Blizzards Destroy Homes, Decimate Crops in C. China

Snowstorm wreaks havoc across central China

Lingering winter storms have affected hundreds of thousands of people in central and southwest China provinces of Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou, destroying homes, blocking highways and decimating crops, Xinhua quoted the authorities as saying.

In Hubei Province alone the snowstorm and freezing rains have destroyed at least 188 houses and 28,000 hectares of crops since Tuesday, affecting 336,000 people, 495 of whom were forced to relocate, according to the Department of Civil Affairs of Hubei Province.

Winter storms have also affected Hunan Province, which neighbors Hubei, blocking several highways and cutting vegetable supplies to the cities, said the report.

Guizhou Province in southwest China has also issued warnings for icy roads, following days of freezing rain. “Its traffic and police authorities have initiated emergency responses to ensure traffic flows on highways.”

 

Earthquakes Strike 8 U.S. States and Puerto Rico

SEISMIC HAZARDS
HEIGHTENED U-S SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 700, [500,] 08, 07, 02
.

 227 Earthquakes strike 8 U.S. States and Puerto Rico in one day

At least 227 earthquakes of all magnitudes have occurred in eight U.S. states—Alaska, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Oklahoma, Oregon, Utah and Washington—and Puerto Rico in the past 24 hours.

The quakes comprised more than 97 percent of all earthquakes (234 events) that occurred globally during the period.

 Related Links

• Intense Seismicity Resumes in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma July 13, 2014
• Earthquakes Strike California, New York, Oklahoma…July 6, 2014 [This link may have been blocked by Internet Mafia]
• 95 Percent of All Earthquakes Strike U.S. July 2, 2014
• 90 Percent of All Quakes Strike U.S. June 30, 2014
• U.S. West Shaking Like Jelly  June 30, 2014

Recent Seismicity in the U.S.

• Significant Quake Strikes Alaska Coast July 25, 2014
• Strong Quake Strikes Alaska July 17, 2014
• Intense Seismicity Resumes in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oklahoma  July 13, 2014
• “Extreme” and “Unusual” Geothermal Activity in YNP  July 12, 2014
• Heightened Seismicity Continues Across the U.S. July 8, 2014
• Earthquakes Strike California, New York, Oklahoma… July 6, 2014
• 95 Percent of All Earthquakes Strike U.S. July 2, 2014
• 90 Percent of All Quakes Strike U.S. June 30, 2014
• U.S. West Shaking Like Jelly  June 30, 2014

Drought Disaster Declared for VA, WV Counties

RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER & CLIMATIC DISASTERS
DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
SCENARIOS  900, [500,] 444, 117, 111, 100, 067, 03, 02
.

Drought destroys or damages crops in 7 counties across 2 states

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated a total of seven counties in two states—Virginia and West Virginia—as crop disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by drought that occurred from Aug. 22, 2014 through Oct. 15, 2014.

Those counties are :

• Virginia: Alleghany, Bath, Augusta, Highland and Rockbridge counties.
• West Virginia: Greenbrier and Pocahontas counties.

Crop Disasters 2015

Beginning January 7, 2015 USDA has declared crop disasters in at least 227 counties across five states. All of the disaster designations so far are due to drought.

Crop Disasters 2014

In 2014, USDA declared crop disasters in at least 2,904 counties across 44 states. Most of the designations were due to drought.

Those states were

• Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan. Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. [FIRE-EARTH has documented all of the above listings. See blog content.]

Notes:
i. USDA trigger point for a countywide disaster declaration is 30 percent crop loss on at least one crop.

ii. The counties designated as agricultural disaster areas, as listed above, include both primary and contiguous disaster areas.

iii. Some counties may have been designated crop disaster areas more than once due to multiple disasters.

iv. The U.S. has a total of 3,143 counties and county-equivalents.

v. The disaster designations posted above were approved by USDA on January 7, 2015.

Related Links

• Crop Disasters Declared for 220 Counties in Three States January 8, 2015
• Crop Disasters Declared in 3 States December 25, 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Earthquake Rattles Rutland in East Midlands, England

SEISMIC HAZARDS
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 700, [500,] 08, 07, 02
.

English village shaken by magnitude 3.8 earthquake

England’s East Midlands village of Cottesmore in Rutland county was shaken by an earthquake measuring 3.8Mw.

Centered at 52.713°N, 0.667°W the quake struck at a depth of 13.3km, said USGS/EHP.

