Major quake rocks New Zealand, tsunami alert issued

WELLINGTON - New Zealand civil defence officials issued a tsunami alert Wednesday night after a massive earthquake, estimated between 6.6 and 8.2 on the Richter scale, rocked southern regions of the country.

Powerful quake rocks southern New Zealand

WELLINGTON - A powerful earthquake estimated between 6.6 and 8.2 on the Richter scale rocked southern New Zealand Wednesday, forcing authorities to issue a tsunami warning.

Slight earthquake felt in Jaipur

JAIPUR - An earthquake measuring 2.7 on the Richter Scale was felt in Jaipur and surrounding areas of Sikar district on Wednesday night.

G8 summit stands on shaky ground - literally!

ROME - Leaders of the world’s wealthiest and most industrialised countries are being briefed about emergency evacuation plans by Italian authorities as the earthquake-hit town of L’Aquila plays host to G8 and G5 leaders during the three-day (July 8-10) summit here.

Eight quakes in 13 hours rattle central New Zealand

WELLINGTON - A series of eight earthquakes in 13 hours rattled the central region of New Zealand’s North Island Saturday, seismologists at GNS Science reported.

Strong quake rocks Honduras

TEGUCIGALPA - A strong quake measuring at least 7.1 on the Richter scale struck offshore from the Central American country of Honduras early Thursday.

North Korea gave US an hour’s notice before nuclear test

WASHINGTON - North Korea gave Washington about an hour’s notice before its early Monday morning test of a nuclear explosive device that was estimated to be “a few kilotons” in strength, a senior US government official said.

Strong quake rattles central Mexico

MEXICO CITY - An earthquake measuring 5.7 on the Richter scale rattled central Mexico Friday, bu there were no reports of damage, the National Seismological Service (SSN) said.

Powerful quake jolts Indonesia

JAKARTA - An earthquake measuring 6.4 on the Richter scale Thursday jolted the western parts of Indonesia, the meteorology agency said.

Search for Italy’s quake victims continues

ROME - Rescue teams in Italy’s central Abruzzo region continued to sift through the rubble Saturday, six days after an earthquake that left at least 290 dead.

Italy quake toll rises to 250

L’AQUILA - Following a night of cold and further misery in central Italy the death count since Monday’s earthquake has risen to 250, authorities said Wednesday.

Italy earthquake toll reaches 207

ROME - The toll from the earthquake that struck central Italy early Monday, rose to 207 Tuesday, according to Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Italian quake toll reaches 179

ROME - The death toll from an earthquake that struck central Italy in the pre-dawn hours of Monday has risen to 179, reported officials from the battered town of L’Aquila.

40 percent of Italians at risk from quakes

LONDON - Scientists have said that Italy is prone to earthquakes because it sits at the junction of two tectonic plates, leaving 40 per cent of the population of the country at risk.

Italy quake toll goes past 150

L’AQUILA - The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck central Italy early Monday had gone beyond 150, far higher than the last previous accounts.

Quake in Italy, 50 dead

ROME - At least 50 people were confirmed dead - amid fears of the number rising - after a central Italian mountain area around the ancient town of L’Aquila was rocked by a major earthquake that struck in the early hours of Monday.

Strong quake jolts Indonesia

JAKARTA - An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale Saturday jolted the eastern part of Indonesia, the meteorology and disaster management agencies said.

Mild earthquake rocks Orissa, Jharkhand

BHUBANESWAR - An earthquake measuring 3.8 on the Richter scale Thursday rocked parts of Orissa and Jharkhand, the meteorological office here said.

Is there a Tsunami round the corner? - Major earthquake rocks Tonga

An undersea volcano in Tonga is sending out volumes of smoke & ash thousands of feet in to the air. A series of earthquakes rocked Tonga, a 170 island archipelago between Australia and Tahiti. The earthquake was measured at a magnitude of 7.9 on the Richter scale on Friday.  A 5.2 magnitude after shock was also recorded 2 hours prior to the initial quake.
The sudden volcanic eruptions followed by the earthquake prompted the local authorities to issue a Tsunami alert for Tonga and neighboring islands. Tonga and the adjoining islands are a part of the “ring of fire”, an arc of volcanic and earthquake prone islands in the pacific.

Earthquake jolts northwestern Pakistan

PESHAWAR - An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale jolted northwestern Pakistan Sunday morning, but there was no report of casualty or damage to property, according to a media report.