Significant Aftershock Strikes Kumamoto, Japan

M 4.8 aftershock strikes W of Uto, Japan

The shock registered 4 on the local seismic scale (0 – 7), Japan’s weather forecasters reported.

Magnitude 4.8Mw [USGS/EHP]
Location: 32.676°N 130.580°E (19.0 km SW of Kumamoto City, Japan)
Depth: 10.0km
Time: 2016-06-18 11:46:56 UTC

Significant Earthquakes Strike Japan

M5.0 quake strikes 36.0 km NNE of Tokyo, Japan

Centered at 36.0N, 139.9E [6km ENE of Noda, Ibaraki Pref.] the event occurred at a depth of 40km.

The quake struck at 07:54 local time [UTC + 9hrs] on 12 Jun 2016 and registered 4/7 on the local seismic intensity, the weather agency said.

M4.3 quake strikes Kumamoto Pref.

EQ Details
Magnitude: 4.3Mw [-5/7]
Location: 32.5N, 130.7E; depth= 10km
Region Name: Kumamoto-ken, Kumamoto-chiho
Time: 22:08 [UTC+ 9hrs]  on 12 Jun 2016

3.5 Million People Affected by Climatic Events in Philippines

Global Disasters/ Significant Events – April 25, 2016

An estimated 3.5 million people have been affected by climatic events, including El Niño, across the Philippines, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

As of  April 20, DSWD released US$14.8 million for food assistance and cash-for-work programs, officials said.

Japan

Following the two powerful earthquakes that struck Kumamoto Prefecture on April 14 and 16, an estimated 60,000 people remain in more than 600 evacuation shelters. “The Government has secured apartment units for 8,350 households as temporary accommodation,” said UNOCHA.

The official toll stands at 48 fatalities and more than 1,400 injuries.

Timor Leste

An estimated 120,000 people are in need of water, food sanitation, health, and education support across five municipalities of Lautém, Viqueque, Baucau, Covalima and Oecusse, which have been severely impacted by El Niño-induced drought, said UNOCHA.

Myanmar

High winds, hail and torrential rains have buffeted more than 40 townships across Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Shan, Kachin and Chin states in Myanmar. Destroying or damaging thousands of houses damaged. “As of 25 April, authorities confirmed 14 deaths and 18 people injured due to the severe weather conditions – these figures are expected to change as more information becomes available. In Kachin, strong winds destroyed internally displaced persons (IDP) shelter and camp structures.”  [UNOCHA]

“On 16 and 19 April, fighting reportedly broke out between the military and an armed group identified as part of the Arakan Army in Kyautaw and Rathedaung townships, Rakhine State. Village authorities confirmed that about 80 households (380 people) were displaced. Local authorities and the military provided rice and basic health care services to the displaced people.”

Samoa

Category 2 Tropical Cyclone AMOS brought heavy rains triggering landslides in Upolu Island and flooding low lying coastal areas [April 23 -24.] “Electricity and water supply was temporarily disrupted across the archipelago – power outages affected 70 per cent of the country. No fatalities have been reported.” [UNOCHA]

 

 

Deadly Kyushu Earthquakes – April 16 Update

Aftershocks continue to rock Kyushu

The latest significant aftershocks are listed below:

00:19 JST 17 Apr 2016 00:14 JST 17 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M4.9 (4)
21:08 JST 16 Apr 2016 21:05 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)

16:05 JST 16 Apr 2016 16:02 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)
14:30 JST 16 Apr 2016 14:27 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)
14:07 JST 16 Apr 2016 14:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M4.5 (4)
09:51 JST 16 Apr 2016 09:48 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.4 (6-)
09:20 JST 16 Apr 2016 09:16 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.5 (4)
08:23 JST 16 Apr 2016 08:20 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.6 (4)
07:27 JST 16 Apr 2016 07:23 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.8 (5-)
07:14 JST 16 Apr 2016 07:11 JST 16 Apr 2016 Oita-ken Chubu M5.3 (5-)
03:59 JST 16 Apr 2016 03:55 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M5.8 (6+)

03:09 JST 16 Apr 2016 03:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Aso-chiho M5.8 (5+)
02:09 JST 16 Apr 2016 02:04 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.9 (4)
02:03 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:56 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.7 (4)
01:58 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:46 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.0 (6-)
01:47 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:44 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)

USGS has upgraded its casualty and damage estimates for the 7.1Mw event [widely reported as a magnitude 7.3 quake by the local media.]