EQ Details

Magnitude: 3.8Mw
Event Time: 2015-01-28 @ 22:25:52UTC
Nearby Cities

• 0km (0mi) WSW of Cottesmore, United Kingdom
• 6km (4mi) NE of Oakham, United Kingdom
• 7km (4mi) SE of Wymondham, United Kingdom
• 14km (9mi) WNW of Stamford, United Kingdom
• 139km (86mi) NNW of London, United Kingdom

The quake was the second to strike England since Tuesday. The first event, measuring 2.9Mw, was centered at 51.072°N, 1.299°W and struck at a depth of 3km, about 1km ENE of the Winchester [population: ~ 120,000,] the county town of Hampshire and home to Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.

Floods Devastate Malawi, Affecting 638,000 People

Malawi Floods Situation Report  by UNOCHA, UNICEF and FAO

28 January 2015

• Some 638,000 people affected countrywide, according to Department of Disaster Management Affairs/OCHA situation report 23 January 2015

• [More than ¼ million people have been displaced in Malawi floods including] 174,000 in 3 most affected districts—Chikwawa, Nsanje and Phalombe.

• At least 15 of country’s 28 districts are affected.

• 79 deaths have been reported.

• At least 153 people missing in Nsanje District.

• 181 Schools occupied by displaced people (Reports from District Education Managers 26 .01.15)

• An estimated 116,000 households have lost their crops and livestock.

• More than 63,000 hectares of land is submerged under floodwater, including 35,000 hectares of cropland.

• A state of emergency has been declared for 15 of Malawi’s 28 districts.

• Floods have destroyed thousands of homes, washing away scores of livestock, and submerging hundreds of hectares of crops, a senior official said.

• Untold numbers of goats and chickens have perished where waters rose with unexpected speed, raising the risk of livestock disease outbreaks.

FIRE-EARTH Models show that Malawi is facing its worst ever flooding.

Related Links

• Malawi Floods Devastate Half the Country January 17, 2015
• Disaster Declared as Deadly Floods Swamp Third of Malawi January 14, 2015
• Thousands Displaced by Deadly Floods in Malawi January 11, 2015

M5.7 Quake Strikes off California Coast

SEISMIC HAZARDS
HEIGHTENED SEISMICITY IN CALIFORNIA
SCENARIOS 700, [500,] 08, 07, 02
.

Significant earthquake occurs SW of Ferndale, Calif.

Centered at 40.318°N, 124.607°W the quake struck at a depth of 17.2km, USGS/EHP reported.

At least 25 aftershocks of all magnitudes have followed, striking within a 25km radius of the event, as of posting.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 5.7Mw
Event Time: 2015-01-28 at 21:08:53 UTC
Nearby Cities:

• 40km (25mi) SW of Ferndale, California
• 65km (40mi) SW of Eureka, California
• 330km (205mi) NW of Sacramento, California

Tsunami Evaluation
There was NO tsunami threat associated with this event, said NWS National Tsunami Center in Palmer, Alaska.

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for California

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and additional reasons, as stated earlier on the blog.

The Team has suspended its research also on Japan seismicity due to the resurgence of militarism in that country and additional reasons that have been stated previously.

Recent Earthquakes – U.S. West

• Suspending Research on Seismicity in Washington State January 23, 2015
• M4.4 Quake Strikes Near Soledad, California  January 21, 2015
• Significant Quakes Strike California, Idaho Posted on January 4, 2015
• Earthquake Strikes S of San Pedro, California Posted on December 31, 2014

Measles Cases and Outbreaks

Updated Jan. 29, 2015

Measles Outbreaks

U.S. Outbreaks

• Some  78 people in 11 California counties, as well as Utah, Arizona, Nebraska, Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and New Mexico have been infected. About a quarter of them have been hospitalized. So far, none have died.

• The majority of cases reported so far during 2015 are part of a large, ongoing outbreak linked to an amusement park in California, said CDC.

• In 2014, some 23 outbreaks were responsible for 89% of the 644 cases reported across 27 states

• The Philippines is experiencing a large, ongoing measles outbreak. Many of the cases in the U.S. in 2014 were associated with cases brought in from the Philippines. see the Measles in the Philippines Travelers’ Health Notice.

China Outbreaks:

An outbreak of measles in downtown Beijing has been reported by Beijing’s disease control and prevention center, reported Xinhua.

Between January 22 – 26, at least 23 people contracted measles in an office building in Chaoyangmen, a busy commercial area in Dongcheng District, Beijing, said a statement released by the center, Xinhua reported.

