A scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey said there is a possibility that a massive earthquake off the Alaskan coast Monday could be connected to an earthquake that struck hours earlier in New Zealand.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck shortly after noon pacific time near the largely uninhabited Kermadex Islands, northeast of the country’s North Island. The quake was followed by an aftershock of 6.3 minutes later. The Alaskan quake of magnitude 7.9 struck off the Aleutian Islands shortly before 2 p.m. pacific time.
“The timing of it is such that we call the surface waves, the waves that travel around the circumference of the earth, arrived about the time the earthquake occurred,” Oppenheimer said.
However, Oppenheimer said the strength of the Alaskan quake indicates that it would have likely happened within a short time if it was not triggered by the New Zealand quake.
“There is just so much stress relieved within an earthquake of magnitude 7.9,” he said.
The Alaskan quake triggered a small tsunami with waves about half a foot high. Seismologists attribute the low height to the 63 mile depth of the quake.
New Zealand was hit with a trio of strong quakes Tuesday morning. Two quakes, magnitude 6.9 and 6.3, struck within minutes of each other. The third, a 6.2 magnitude quake, struck about 45 minutes later.
New Zealand pro-life groups are praising a new report that shows the country’s abortion rate has struck a 20-year low.
Right To Life New Zealand credits increase public awareness that abortion is really murder and also of issues connected to the process.
“There is also an increasing awareness that abortion damages women’s health with an increased risk of breast cancer, drug and alcohol abuse, suicide, grief, anger, regret and increased depression,” the group wrote in a statement.
“Right to Life commends those brave and courageous women who when faced with an unplanned pregnancy chose life for their child,” the statement continues. “These are truly heroic women who deserve our admiration and support. Right to Life also commends the majority of the medical profession who faithful to the Declaration of Geneva have sworn to maintain the greatest respect for human life.”
The abortion rate of 15.4 per 1,000 in 2013 was barely above the 1994 level of 15.3. The abortion rate for women under 19 also fell significantly, from 27 per 1,000 in 2007 to 14 per 1,000 in 2013.
The pro-life group Voice for Life praised the news but also had a bit of a somber tone in their celebration.
“While Voice for Life is pleased at today’s news of yet another decline in the abortion rate, we also feel a sense of great sadness and loss for the more than 14,000 human beings who were denied social justice and their fundamental human right to life last year in NZ.”
A major earthquake struck New Zealand’s north island on Monday shaking buildings and putting tens of thousands without power.
The 6.2 magnitude earthquake was centered about 70 miles northwest of Wellington, the nation’s capital, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey. The USGS reported the quake was located about 17 miles deep. A series of weaker aftershocks continued through the afternoon and evening.
While there were no immediate reports of casualties, electricity was cut off for thousands throughout the region. All trains on the rail network were stopped for railway inspectors to investigate for cracks on the tracks.
The quake was strong enough to bring down a giant eagle statue hanging from the ceiling of Wellington’s international airport. No one was hurt by the falling sculpture although commuters had to scatter. Airport authorities are investigating how the sculpture could have fallen.
New Zealand is on the southwestern edge of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake has shaken New Zealand causing slight damage to buildings in the capital city of Wellington.
The quake was only about 6 miles deep and was followed by several strong aftershocks. Continue reading →
A 6.5 magnitude earthquake rocked New Zealand Sunday evening causing damage and power outages but spared the country a tsunami according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was centered 35 miles off the coastline south of the capital city of Wellington at a depth of just over 6 miles. Continue reading →
The entire north island of New Zealand has been hit with a drought the government is calling the worst in 30 years.
The capital, Wellington, is reported to have only 18 days of water supply left. The south island is feared to start feeling the effects of the drought very soon. Continue reading →
A floating island of volcanic rock larger than the state of Maryland is floating a thousand miles off the eastern coast of New Zealand. New Zealand Air Force planes first spotted the mass, which looks like a giant ice shelf under spotlights, earlier this week.
The golf ball sized pumice causes little threat to ships and shipping according to government volcanologists. They attribute the rocks to an eruption of an undersea volcano. Naval officials have called it the “weirdest thing” they’ve seen in their career. Continue reading →
New Zealand’s Mount Tongariro erupted late Sunday night sending rocks and ash into the sky. Witnesses reported seeing “flame like explosions” and at least one witness reported seeing a new hole in the side of the mountain.
Mount Tongariro is located on the Pacific Ring of Fire. The volcano is made up of 12 separate cones. The current eruption happened at the Te Mari craters which had been dormant since 1897.
Residents of the area were ordered to stay inside and keep their doors and windows closed until given an all clear by government officials. Continue reading →