RED Pager

• Estimated Fatalities: 1,000 – 10,000 [P: 56%]
• Estimated Economic Losses: USD10 – 100 billion  [P:42%]

Official Figures: About 3 dozen fatalities and up to 2,000 injuries reported, including 200 in a serious condition, as of posting.

Extent of reported Damage:

• Scores of homes, buildings, roads, bridges, tunnels and highways have been destroyed or damaged.
• A major, 200-m long bridge has collapsed.
• Major landslides, mudslides and earth movement (up to 97cm) reported.
• About 150mm of rain expected to exacerbate the damage across the disaster area.
• About 100,000 families evacuated.
• Tens of thousands of home s are without power and natural gas.
• Up to 2 million people (400,000 households) are left without water.
• Earthquake-triggered ash-eruptions eruptions reported at Mt. Aso, the largest active volcano in Japan.

 

 

 

Powerful Earthquake Rocks Kyushu, S. Honshu, Japan

M7.1 event strikes Kyushu, felt in southern Honshu, Japan

The powerful quake occurred at a depth of 10km about 5km ENE of Kumamoto city.

USGS/EHP has issued a RED Pager for this event:

• Yellow alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible. Estimated fatalities between 10 and 100 with a probability of 57%.
• Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Damage estimated between USD1 billion and USD10 billion, with a probability of 42%, as of posting.

EQ Details [JMA]
Magnitude: 7.1Mw
Location: 32.8N, 130.8E ( Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho)
Depth: 10 km
Time: 01:25 JST (UTC -9hrs) 16 Apr 2016

Nearby Cities:

• 5.0 km (3.1 mi) ENE of Kumamoto-shi, Japan
• 9.0 km (5.6 mi) SW of Ozu, Japan
• 15.0 km (9.3 mi) SE of Ueki, Japan
• 17.0 km (10.6 mi) NE of Uto, Japan
• 633.0 km (393.3 mi) SE of Seoul, South Korea

The event registered 6+ on Japan’s s seismic intensity scale (1 – 7) at 10 seismic monitoring stations, JMA said.

The quake was immediately followed by three significant aftershocks:

01:50 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:46 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.0 (6-)
01:47 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:44 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.3 (5-)
01:37 JST 16 Apr 2016 01:30 JST 16 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.4 (4)

• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale (1 – 7).

Earthquake Update – Kyushu, Japan

Aftershocks Plague Kumamoto, Kyushu

Earthquake death toll has been revised down to [at least] 9 by Japanese authorities, while more than 1.3k people have been injured.

About 170 aftershocks of all sizes have been registered as of posting, with the two most significant events detailed below

01:56 JST 15 Apr 2016 01:53 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.8 (5-)
00:09 JST 15 Apr 2016 00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4 (6+)

• JST = UTC -9 hrs.
• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale of 1 to 7.

The 6.4-magnitude and its aftershocks have destroyed or severely damaged scores of homes, other buildings, roads and highways.

Part of the walls and roof of Kumamoto castle have been severely damaged.

About 45,000 people fled to designated earthquake shelters.

The quake cut power to more than 12,000 homes and left about 60,000 others without water.

Operations have been suspended at many factories operating in the region including Toyota, Sony, Mitsubishi Electric, Bridgestone, and others.

