Monday’s burst of earthquake activity at various locations in the Pacific Ocean eased yesterday. Activity moved westward into the Indian Ocean as activity continued near Japan.
A burst of moderate to strong earthquake activity occurred around the Pacific Ocean on Monday 16th July 2007 New Zealand time, with quakes near Vanuatu, the Philippines, Japan, Alaska and the Galapagos Islands.
Whilst activity continued near Japan yesterday (Tuesday), the strength and number of events near Alaska dropped dramatically, and activity near the Philippines and Galapagos Islands ceased.
Japan experienced another 6th magnitude quake on Tuesday, but the magnitude 6.8 event was much deeper at 349 km, and located further south-west in the Sea of Japan. Aftershocks of the shallow magnitude 6.6 earthquake near the west coast of Honshu on Monday quickly followed an expected pattern, with an aftershock about a magnitude less than the main shock being registered when a magnitude 5.7 quake struck 5 hours after the main event. However, only 1 other subsequent quake (of magnitude 4.6) has been reported by USGS.
A magnitude 6.0 quake struck north of the Kermadecs last evening. The earthquake was located 345 km north of Raoul Island at a depth of 55 km at 9:40 p.m. New Zealand time.
A shallow magnitude 5.1 earthquake was recorded on the western Indian-Antarctic ridge to the south of Australia earlier in the day, and two 4th magnitude quakes in Tanzania preceded this morning’s shallow magnitude 6.0 quake.
[Compiled from data supplied by the US Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]
Mmm… don’t go speaking too soon!
😉