Kyrgyzstan Earthquake Kills 72

Deadly earthquake razes village in Kyrgyzstan

A 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Kyrgyzstan Sunday, killing about 72 people, injuring many and destroying dozens of buildings in the southern province of Osh.

The area most affected was the village of Nura, a mountainous area close to the border with China, where according to the Emergency Minister, everything was destroyed, reports said.

Magnitude 6.6 – Kyrgyzstan Quake

Magnitude: 6.6
Date-Time: Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 15:52:49 UTC [October 05, 2008 at 09:52:49 PM at epicenter]
Location: 39.515°N, 73.768°E
Depth:    27.6 km (17.2 miles) set by location program
Region: KYRGYZSTAN
Distances:

• 50 km (30 miles) NNE of Karakul, Tajikistan
  60 km (35 miles) ESE of Sary-Tash, Kyrgyzstan
  145 km (90 miles) SE of Osh, Kyrgyzstan
  435 km (270 miles) ENE of DUSHANBE, Tajikistan

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 3.5 km (2.2 miles); depth fixed by location program
Source : USGS NEIC
Event ID: us2008xuay

10-degree Map Centered at 40°N,75°E

Global reference map. Source of above images: USGS

Map of Kyrgyzstan

Tian Shan Mountain Range Viewed from Kyrgyzstan. Credit: Andrzej Barabasz (Chepry) – Permission: CC-BY-SA-2.5 – Source: Wikimedia

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Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand

Another Powerful Quake Hits Kermadec Isles Region

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake followed by two strong aftershocks hit the Kermadec Islands region in line with FEWW forecast.

10-degree Map Centered at 30°S,175°W

Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, Global Reference Map. USGS

FEWW Comments:

• The center of earthquake cluster incidence within the epicentral region of the  Kermadec Trench appears to be shifting south-southwest of its historical position, and closer to New Zealand North Island.

• According to FEWW analysis a magnitude 8+ earthquake would likely strike the Kermadec Isles epicentral region centered in an area about 285km SSE of Raoul Island [~900km NE of Auckland, New Zealand] before the New Year. Since 1900 only one other earthquake with a magnitude of 8 has struck the region. [1917 May 1 18:26 UTC, Depth: 60 km – USGS data]

Tectonic Setting

Kermadec Trench – Epicentral Region. Image Credit: USGS

Related Links:

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Mt Ruapehu Eruption Alert

Main Shock

Magnitude: 6.5
Date-Time: Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 09:12:40 PM at epicenter
Location: 30.327°S, 177.195°W
Depth: 35 km (21.7 miles) set by location program
Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND
Distances:

• 135 km (85 miles) SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
  205 km (125 miles) NE of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
  1035 km (650 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
  1410 km (880 miles) NNE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 11.3 km (7.0 miles); depth fixed by location program
Source: USGS NEIC
Event ID    us2008xuan

Aftershocks

1. Magnitude:    5.2
Date-Time: Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 10:45:00 UTC [ October 05, 2008 at 10:45:00 PM at epicenter]
Location:    30.856°S, 176.659°W
Source:    USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID: us2008xuas

2. Magnitude:    5.2
Date-Time:  Sunday, October 05, 2008 at 14:09:50 UTC [October 06, 2008 at 02:09:50 AM at epicenter]
Location: 31.156°S, 177.721°W
Source: USGS NEIC
Event ID:  us2008xua8