Japan Earthquake Fatalities, Damage Upgraded by USGS

Deadly Earthquake Strikes Kyushu, Japan

The event occurred at a depth of 10km about 65km east of Nagasaki. It registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale at Mashiki-machi Miyazono monitoring station.

USGS/EHP has now upgraded the estimated fatality and damage from the event and its aftershocks, so far, as follows.

RED Pager:

• Yellow alert level for shaking-related fatalities. Some casualties are possible. Estimated fatalities between 10 and 100 with a probability of 57%.
• Red alert level for economic losses. Extensive damage is probable and the disaster is likely widespread. Estimated economic losses are less than 1% of GDP of Japan. Past events with this alert level have required a national or international level response. Damage estimated between USD1 billion and USD10 billion, with a probability of 42%, as of posting.

Significant Aftershocks

00:09 JST 15 Apr 2016 00:03 JST 15 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4  (6+)
23:47 JST 14 Apr 2016 23:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.0 (4)
23:32 JST 14 Apr 2016 23:28 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.4 (4)

22:46 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.3 (4)
22:43 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:38 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.0 (5-)

22:27 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:22 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.6 (4)

22:20 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:16 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.2 (4)
22:15 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:09 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.3 (4)
22:12 JST 14 Apr 2016 22:07 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M5.7 (6-)

21:58 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:53 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.0 (4)
21:48 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:42 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M4.9 (4)
21:44 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:37 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M3.9 (4)
21:32 JST 14 Apr 2016 21:26 JST 14 Apr 2016 Kumamoto-ken Kumamoto-chiho M6.4  (7)

• JST = UTC -9 hrs.
• Figures in brackets indicate intensity on Japan Seismic scale of 1 – 7.

NHK Report

• At least 12 people confirmed dead.
• Dozens injured.
• At least 19 buildings have collapsed.

 

 

 

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Kyushu, Japan

TEN

[CJ Members: EQ Corresponds to April 8 Event]

The quake registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale

The quake struck at a depth of 10km about 65km east of Nagasaki. It registered a maximum “7” on Japan’s seismic intensity scale at Mashiki-machi Miyazono monitoring station.

Magnitude: 6.4 [JMA]
Location: 32.7N, 130.8E [Kumamoto-ken/ Kumamoto-chiho]
Date & Time: 14 Apr 2016 at 21:26 JST [12:26 UTC]
Depth: 10 km

USGS Model: Yellow Pager

• Estimated Fatalities: 1
• Possible damage: up to USD100 million (p: 42%)
• Secondary Effects: Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.

Aftershocks: At least a dozen aftershocks have been reported, as of posting, with the most significant ones measuring 5.7 and 5.0Mw respectively.

Nearby Cities:

89 km S of Fukuoka-shi, Japan [pop: 1,392,289] 21:26:36.2 2016-04-14
11 km W of Kumamoto-shi, [pop: 680,423] – emsc-csem.org

Image Source: JMA

 

Felt reports

Witness location : Shinjuku-ku (Japan) (893 km E from epicenter)
We are on the 21 floor of the Keio Plaza in Toyko. I barely felt it but my wife did not.

Witness location : Seoul (South Korea) (623 km NW from epicenter)
Was lying in bed and started gentle rocking from side to side. Looked at clock and it read 9.26 pm (KST). Went to google and saw a tremor in Japan at the same time. Just wondering is Seoul too far away to be felt?

Witness location : Shimonoseki (Japan) (129 km N from epicenter)
Quake motion was sharp side to side movement for 5 seconds, then slowed down for 3 seconds then much stronger for another 5 seconds. We are located 70 miles north of the epicenter.

Witness location : Shimonoseki (Japan) (129 km N from epicenter)
Quake motion was sharp side to side movement for 5 seconds, then slowed down for 3 seconds then much stronger for another 5 seconds. We are located 70 miles north of the epicenter. [emsc-csem.org]

Police told NHK they had received reports of a dozen people being trapped under collapsed houses.

