M6.7 Quake Strikes East New Britain

M6.7 earthquake 125km SSW of Kokopo, PNG

Centered at 5.392°S, 151.818°E the quake occurred at a depth of 48.9 km (30.4 mi), reported USGS/EHP.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 6.7Mw
Location: 5.392°S, 151.818°E depth=48.9 km (30.4 mi)
Time: 2015-04-30 at 10:45:05 (UTC)

Nearby Cities

• 125km (78mi) SSW of Kokopo, Papua New Guinea
• 186km (116mi) E of Kimbe, Papua New Guinea
• 331km (206mi) SSE of Kavieng, Papua New Guinea
• 421km (262mi) WNW of Arawa, Papua New Guinea
• 680km (423mi) NE of Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea

Related Links

•  FIRE-EARTH ALERT: HEIGHTENED SEISMICITY and ENHANCED VOLCANISM in the Pacific Ring of Fire March 31, 2015
• FIRE-EARTH Forecast: Heightened seismicity in the Pacific Ring of Fire March 30, 2015
• Calbuco Volcano Finally Erupts April 23, 2015

Hundreds of Flares Expelling Methane Gas off NZ Coast

Link sent by blog reader K. in New Zealand

766 Methane gas flares found in one  area of seabed near Gisborne coast: Report

Researchers have discovered hundreds of individual methane gas flares within an area of seabed off the coast of Gisborne, New Zealand, said a report.

They found that every area of carbonate rock and every fault detected on the seafloor was expelling methane, a total of about 766 individual gas flares within one area alone.

“Flares can occur in these kind of environments but seeing them in that kind of density is highly unusual – and we’ve certainly found nothing like it in New Zealand before,” the lead researcher told the reporter.

“We have recorded video footage showing columns of bubbles streaming out of the sea bed,” he added.

“Preliminary indications are that methane is reaching the ocean surface – this is the first time this has been measured in New Zealand. However, to understand how much methane, and then what this means for atmospheric contributions, will require detailed analysis of the data.”

Read more…

Disaster, Catastrophe, Tragedy, Atrocity

Ukraine Atrocity & Nepal Disaster

The 7.8-magnitude earthquake [and its strong aftershocks] that struck Nepal on April 25 has wreaked a mega disaster across the impoverished nation, especially in the densely-populated Kathmandu Valley.

• Fatalities: At least 5,057 soles in Nepal as well as about 100 in neighboring countries (as of April 29).
• Injuries: more than 10,915 (6,000+ “hospitalized”) in Nepal and dozens more in India, Tibet and Bangladesh.
• Homes destroyed or damaged: 600,000 (at least 70,000 houses were destroyed and another 530,000 homes damaged across 39 of Nepal’s 75 districts —UN)
• In need of food assistance: At least 8.5 million people.
• Living in the open: Some 500,000 people remain in the open amid the damp, cold weather.
• Drinking water and sanitation:  Up to 4.2 million people urgently need  safe drinking water and sanitation facilities —UN.

Ukraine Atrocities

At least 6,116 people have been killed (April 17, 2015) and 15,474 others wounded in the Ukrainian conflict, which began in April 2014, said the UN.

[It’s not known whether the UN figures include the victims of the downed Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. All of the 283 passengers and 15 crew were killed on July 17, 2014, when the plane was apparently shut down over the Ukraine airspace, presumably to widen the scope of the conflict and involve more of the EU member countries in the conflict. See also: “9/11 Mafia” make Malaysian Airlines an offer… ]

As of April 20, 2015 at least 1,236,495 people in Ukraine had registered as IDPs across the country, said the Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP). Additionally, about 801,000 Ukrainians have sought asylum, residence permits or other forms of legal stay in neighboring countries. By April 24, 2015, the total included 659,143 individuals in Russia, 81,044 in Belarus and 47,589 others in Poland, reported UNHCR.

The conflict began after the new government in Kiev sent troops to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine (Donetsk and Luhansk) because the people refused to recognize the new coup-imposed president.