On January 7, at least 32 cases of measles were confirmed in Datong University in the city of Datong, in north China’s Shanxi Province.

In recent years, large measles outbreaks have occurred in Africa, Europe, eastern Mediterranean, W Pacific and SE Asia. Outbreaks with more than 10,000 reported cases have occurred in the DRC, India, Indonesia, Somalia and Ukraine.

Major Disaster Declared for Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians, Calif.

Federal Disaster Declared for Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians

Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians Severe Storms, Flooding, and Mudslides (DR-4206)

The White House has declared a major disaster exists for Soboba Band of Luiseño Indians in Riverside County, California due to severe storms, flooding, and mudslides during the period of December 4-6, 2014.

The Federal Coordinating Officer for federal recovery operations in the affected area said additional designations may be made at a later date if requested by the state and warranted by the results of further damage assessments.

Links to Recent Federal Disaster Declarations

• Major Disaster Declared in the State of Mississippi January 8, 2015
• Federal Disaster Declared for New York State December 23, 2014
• Major Disasters Declared in Arizona, Nevada  November 7, 2014
• Federal Disaster Declarations 2014
• Federal Disasters
• Drought
• Agricultural Disasters Index

Earthquakes Rattle Oklahoma, Kansas

Another swarm of earthquakes strikes Oklahoma, Kansas

A cluster of at least 11 earthquakes have struck Oklahoma and the border area with neighboring state of Kansas in the past 24 hours, according to data posted by USGS/EHP.

The largest quake in the cluster measured 4.3Mw and was centered at 36.848°N, 97.699°W.

• M4.2, 21km SSE of Medford, Oklahoma 2015-01-27 15:58:40 UTC depth = 2.1km
• M3.8, 3km SSE of Perry, Oklahoma 2015-01-27 11:31:10 UTC depth = 3.7km
• M3.4, 6km NW of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-01-27 07:38:05 UTC depth = 4.8km
• M2.9, 11km S of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-01-27 05:44:22 UTC depth = 5.0km
• M3.1, 7km NW of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-01-27 05:28:53 UTC depth = 4.6km
• M2.6, 11km S of Caldwell, Kansas 2015-01-27 05:02:30 UTC depth = 5.0km
• M2.4, 5km SSW of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-01-27 02:22:03 UTC depth = 7.5km
• M3.0, 29km W of Helena, Oklahoma 2015-01-26 23:46:23 UTC depth = 2.7km
• M3.3, 5km S of Guthrie, Oklahoma 2015-01-26 21:45:13 UTC depth = 5.0km
• M4.3, 5km NE of Medford, Oklahoma 2015-01-26 19:30:44 UTC depth = 6.6km
• M2.5, 18km S of Perry, Oklahoma 2015-01-26 18:03:17 UTC depth = 8.3km

 

State of Emergency Declared in NE U.S.

‘Crippling snow’ and ‘life-threatening’ blizzard:  States of Emergency declared in five states

A paralyzing blizzard is buffeting northeaster US with massive, possibly record, snowfall amounts and life-threatening blizzard conditions, prompting eight states—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania* and Maine—to declare states of emergency.

Thousands of flights into and out of the Northeast have been canceled with snowfall amounts of 1 – 3 feet or more forecast for many parts of the region, while hurricane-force winds are forecast to batter the coastal areas.

Up to 30 million people will face blizzard conditions Monday/Tuesday,  while up to 60 million people could see 6 – 12 inches or more of snow as the storm system, dubbed “Winter Storm Juno,” barrels across the region, forecasters said.

NYC Mayor said 2,300 snowploughs will be deployed to clear the city, while urging residents to stay out of their way.

Driving bans have been imposed across dozens of cities and counties in the NE, including NYC and Boston.

[*Pennsylvania Gov. issued a disaster emergency proclamation, and called up the National Guards.]

NWS said:

“A storm system off the East Coast will continue to strengthen as it develops into a major nor’easter on Monday. As the storm moves up the coast, it is expected to bring snowfall of 1-3 feet or more to many parts of the Northeast through Tuesday evening, including New York City and Boston. Strong, gusty winds will combine with the snow to create blizzard conditions along and near the coast.”

• High-impact winter storm expected to bring crippling snowfall amounts and life-threatening blizzard conditions to much of the Northeast
• Blizzard warnings are in effect for the coastal areas of New Jersey through Maine.
• Winter storm warnings are in effect from New Jersey to Maine. Winter storm warnings are also in effect for an area of the Appalachians in West Virginia.
• Coastal flood warnings and advisories are in effect from Delaware to the coast of Maine.