 

Largest Ever U.S. Disaster Continues Unfolding

Climate related disasters in 2012 could prove costliest in history

FIRE-EARTH estimates the losses and damage from Drought 2012 and other climate-related disasters this year could exceed the combined toll of all ‘natural disasters’ that have occurred in the U.S. since 1980.

Map of U.S. counties declared as agricultural disaster areas under ‘Streamlined Disaster Designation Process,’ as of July 12, 2012

PRIMARY & CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES designated for 2012 crop disaster losses – As of 07/10/2012 – through Designation No. S3260 (Approved 07/03/2012)

Drought conditions have sparked disaster declarations in about 1,300 counties (1,016 primary, 278 contiguous) across the country, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported.

• U.S. drought has been intensified by the driest June in history and triple-digit temperatures on 10 out of 11 days recently.

• As of last week, Moderate to Extreme drought conditions prevailed in 52.56 percent of the Midwest, and 68.39 percent of the South. Moderate to Exceptional drought conditions covered 73.87% of High Plains, 64.15% of the West and 35.46% of the Southeast.

• The declaration covers 26 states across the country: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming and Hawaii.

Worsening Drought Conditions

• Missouri.  Worsening drought throughout Missouri has forced Gov. Nixon to ask the federal authorities for disaster declaration for all of the state’s 114 counties with the exception of independent city of St. Louis.
  • Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Wednesday a ‘Streamlined Disaster Designation Process’ a USDA rule change for Secretarial disaster designations that will allow nearly automatically a county to be declared a disaster area once it is categorized by the U.S. Drought Monitor as a severe drought for eight consecutive weeks during the growing season.

Drought Map for Missouri as of July 10, 2012. Source: Drought Monitor Archives

Other Global Disasters/ Significant Events

• Kyushu, Japan.   Flooding and landslides on the island of Kyushu have left dozens of people dead or missing.
  • At least 250,000 people are under mandatory evacuation orders, with an additional 150,000 advised to abandon their homes.
  • The evacuation orders affect the entire cities of Miyama, Yame and Yanagawa.
  • The worst affected areas are Fukuoka, Kumamoto, Ōita and Saga prefectures.
  • The city of Aso in Kumamoto prefecture received 754mm  (~ 30 inches) in under 72 hours.
  • Many rivers have burst their banks in the affected areas, unleashing deadly torrents of water, mud and debris throughout the region.

Links to Recent Related Entries

• Disaster Declared in More Counties Across 11 States Posted  July 13, 2012
• U.S. Drought Expands, Intensifies Posted July 12, 2012
• Drought Disaster Declared in 26 States Posted July 12, 2012

• Third of U.S. Corn in Poor or V. Poor Condition Posted on July 11, 2012
• Continental US Experienced Warmest 12 Months in 117 Years Posted  on July 10, 2012
• Drought: State of Emergency Declared in Wisconsin Posted on July 10, 2012
• U.S. Corn Belt Hit by Drought, Heat Wave Posted on July 9, 2012

• Record Heatwave Kills Dozens in U.S. Posted on July 8, 2012
• Drought Disaster Declared in Montana Posted on July 5, 2012
• Colorado Declared Agri Disaster Area Posted on July 4, 2012

• Disaster Declared in 94 Counties across 4 States Posted on July 3, 2012
• Deadly Heat Blankets Eastern U.S. Posted on July 2, 2012
• States of Emergency Declared in 4 States and DC as Storm Death Toll Rises Posted  on July 1, 2012
• Deadly Heat Wave Affects Third of U.S. Population Posted on June 30, 2012
• The record-setting heat wave continues to expand Posted on June 30, 2012
• Explosive Wildfires Continue Erupting Across the U.S. Posted on June 29, 2012
• Destructive Wildfire Activity Intensifies in Colorado Posted on June 28, 2012
• Drought 2012 Posted on January 8, 2012