
Mar 31 04:24 AM
2.8 2.0 MAP
EMSC Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan
Mar 31 04:16 AM
4.9 231.0 MAP
GEOFON Afghanistan-tajikistan Border Region
Mar 31 04:16 AM
5.1 213.0 MAP
USGS Hindu Kush Region, Afghanistan
Mar 31 04:16 AM
4.9 221.2 MAP
USGS Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 03:58 AM
4.6 35.0 MAP
EMSC Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 03:58 AM
4.8 10.0 MAP
GEOFON Northern Sumatra, Indonesia
Mar 31 03:58 AM
4.7 10.0 MAP
USGS Andreanof Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Mar 31 03:46 AM
3.3 15.0 MAP
USGS Southern Alaska
Mar 31 02:56 AM
2.7 117.0 MAP
USGS Channel Islands Region, California
Mar 31 02:15 AM
3.1 0.1 MAP
EMSC Turkey-iran Border Region
Mar 31 00:54 AM
2.5 3.0 MAP
GEONET Fiordland
Mar 31 00:32 AM
4.1 12.0 MAP
GEOFON Jujuy Province, Argentina
Mar 31 00:05 AM
4.3 188.0 MAP
EMSC Jujuy, Argentina
Mar 31 00:05 AM
4.5 190.0 MAP
USGS Jujuy, Argentina
Mar 31 00:05 AM
4.6 200.1 MAP
USGS Kenai Peninsula, Alaska
Mar 31 00:03 AM
2.9 44.0 MAP
5.2 magnitude quake rocks Kashmir
An earthquake measuring 5.2 on the Richter scale hit Kashmir valley on Saturday, including its summer capital Srinagar, forcing people to rush out of their homes in panic. Kashmir disaster management head Aamir Ali said tremors were felt at 9.46am and the tremblor’s epicentre was in
Hindukush mountains in Afghanistan.
Ali said people rushed out of their homes in panic and took shelter in open spaces.
There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property, he added.
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Extreme Winds/Windstorms
Strong winds in Urumqi city of China
Strong winds in Urumqi city of China killed three people and injured twenty one so far. Wall collapsed in West Karamay Road and killed two people.
The regional meteorological center issued an orange wind alert, with winds of at least 80 km/hr forecast for the suburbs of Urumqi. Forty-two flights in the Urumqi International Airport were delayed, re-routed or canceled by the winds.
http://disaster-report.blogspot.com/2012/03/natural-disasters-list-march-31-2012.html
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Fires
Forest fire near to Geraldine, Montana, USA burned 2,500 acres. There are no reports of any injuries or damaged structures.
http://disaster-report.blogspot.com/2012/03/natural-disasters-list-march-31-2012.html
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Storms, Flooding, Landslides
Landslide highlights Haiti woes
At least six people die in a landslide that destroyed one of the many homes built on a precarious sandy mountain in Port-au-Prince.
-Six killed by Landslide in Port Au Prince city of Haiti. Port-au-Prince is the capital and largest city of the Caribbean country of Haiti
-Torrential rainfall from two weeks caused the landslide
-Following UN, hundreds of thousand victims of Haiti quake are having miserable condition living in tents. Donor had provided half the aid requested by Haiti last year
-About 30 Haitians were killed during the last rain season
-Port-au-Prince has a tropical wet and dry climate and relatively constant temperatures throughout the year
http://video.news.com.au/embed/2217757843/Landslide-highlights-Haiti-woes?player=narrow
Severe Flooding in Fiji Islands
A 57 old woman died at evacuation center in Sabeto. She was patient of Daibetes.
-Navo Bridge washed away by flood water. It was only the way from Nadi town or the Nadi International Airport from Queens Highway going towards Nadi from Suva.
-Recent heavy rainfall is caused by a shallow tropical depression located west-southwest of Nadi
Tropical storm Pakhar
Earlier it was forecast that tropical storm Pakhar will continue as Cat 1 (Hurricane) till April 1st BUT by late today (March 31st), it is forecast to weaken to a tropical storm (one step below).