State of Emergency Declared in East Java

Outbreak of dengue fever kills dozens across 38 areas in East Java

Authorities in East Java have declared a state of emergency [“an extraordinary situation (KLB) status”] due to an outbreak of dengue fever, which has sickened at least 1,054 people, killing 25 across 38 regencies and cities, said a report.

The state of emergency covers 11 regions in the province including the regencies of Jombang, Banyuwangi, Probolinggo, Kediri, Sumenep, Pamekasan, Nganjuk, Trenggalek, Mojokerto and Madiun as well as Madiun city, said the report.

“Data from the provincial administration show that most cases of dengue fever in the province were recorded in January or December. Of the more than 26,000 cases of dengue fever in 2010, for example, some 5,500 occurred in January,” the report said.

“Similarly, of the nearly 5,500 cases in 2011, more than 1,000 occurred in January, while of the more than 8,000 cases recorded in 2012, more than 1,000 occurred in December.”

East Java, Indonesia’s second most populated province [pop: ~ 40million,] is located on eastern part of island of Java, covering an area of 47,800 km², which is administratively divided into 29 regencies and 9 cities.

Global Impact: Up to 100 million infections reported annually

The incidences of dengue fever infection continue growing globally, especially since 2009, putting at least half of the world’s population at risk.

“In the past few years, there has been a very significant increase of dengue fever infection in tropical areas such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America, including Brazil, which constitutes a tremendous public health challenge. It is estimated that 2 to 5 billion people are under risk of acquiring the infection worldwide, with 50 to 100 million infections reported annually, and approximately 500,000 hospital admissions. Death numbers associated with dengue are difficult to estimate,” said a report.

Aedes aegypti, aka the yellow fever mosquito, is a vector for transmitting several tropical disease viruses including dengue fever, Chikungunya (CHIKV) and yellow fever.

This 2006 photograph depicts a female Aedes aegypti mosquito as she acquires  a blood meal from her human host, the biomedical photographer, James Gathany, at the Centers for Disease Control.  Dengue fever is caused by four virus strains spread by the mosquito Aedes aegypti. (Photo Credit: James Gathany/University of Notre Dame).

Fatal Staphylococcal Infection following Classic Dengue Fever

“Dengue represents an important public health issue in many tropical areas, leading to high morbidity and the employment of substantial health resources. Even though the number of fatalities related to dengue is unknown, several reports warn about the potential occurrence of severe infections and even death. The clinical spectrum of dengue is highly variable, ranging from a mild flu-like syndrome to severe disease, with shock and hemorrhage. The occurrence of bacterial superinfection, or coinfection, in patients with dengue has been noted by some authors, but the available information comes from anecdotic reports. In this study, we show the clinical and anatomopathological data of a patient infected with dengue, who subsequently died of acute multi-organic failure related to Staphylococcus aureus infection. The autopsy revealed a severe disseminated staphylococcal disease and confirmed dengue infection.”

Related Links

• Global Health Emergencies Posted on July 31, 2013
• Dengue Fever Outbreak Prompts State of Emergency in Brazil City Posted on January 21, 2013
• Dengue fever toll climbs to 162 Posted on October 4, 2011
• Chikungunya Makes West Nile Look Like Nappy Rash September 19, 2009
• Disease Emergence and Resurgence of Infectious Diseases‎ July 3, 2011
• State of emergency in Marshall Islands as dengue outbreak spirals October 29, 2011
• Dengue fever toll climbs to 162 October 4, 2011
• Mutant Mosquito Swarms to Be Unleashed in Florida December 8, 2012

 

‘Historic’ Blizzard to Batter U.S. East Coast

Major nor’easter to impact northeastern U.S.

A massive nor’easter is forecast to impact parts of the Northeast Monday through Wednesday. The system will bring heavy snowfall and [hurricane-force] winds, with possible blizzard conditions along coastal areas from New Jersey to Massachusetts, said National Weather Service (NWS), describing the storm as “crippling and potentially historic blizzard.”

This could be the biggest snowstorm in the history of New York, said NY Mayor at a news conference, adding that the snowfall could top 3 feet (91cm).

“I want everyone to understand that we are facing—most probably—one of the largest snowstorms in the history of this city,” said de Blasio.
“My message to all New Yorkers is prepare for something worse than we have seen before. Prepare … for this extreme weather,” he said.

