Yellow River Contaminated by Diesel Leak

Despite frantic efforts by 700 emergency workers to contain the spill, diesel leak contaminated the Yellow River

The Yellow River, the water source for millions of people, was contaminated by a diesel fuel leak from a broken oil pipeline in northern China, despite efforts by more than 700 emergency workers to contain the spill, China’s official news agency Xinhua reported.

Emergency workers repair the leakage on a diesel pipeline in Huaxian county in northwest China’s Shaanxi province, Jan. 3, 2010. The Yellow River, the water source for millions, has been contaminated by a diesel fuel leak despite efforts to contain the spill in a tributary, forcing authorities along the river to suspend water supplies. (Xinhua/Yuan Jingzhi). Image may be subject to copyright.

Some 150,000 litres of diesel had spilled into the Wei river in Shaanxi province following a construction, Xinhua had reported earlier.

The diesel spill had first entered the Chishui river, a tributary of the Wei. The Wei is a major tributary of the Yellow River, China’s second-longest, and the water source for millions of people.

The leak which occurred in a pipeline owned by China National Petroleum Corp., the country’s largest producer of oil and gas, has now contaminated the Yellow River.

“Running through eight cities in Henan Province, the Yellow River provides the source of drinking water for Zhengzhou and Kaifeng, two of the province’s largest cities [combined population of about 10 million.]” Xinhua reported.

“One third of the Yellow River is heavily polluted by industrial waste and unsafe for any use, according to criteria used by the U.N. Environmental Program.” Washington Post reported.

Related Links:

• Disasters Caused by Oil and gas Drilling, Oil Spills, Leaks, Land, Water and Air Pollution
• 2010 Disaster Calender

Mayon: Not Much Happening – Update 4 Jan 2010

Mayon seems to have taken another day off!

Not much is happening on the geophysical from at the volcano. The state vulcanologists told reporters they had not observed in recent rise of magma.

The govt of Albay province said it was allowing some 45,000 people living withing the 7 to 8-km zone from Mayon to return to their homes. However, another 2,000 or so people who live within the 6-km permanent danger zone (PDZ) must stay in the make shift shelters for now.

The provincial governor was quoted as saying that the province was planning to permanently relocate the people who lived in the 6-km PDZ.

It defies the imagination however why those people were allowed to settle in the PDZ in the first place.

Mayon Volcano Bulletin 22 released by PHIVOLCS on 4 January 2010

Mayon Volcano’s (13.2576 N, 123.6856 E) seismic monitoring network  detected 7 volcanic earthquakes and 33 rockfall events related to the detachment of lava fragments at the volcano’s upper slopes. Steaming activity was not observed due to thick clouds that covered the summit crater. Pale crater glow was observed last night. Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) measurement was not conducted yesterday due to rain that occurred over the volcano area.

Alert Level 3 is in effect over Mayon, which means that the 6-km radius Permanent Danger Zone around the volcano and the 7-km Extended Danger Zone on the southeast flank of the volcano should be free from human activity because of sudden explosions that may generate hazardous volcanic flows. People residing close to these danger areas are also advised to observe precautions associated with post-eruption activity, such as rockfalls, pyroclastic flows, and ash fallout which can also occur anytime due to instabilities of lava deposited on steep slopes. Active river channels and those perennially identified as lahar prone in the southern sector should also be avoided especially during bad weather conditions or when there is heavy and prolonged rainfall. Civil aviation authorities must advise pilots to avoid flying close to the volcano’s summit as ejected ash and volcanic fragments from sudden explosions may pose hazards to aircrafts. PHIVOLCS-DOST is closely monitoring Mayon Volcano’s activity and any new significant development will be immediately posted to all concerned.

For previous entries, additional information, photos and links to Mayon Volcano entries see links below:

• Mt Mayon Menacingly Mute – Update [3 January 2010]
• Mayon may be gradually returning to the repose period
• Could Blue Moon Trigger Mayon Explosion?

Related Links:

• Mayon Volcano Links Page [Recent Posts, Photos, Videos and Comments]
  
• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

Powerful Earthquakes Strike Solomon Islands

Two Powerful Quakes Strike Solomon Islands SSE of Gizo

A powerful earthquake Measuring up to 7.5Mw struck 105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl. at a depth of about  45 km on  January 3 at about 22:37 UTC.  A strong foreshock measuring up to M6.8, preceded  the Mainshock about an hour earlier.

As of posting, at least one aftershock measuring up to 5.4 Mw was reported.

10-degree Map Centered at 10°S,155°E

Earthquake location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW.

Earthquake Details (mainshock)

• Magnitude:  [Maximum EQ magnitude estimated at 7.5 Mw by FireEarth]
• Date-Time:
  • Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 22:36:30 UTC
  • Monday, January 04, 2010 at 09:36:30 AM at epicenter
• Location 8.912°S, 157.307°E
• Depth 30.5 km (19.0 miles)
• Region SOLOMON ISLANDS
• Distances:
  • 105 km (65 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 210 km (130 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands
  • 295 km (185 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • 2100 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty:  horizontal +/- 8.5 km (5.3 miles); depth +/- 3.6 km (2.2 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID:us2010rabw

Earthquake Details (foreshock)

• Magnitude 6.5  [Maximum EQ magnitude estimated at 6.8  Mw by FireEarth]
• Date-Time:
  • Sunday, January 03, 2010 at 21:48:06 UTC
• Location:  8.880°S, 157.325°E
• Depth 10 km (6.2 miles)
• Distances
  • 90 km (55 miles) SSE of Gizo, New Georgia Islands, Solomon Isl.
  • 215 km (135 miles) WSW of Dadali, Santa Isabel, Solomon Islands
  • 310 km (190 miles) WNW of HONIARA, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands
  • 2115 km (1310 miles) NNE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 10.1 km (6.3 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
• Event ID: us2010rabr

Historic Seismicity

Tsunami Warning

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii earlier said the earthquakes generated  a 6cm (NON-Destructve) tsunami.

“[The tsunami] may have been destructive along the coasts near the earthquake epicentre.” It said.

NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami was NOT expected along the California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, or Alaska coast.  However, local tsunamis may occur from underwater landslides at coastal locations which have experienced strong ground shaking.

An 8.1Mw quake struck about 60km NW of this earthquake on April 1, 2007, triggering  a tsunami near Solomon Islands which crashed into the town of Gizo the capital of the Solomon Islands Western Province (population 6,500),  killing 52 people (official death toll) and destroying almost the entire town. More than 5,400 people were left homeless.

In Tajikistan meanwhile…

News agencies reported that a 5.5Mw earthquake which struck Tajikistan on Saturday had destroyed more than 1,000 houses. There were no reports of human casualties as of posting.

Related Links:

• Large Earthquakes Strike South Pacific
• VolcanoWatch Weekly [26 Oct 2009] – Includes Forecast

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links