It will make landfall (TS) first in Phan Thiet city of Vietnam by late today.
http://disaster-report.blogspot.com/2012/03/natural-disasters-list-march-31-2012.html
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Solar Activity
Total Gas Leak/Solar Update
Uploaded by MrCometwatch
The Leak is 150 miles off the Scottish coast with high winds blowing the gas into Germany. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/slideshow/ALeqM5gL5N8hbBirfZTEwz8rQbsudP…
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Solar System
April Fools’ Day Asteroid to Buzz Earth Sunday: No Joke!
Tariq Malik
Space.com
An asteroid the size of a passenger jet will zoom close by Earth on Sunday (April 1) just in time for April Fools’ Day, but it has no chance of hitting the Earth, NASA says.
The asteroid 2012 EG5 will be closer than the moon when it passes Earth at 5:32 a.m. EDT (0932 GMT). The space rock is about 150 feet wide (46 meters), according to a NASA update.
“Asteroid 2012 EG5 will safely pass Earth on April 1,” scientists with NASA’s Asteroid Watch program at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., wrote in a Twitter statement.
The space rock may be visiting Earth on April Fools’ Day, but its flyby is no prank. The asteroid will creep within 143,000 miles (230,000 kilometers) of Earth during its closest approach, which is just over half the distance between Earth and the moon’s orbit. The moon typically circles the Earth at a distance of 238,000 miles (382,900 km).
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Mysterious Booms / Rumblings
That noise was not thunder, Pocono residents say
Strong thunderstorms hit the Poconos Friday night, moving through shortly after 10 p.m. and continuing for at least a half hour, but the weather event that had folks talking was a loud sonic-like boom that shook houses at about 10:15 p.m.
Gilda Spiotta of Long Pond said, “The shaking last night lasted unusually long. Didn’t sound like thunder, didn’t feel like thunder, was wondering if something happened on 380/80; tanker accident.”
Another Long Pond resident, Lorene R. Allman-Mars: “My son was at the back door letting the dogs out and he reported that he saw a large flash of light fill the sky toward/above the FedEx distribution site on 940, then he heard a loud boom. It didn’t look like lightning, it looked like a bomb blew up in the air. I was on the second floor of the house; I didn’t see anything but I heard the boom and felt it shake the house. I actually felt it under my feet. The floors shook; I have never felt lightning shake the house like that before and we’ve been up here 20 years!”
Some readers suggested an earthquake or an explosion, but said that definitely was no routine thunder.
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Articles of Interest
FEMA chief says agency bracing for ‘maximum’ disaster
By Eric Berger
Recent hurricanes Ike and Katrina may rank among the three costliest storms in U.S. history, but in preparing for disasters the federal government must think bigger still, says America’s top emergency planner.
“As devastating as those two hurricanes were, they’re not as bad as it gets,” said Craig Fugate, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Fugate told reporters Tuesday at the National Hurricane Conference in Orlando, Fla., that his agency has been preparing for realistic worst-case scenarios – not just natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes, but terrorist attacks, as well.
Total: “may be months” to stop North Sea gas cloud
Oleg Vukmanovic Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) – A cloud of explosive natural gas boiling up from the North Sea out of a leak at Total’s evacuated Elgin platform forced another shutdown off the Scottish coast on Tuesday as the French firm warned it could take six months to halt the flow.
Dubbed “the well from hell” by an environmentalist who said the unusually high pressure of the undersea reservoirs made it especially hard to shut off, the loss of oil and gas output from Elgin – as well as the prospect of a big repair bill – helped drive Total’s share price down six percent on the Paris bourse.
As Shell pulled its bigger Shearwater facility offline too and an air and sea exclusion zone was declared around the forlorn Elgin rig, 150 miles east of Aberdeen, green campaigners denounced dangers in the technically challenging deep drilling that energy companies have undertaken around the globe to exploit the high prices created by insatiable demand.
The Elgin well, pumping some three percent of Britain’s gas output from nearly four miles below the seabed, pushes the frontiers of technology and is one of the deepest, most highly pressurized, offshore natural gas fields in the world. It now sits empty following Sunday’s emergency evacuation of 238 crew.
Total, which said the rupture of an unused reservoir above the main production source seemed to have been caused by its own engineers, is now looking at two main options to cut off the shimmering plume of gas rising above the sea: either drilling a relief well nearby, which could take six months, or – faster but possibly riskier – sending in engineers to “kill” the leak.
2MIN News March30: World News, Solar Update