Blizzard Warnings are in effect along the coast from central New Jersey to the Canadian border.

Warnings issued by NWS include

Hurricane Force Wind Warning
Blizzard Warning
Winter Storm Warning
Gale Warning
High Wind Warning
Storm Warning
Coastal Flood Warning
Flood Warning

NWS forecast:

• Heavy snow for New England and the Northern Mid-Atlantic Coast
• Snow for the Upper Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley to Mid-Atlantic
• Temperatures to rise up to 30 degrees above average from the
  Northern High Plains to parts of the Central Plains…

Air Travel: Environmental Nightmare Worsened in 2014

3 Billion air journeys polluted skies and earth in 2014

More than 3 billion air journeys were taken globally in 2014, although the exact figures are yet to be released.

In 2013, the total number of passengers carried by airlines grew to 3,023,304,482 globally, according to data provided by the World Bank.

U.S. airlines lead the global pack, carrying 743,096,000 passengers (25% of the total), followed by the Chinese with 352,795,296, or 12 percent of the total.

30 Million international passengers carried by Chinese airlines in 2014

Chinese airlines carried more than 30 million international passengers (estimated 200,000 flights) in 2014, up 18 percent year on year, said a senior civil aviation official, Xinhua reported.

Chinese passengers accounted for more than 55 percent of all passengers on the flights between China and the United States, said the report.

International Air Transport Association (IATA) anticipates China’s domestic passenger capacity to rise 10.8 percent in 2015, while the growth rates of China-U.S., China-Europe and China-Asia Pacific flights will be 10 percent, 9 percent and 4 percent respectively, said the report.

Chinese airlines are planning to launch international routes from smaller cities, with foreign low-cost airlines being permitted to join the Chinese civil aviation market, according to the report.

In 1992, Chinese airlines carried a total of 29 million passengers, according to official statistics.

The number rapidly grew to about 120 million in 2004, and more than 320 million in 2012.

Top 25 Flyers in 2013 (and probably 2014) were:

1. United States: 743,096,000
2. China: 352,795,296
3. UK: 118,304,674
4. Japan 105,913,000
5. Germany 105,016,346
6. Brazil: 95,917,212
7. Ireland: 95,585,497
8. Indonesia: 85,102,827
9. India: 75,322,747
10. Turkey: 74,353,297
11. Canada: 71,526,726
12. Australia: 70,883,315
13. UAE: 69,191,127
14. France: 66,733,562
15. Russian Federation: 65,985,276
16. Malaysia: 46,317,632
17. Spain: 45,773,340
18. South Korea: 41,082,568
19. Thailand: 40,714,384
20. Mexico: 38,807,595
21. Hong Kong SAR, China: 34,206,136
22. Netherlands: 33,249,909
23. Singapore: 30,554,914
24. Philippines: 29,308,659
25. Saudi Arabia: 28,252,104

Air Travel Nightmare Worsened in 2014

UPDATED

https://feww.wordpress.com/2015/01/26/air-travel-environmental-nightmare-worsened-in-2014/

Mega Drought Plagues Brazil’s Most Populous Region

DISASTERS CAUSED BY RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE
EXTREME WEATHER
MEGA DROUGHT
CROP DISASTERS
WATER FAMINE
SCENARIOS 900, [500,] 444, 219, 117, 111, 100, 090, 067, 03, 02
.

Rio de Janeiro state experiencing “the worst water crisis in its history” —Environment Minister

The states of Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais facing “worrying” water crisis and must save water, according to Brazil’s Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira speaking in an emergency meeting in the capital, Brasilia.

“Since records for Brazil’s south-eastern region began 84 years ago we have never seen such a delicate and worrying situation,” she said.

In Rio de Janeiro state, the main water reservoir is empty for the first time since it was built, said the country’s Environment Secretary, acknowledging that the state faces “the worst water crisis in its history,” said a report.

Rising temperatures and diminishing rainfall have forced authorities to impose rationing in the worst affected areas, amid rolling power cuts, which are affecting up to five million people.

Minas Gerais saw a total of just 900mm of rain in 2014, less half the yearly average, severely affecting coffee beans production.

Rainfall Totals & Anomaly Patterns:Last 30 Days

During the last 30 days, below-average precipitation was observed over most of the Amazon Basin, and all of central and southeastern Brazil. Above-average precipitation was observed over southern Colombia, northern Peru, northeastern Argentina, Uruguay, and southern Brazil. Source: cpc/ncep/noaa

About 100 cities have imposed rationing, as water levels in 17 of the country’s 18 largest reservoirs fall below levels experienced during the last water crisis in 2001, said reports.

