Quakes Strike Panama, Japan, Kermadec Islands

ER12 – 051802

M 5.4 – South of Panama
4.029°N 82.511°W
10.0 km depth
2018-05-18 12:43:54 UTC

M 5.8 – 68km S of Nemuro, Japan
42.710°N 145.577°E
10.0 km depth
2018-05-17 18:42:10 UTC

M 6.2 – South of the Kermadec Islands
34.551°S 178.416°W
10.6 km depth
2018-05-18 01:45:31 UTC

Powerful Quake Strikes Nicaragua Coast

HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SEISMIC HAZARD
SCENARIOS 09, 08, 07, 02
.

M7.3 Strikes 67km WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua

Centered at 12.576°N, 88.046°W the quake occurred at a depth of about 40.0km close to the Middle America Trench, reported USGS/EHP.

The quake was followed by at least one significant aftershock, measuring  5.0Mw, as of posting.

Tsunami Evaluation

NO Pacific-wide Tsunami was generated.

Fatalities

“Yellow alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. Some casualties and damage are possible and the impact should be relatively localized. Past yellow alerts have required a local or regional level response,” according to USGS model.

Estimated economic losses are expected to be less than 1% of GDP of Nicaragua.

Earthquake Details

Magnitude: 7.3Mw
Event Time: 2014-10-14 03:51:35 UTC
Location: 12.576°N 88.046°W depth=40.0km (24.9mi)
Nearby Cities

• 67km (42mi) WSW of Jiquilillo, Nicaragua
• 86km (53mi) SSW of La Union, El Salvador
• 95km (59mi) W of Corinto, Nicaragua
• 95km (59mi) SSE of San Rafael Oriente, El Salvador
• 174km (108mi) SE of San Salvador, El Salvador

Other Significant Seismicity

M6.1 – South of the Kermadec Islands

Event Time: 2014-10-14 04:12:30 UTC
Location: 34.917°S, 179.970°E depth=31.5km (19.6mi)
Nearby Cities

• 400km (249mi) SSW of L’Esperance Rock
• 430km (267mi) NE of Whakatane, NZ
• 450km (280mi) NNE of Gisborne, NZ
• 459km (285mi) NE of Tauranga, NZ
• 840km (522mi) NE of Wellington, NZ

Unique Slant on Today’s Earthquakes

SEISMIC HAZARD
HEIGHTENED GLOBAL SEISMICITY
SCENARIOS 08, 07
.

The odds that follow events!

Despite the fact that the planet is neither ….., nor ….. !!

79 earthquakes ≥2.5Mw. Map updated: 2014-06-24 13:32:27 UTC – 68 earthquakes in map area. Source: USGS/EHP

Related Links

• M6.6 Strikes near Buldir Island, Alaska June 24, 2014
• Powerful Quake Strikes Alaska June 24, 2014

Powerful Quake Strikes Kermadec Islands

Magnitude 7.6 EQ Strikes E of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands

The quake which struck at a depth of 20km was followed by several significant aftershocks.

10-degree Map Centered at 30°S,175°W

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS-EHP. Map enhanced by FIRE-EARTH.

Earthquake Details

• Magnitude: 7.6
• Date-Time: Wednesday, July 06, 2011 at 19:03:16 UTC
• Location: 29.312°S, 176.204°W
• Depth: 20 km (12.4 miles)
• Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS REGION
• Distances:
  • 163 km (101 miles) E of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
  • 347 km (215 miles) NE of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
  • 913 km (567 miles) S of NUKU`ALOFA, Tonga
  • 1185 km (736 miles) NE of Auckland, New Zealand
• Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 14.1 km (8.8 miles); depth +/- 4.4 km (2.7 miles)
• Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)

Tsunami Evaluation 

ISSUED by PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER/NOAA/NWS
AT 19:59UTC 06 JUL 2011

SEA LEVEL READINGS INDICATE A TSUNAMI WAS GENERATED. IT MAY HAVE BEEN DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS NEAR THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. FOR THOSE AREAS – WHEN NO MAJOR WAVES ARE OBSERVED FOR TWO HOURS AFTER THE ESTIMATED TIME OF ARRIVAL OR DAMAGING WAVES HAVE NOT OCCURRED FOR AT LEAST TWO HOURS THEN LOCAL AUTHORITIES CAN ASSUME THE THREAT IS PASSED. DANGER TO BOATS AND COASTAL STRUCTURES CAN CONTINUE FOR SEVERAL HOURS DUE TO RAPID CURRENTS. AS LOCAL CONDITIONS CAN CAUSE A WIDE VARIATION IN TSUNAMI WAVE ACTION THE ALL CLEAR DETERMINATION MUST BE MADE BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

NO TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS FOR OTHER COASTAL AREAS IN THE PACIFIC ALTHOUGH SOME OTHER AREAS MAY EXPERIENCE SMALL SEA LEVEL CHANGES. THE TSUNAMI WARNING IS NOW CANCELLED FOR ALL AREAS COVERED BY THIS CENTER.

Tsunami Wave Amplitude

“The largest wave we saw was a peak to peak amplitude of 1.9 meters which, looking at the sea surface, would be like a one meter rise. That wave was at Raoul Island very close to the earthquake and just to the west of the epicenter,” according to a spokesman at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.

