Earthquakes

Taiwan rattled by three earthquakes

Focus Taiwan

3 December, 2012

Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) Three earthquakes shook Hualien in eastern Taiwan early Monday, with the strongest recorded at magnitude 5.1 on the Richter scale, but there were no reports of casualties or damage, according to the Central Weather Bureau (CWB).


The magnitude 5.1 earthquake hit at 1:45 a.m., centered 7.5 kilometers southwest of the Hualien County Hall at a depth of 18.1 km, the CWB's Seismology Center said.


The quake caused strong tremors but they did not last long, the center said.


The Hualien County Fire Department said it has not received any reports of damage.


A second earthquake, magnitude 2.8, struck at 2:14 a.m., with the epicenter 9 km west of the county hall at a depth of 11.7 km, the Seismology Center said.


It was followed by a magnitude 4.7 temblor at 3:43 a.m., centered 8.5 km southwest of the county hall at a depth of 16.1 km.


Taiwan sits in an earthquake-prone area. More than 30 earthquakes rocked the island in June alone. The strongest one, measuring 6.5 occurred in June 10

China, US conclude post-earthquake simulation drill

Military officers of China and the United States have held a joint indoor war game to practice humanitarian rescue and disaster relief in case of an earthquake and consequent nuclear leaks.

People's Daily,

3 December, 2012

The two-day exercise, that ended on Friday, was staged in Chengdu, capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province.

A total of 32 people from the two countries attended the drills on humanitarian rescue, based on the scenario of a 7.8-magnitude earthquake in an unspecific Southeast Asian country, causing huge damages, injuries and leaks of chemical and radiative materials, according to a statement by the Chinese delegation.

The participants included officials from the China Earthquake Administration and the U.S. government as well as members for functions of intelligence, combat, communication, engineering, anti-chemical and anti-radiation, logistics, medical treatment, journalism, research and rescue as well as legal affairs.

The delegations discussed issues of decision-making, organization, command, action and coordination in the rescue mission.

Both sides expressed appreciation for the exercise and agreed that the drill will help to deepen practical cooperation in unconventional security fields between the two countries' militaries, the statement said.

This is the first joint indoor exercise between the two countries' militaries, and is an important part of the eighth exchange activity between the armed forces of the China and the United States on humanitarian rescue and disaster relief, according to Tang Fen, head of the Chinese delegation.

After the drill, the U.S. delegation will also visit sites hit by the 2008 Wenchuan quake, the statement added.

Magnitude 4.3 - GREENLAND SEA

2012 December 03 09:17:21 UT

Earthquake Details

• This event has been reviewed by a seismologist

Magnitude	4.3
Date-Time	Monday, December 03, 2012 at 09:17:21 UTC Monday, December 03, 2012 at 09:17:21 AM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	73.470°N, 7.490°E
Depth	10 km (6.2 miles)
Region	GREENLAND SEA
Distances	555 km (344 miles) NNW of Andenes, Norway 586 km (364 miles) NW of Tromso, Norway 613 km (380 miles) NNW of Harstad, Norway 666 km (413 miles) NNW of Narvik, Norway
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 19 km (11.8 miles); depth +/- 3.5 km (2.2 miles)
Parameters	NST= 50, Nph= 54, Dmin=578.9 km, Rmss=1 sec, Gp= 79°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=4
Source	Magnitude: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) Location: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc000e2vq