Water levels at the Cantareira system, a huge reservoir that provides water to about 22 million people in Sao Paulo and surrounding areas, have fallen to about 5 percent of the capacity, severely affecting hydroelectric generation, which provides up to 72 percent of the county’s electricity.

Rolling blackouts are hitting about a dozen cities amid high demand for refrigeration and air conditioning, as the daily temperatures soar above 35°C.

The national grid operator ONS cut power to Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and several other major Brazilian cities last week, paralyzing the subway systems, said a report.

“Scientists have linked the shortage in rainfall to deforestation in the Amazon, which has led to higher temperatures and lower precipitation across much of Brazil. Ironically, much of the deforestation is driven by the agricultural sector, which is now also suffering under the extensive drought.”

Related Links

• Drought Decimates Water Reserve in Sao Paulo, Brazil: Posted on October 11, 2014
• Brazil Drought Continues Intensifying February 23, 2014
• Major Blackout in Brazil amid Record Heat, Low Rainfall February 5, 2014
• Worst drought in half a century destroying dozens of communities in NE Brazil  January 6, 2013

Suspending Research on Seismicity in Washington State

• CJ Members
• Public Notice

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has resolved to suspend its research on geophysical activity in the state of Washington until further notice.

 

Strong Quake Jolts Port-Vila, Vanuatu

M6.8 quake strikes NNE of Port-Vila, Vanuatu

Centered at 17.00°S, 168.53°E the quake occurred at a depth of 218.5km, according to USGS/EHP.

The event was preceded by a foreshock, measuring 4.7Mw, occurring at a depth of 117.7 km, some 125km NW of Sola, Vanuatu, about 2 hours earlier.

 

EQD
Magnitude: 6.8Mw
Location: 17.000°S 168.531°E
Depth: 218.5km
Time: 2015-01-23 at 03:47:27UTC

New Earthquake Swarm Hits NW Nevada

Fresh quake cluster strikes SE of Lakeview, Oregon

Centered at 41.88°N, 119.63°W, the largest quake in the cluster, measuring magnitude 4.5Mw,  occurred at a depth of 8.9 km, said USGS/EHP.

EQ Details

• M3.0  ~ 68km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon depth=8.2 km, 2015-01-22 10:39:40 UTC
• M3.1 ~ 68km ESE of Lakeview, depth=8.5 km, Oregon 2015-01-22 10:18:43 UTC
• M3.4 ~ 66km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon, depth=8.2 km, 2015-01-22 09:49:05 UTC
• M2.6 ~ 67km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon, depth=7.0 km, 2015-01-22 09:35:49 UTC
• M4.5 ~ 77km SE of Lakeview, Oregon, depth=9.5 km, 2015-01-22 09:09:16 UTC
• M3.0 ~ 68km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon, 7.7 km, 2015-01-22 04:23:48 UTC
• M3.8 ~ 68km ESE of Lakeview, Oregon, depth= 8.9 km, 2015-01-22 02:05:14 UTC

Recent Earthquakes (U.S.)

• M4.4 Quake Strikes Near Soledad, California January 21, 2015
• Significant Quakes Strike California, Idaho Posted on January 4, 2015
• Earthquake Strikes S of San Pedro, California Posted on December 31, 2014
• Earthquakes Rattle N. Nevada Posted on December 11, 2014
• M4.2 Quake Strikes N. Nevada December 4, 2014
• FEWW Event Alert – UTAH December 2, 2014
• Significant Quake Strikes Arizona December 1, 2014
• Earthquakes Strike Oklahoma, Texas November 30, 2014
• Earthquakes Strike 11 U.S. States November 25, 2014
• Significant Quake Strikes Near Irving, Texas November 23, 2014
• Intense Seismicity Continues in N. Nevada November 13, 2014
• Nevada Quake Swarm Intensifies November 6, 2014
• Earthquake Swarm Rattles N. Nevada November 5, 2014

FIRE-EARTH Alert – THI-EXT

CORRECTION
CJ Members:

Details of the ‘THI-EXT’ Alert will be broadcast on FIRE-EARTH Channels January 22,  2015 at the following times:

• Thursday, January 22 @ 10:32, 11:32, 12:32 then 14:32, 15:32, 16:32 and 20:32UTC

Global Disasters: Wars, Floods and Cyclones

War on Syria: 10.8 million people displaced

About half of the entire Syrian population have been displaced, according to UNOCHA.