“Further away from the quake it is very small to no tsunami. Based on that information it was clear that it was very small and we cancelled [the tsunami warning.]”

Related Links

• Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands
• Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand
• Magnitude 6.5 quake strikes near Taupo, New Zealand
• GOOGLE: ‘The Search Engine from Hell’
• Significant earthquakes strike Ethiopia, New Zealand
• NOTICE: New Zealand Earthquake Forecasts

• FEWW Volcano Links
• Volcanoes
• FEWW Earthquake Links

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

Magnitude 7 Earthquake Hits Kermadec Islands

Region: KERMADEC ISLANDS, NEW ZEALAND

10-degree Map Centered at 30°S,180°E – 2 Earthquakes on the Map. USGS

Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands, Global Reference Map. USGS

Magnitude:    7.0
Date-Time: Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 03:19:31 AM at epicenter
Location: 29.872°S, 177.684°W
Depth: 35 km  set by location program
Distances:

• 70 km  SSE of Raoul Island, Kermadec Islands
• 210 km  NE of L’Esperance Rock, Kermadec Islands
• 1050 km  NE of Auckland, New Zealand
• 1440 km  NNE of WELLINGTON, New Zealand

Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 6.8 km ; depth fixed by location program
Source: USGS NEIC

Aftershocks: Magnitude 5.2 [Tuesday, September 30, 2008 at 04:10:38 AM at epicenter at T+ 51 min.]

FEWW Comments:

• Another 6.8+ quake in the area within 200km radius of Raoul Island, as well as more aftershocks of magnitude 4+ can be expected in the next 18-24 days.

• The mean center of earthquake cluster incidence along the Tonga – Kermadec subduction zone that has produced about 50 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger [USGS data] and includes the epicenter of the September 30 quakes detailed above, is shifting in a southerly direction, along the interaction line between the Pacific and Australia plates, toward New Zealand.

Implication for New Zealand Islands:

• A substantial increase in the frequency of earthquake striking the twin islands.
• More earthquakes with magnitude 6 or larger.
• A marked increased in large explosive volcanic eruptions, especially in the following zones [also include ‘extinct’ volcanoes]
  • Taupo Volcanic Zone
  • Bombay Hills
  • Auckland volcanic field
  • Mount Taranaki
  • Mt Horrible volcano
  • Mount Taranaki
  • Mount Cargill

Worst Case Condition for New Zealand Islands:

• Large earthquakes and massive volcanic eruptions could potentially destroy much of New Zealand structures and claim many lives.
• Earthquake and volcano-triggered waves could also give rise to 40 to 50-meter tsunami that would engulf the coastal areas and low-lying lands throughout New Zealand [could also affect parts of Australia’s eastern seaboard,] compounding the damage.
• A super/mega colossal Plinian/Ultra-Plinian eruption occurring in New Zealand’s North Island simultaneously [or within a short period of time] with a magnitude 9.8 earthquake off the eastern coast of New Zealand could claim many lives.
• Probability of occurrence:
  1. Event 1.  A magnitude 9.8 earthquake striking off the eastern coast of New Zealand with (i) the foreshocks ripping through Auckland, Hamilton, Taupo areas, (ii) the mainshock leveling Wellington, Palmerstone North, Marlborough, Nelson and Christchurch, and (iii) the aftershock causing substantial damage as far south as Invercargill: 85%
  2. Event 2. A super/ mega colossal Plinian/Ultra-Plinian eruption in the North Island: 72%  [South Island: 57%]
  3. Event 1 and Event 2 occurring simultaneously, or within a short period of time: 64 %

Related Links:

• Earthquake Cluster Zone Closing in on New Zealand
• Mt Ruapehu Eruption Alert

Seismicity in 2008. USGS

Magnitude 7 and higher since 1900. USGS

All Images Credit: USGS

PDF version ; Image

DISCUSSION [Source: USGS]

The September 29, 2008, M7.0 earthquake occurred in the Tonga – Kermadec subduction zone. The subduction zone extends north-northeast from the North Island of New Zealand for over 2500 km through Tonga to within 100 km of Western Samoa. At a broad scale, tectonics of the subduction zone reflect the motion of the Pacific plate westward with respect to the interior of the Australia plate at a velocity of about 60 mm/y in the epicentral region of the earthquake. The Pacific plate subducts beneath the Australia plate at the Tonga and Kermadec trenches, and dips to the west. In detail, the eastern edge of the broad Australia plate may itself be viewed as a collection of small plates or microplates that move with respect to each other and with respect to the Pacific plate and the Australia plate interior. The location and focal-mechanism of the earthquake are consistent with it occurring as thrust faulting on the interface between the subducting Pacific plate and the overriding Australia plate (in detail, the overriding Kermadec microplate).

The interaction between the Pacific and Australia plate creates one of the most active tectonic environments in the world, with a high level of associated earthquake activity. Since 1976, a 200-km long section of the Tonga – Kermadec subduction zone that includes the epicenter of the September 29 earthquake has produced over 50 earthquakes of magnitude 6 or larger, with the largest having magnitude 7.9.