• About 12.2m people are in need of humanitarian assistance.
• Some 7.6 million people are internally displaced by the ongoing violence.
  
• More than 3.2 million people have fled the country.

Ukraine Conflict

More than 4,700 people have been killed and over 10,300 wounded in Ukraine since the unrest began, according to U.N. figures.

At least 5.2 million people are living in conflict zones including 1.4 million who are in very vulnerable conditions due to the bitter cold winter, lack of essential services and money problems, said the U.N.

More than 610,000 people have been uprooted in Ukraine and about 600,000 have been forced to leave the country as refugees, says UNOCHA.

Southern Africa: Floods and Cyclones Update

Malawi

At least 638,000 people have been affected by ongoing floods, which has left 121,000 others displaced, 50 people killed and 153 still missing.

Mozambique

“In Zambézia Province alone a total of 117,685 people (23,893 households) have been affected by floods, which has destroyed 4,963 houses, 378 classrooms, 6 health centers and 51 bridges. The death toll due to flooding, lightning and collapsed houses has increased to 64. Around 50,481 people (11,662 households) are being hosted in 49 accommodation centres,” said UNOCHA.

Madagascar

Continued rains in Madagascar are exacerbating the impact of Tropical Storm CHEDZA, with more flooding  reported north of the country.

The number of people affected has increased to 117,181 (provisional), with 35 people dead, said the National Bureau for Risk and Disaster Management (BNGRC).

 

M4.4 Quake Strikes Near Soledad, California

SEISMIC HAZARD
HEIGHTENED SEISMICITY IN CALIFORNIA
SCENARIOS 700, [500,] 08, 07, 02
.

M4.4 Earthquake strikes ENE Greenfield, California

Centered at 36.434°N, 120.971°W the quake occurred at a depth of 10.0km (6.2mi), said USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 4.4Mw
Event Time: 2015-01-20 13:21:36 UTC
Location: 36.434°N 120.971°W depth=10.0km (6.2mi)
Nearby Cities:

• 27km (17mi) ENE of Greenfield, California
• 28km (17mi) NNE of King City, California
• 31km (19mi) E of Soledad, California
• 60km (37mi) SE of Hollister, California
• 242km (150mi) S of Sacramento, California

FIRE-EARTH Earthquake Forecasts for California

FIRE-EARTH Science Team has suspended its research on California seismicity to protest Internet censorship, Google’s manipulation of information, theft of FIRE-EARTH intellectual property and additional reasons, as stated earlier on the blog.

The Team has suspended its research also on Japan seismicity due to the resurgence of militarism in that country and additional reasons that have been stated previously.

Recent Earthquakes

• Significant Quakes Strike California, Idaho Posted on January 4, 2015
• Earthquake Strikes S of San Pedro, California Posted on December 31, 2014

Moving America’s Oil [One Way or Another]

 Breached pipeline spills about 50,000 gallons of oil into Yellowstone River

An oil pipeline breach has spilled about 50,000 gallons of oil into the Yellowstone River about 9 miles upriver from Glendive, Montana, said state officials.

Some of the oil did enter the water, said a spokesman for Gov. Bullock.

Bridger Pipeline Co. said that they have shut down the 12-inch-wide pipeline, calling the breach an “unfortunate incident.”

The incident was a Déjà vu of 2011 ExxonMobil 12-inch Silvertip pipeline rupture breach near Laurel, when more than 60,000 gallons of oil contaminated an 85-mile stretch of riverbank.

BP Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico

Judge Carl Barbier ruled Thursday that the fines for the 2010 BP massive oil spill were excessive, imposing a maximum ceiling of $13.7 billion, significantly lower than the $18 billion fine sought by prosecutors.

Related Links

• ExxonMobil pipeline leak into Yellowstone River forces evacuations Posted on July 3, 2011
• Exxon Pays Peanuts to the Monkeys Posted on August 14, 2009
• Exxon Mobile Court Orders Only Fraction of Damages Posted on June 16, 2009

Richest one percent to own 50 percent of world’s wealth: Oxfam

Updated January 20, 2015

80 richest people wealthier than the bottom half of world population

World’s richest 1% owned 48% of global wealth in 2014, with the remaining 52% shared between the other 99% of adults on the planet. “Almost all of that 52% is owned by those included in the richest 20%, leaving just 5.5% for the remaining 80% of people in the world,” says Oxfam, a British-based “anti-poverty”organization, in a new report.

Share of global wealth of the top 1% and bottom 99% respectively; Credit Suisse data available 2000–2014. Source: Oxfam report/ WEALTH: HAVING IT ALL AND WANTING MORE

The top 1% are projected to have more than 50% of total global wealth by 2016,according to data collated by Credit Suisse.

Wealth of the 80 richest people in the world has doubled in nominal terms in the 6 year-period between 2009 and 2014, while the wealth of the bottom 50% has decreased over the same period.

These 80 individuals have more wealth than the combined wealth of the bottom 50% of the global population (more than 3.5 billion people).

In 2010, the number of richest individuals who owned same amount of wealth as bottom half of the world’s population was 388.

“Global wealth is increasingly concentrated in the hands of a small wealthy elite.  The richest 1% of adults in the world have been increasing their share of total global wealth.” says the report.

Number of billionaires it takes to have accumulated the same amount of wealth as the bottom 50% of the global population.  Source: Oxfam report/ WEALTH: HAVING IT ALL AND WANTING MORE

“The very richest of the top 1%, the billionaires on the Forbes list, have seen their wealth accumulate even faster over this period. In 2010, the richest 80 people in the world had a net wealth of $1.3tn. By 2014, the 80 people who top the Forbes rich list had a collective wealth of $1.9tn; an increase of $600bn in just 4 years, or 50% in nominal terms. Meanwhile, between 2002 and 2010 the total wealth of the poorest half of the world in current US$ had been increasing more or less at the same rate as that of billionaires; however since 2010, it has been decreasing over this time.”

The number of richest people in the world has more than doubled since the financial crisis, up from 793 in March 2009 to 1,645 in March 2014. Their  aggregate net worth is $6.4 trillion, up from $5.4 trillion just a year ago, according to Forbes.

“This group of people is far from being globally representative. Almost 30% of them (492 people) are citizens of the USA,” said Oxfam.

What’s NOT immediately obvious in the Oxfam report is that one percent of a tiny fraction of the world population (about 0.00000001, or one in 100million people) have a monopoly over economic and political power (absolute power).

 Related Links

• Who made the wonderland so surreal? December 18, 2014
• Eat your heart out, Alice! December 17, 2014
• 10 Worst Corporations Posted on May 11, 2010

TD CHEDZA: 4,500 Displaced, Tens of Thousands Affected

Tropical Depression CHEDZA Crossing Madagascar

CHEDZA made landfall in Madagascar as a tropical storm, but weakened into a tropical depression as it crossed the island.

“While Chedza was not as powerful as initially feared, it is still too early to know its impact, especially considering the weeks of heavy rains that have already fallen over Madagascar and the forecast for more heavy rains over the coming days. Preliminary information indicates that 24,968 people have been affected and 4,500 people displaced, including 22,512 people affected and 3,150 displaced in the capital Antananarivo, said UNOCHA.

CHEDZA has damaged dozens of schools, health centers and other public infrastructure across Madagascar.

Malawi Floods Devastate Half the Country

500 Dead or missing, ¼ million displaced in Malawi floods

Malawi floods are a “national tragedy that urgently needs both local and international response,” the president has said.

The floods have devastated half the the country’s 28 districts, destroying thousands of homes, washing away scores of livestock, and submerging hundreds of hectares of crops, a senior official said.

Last week, the Malawi president declared more than a third of the country disaster areas, as torrential rains inundated large swathes of land, destroying crops, homes, roads, railroads and other infrastructure.

“I flew over some parts of the Lower Shire but we could not find anywhere to land,” said the country’s vice president. “It’s a big challenge we have before us.”

“Most of Nsanje and East Bank are submerged under two to three meters of water, which has transformed these vast plains into a giant lake engulfing houses and bridges,” said Doctors Without Borders’ mission head in Malawi’s south, AP reported.

“Sanitation will be compromised now with waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid likely to occur,” said Malawi’s health ministry spokesman.

“Sanitation will be compromised now with waterborne diseases such as cholera, dysentery and typhoid likely to occur.”

Death and devastation in Mozambique

Malawi shares a river system with neighboring Mozambique, where floods have displaced up to 20,000 families, killing at least 52 people.

Related Links

• Disaster Declared as Deadly Floods Swamp Third of Malawi January 14, 2015
• Thousands Displaced by Deadly Floods in Malawi January 11, 2015