Earth changes

With thanks to the Extinction Protocol.

Mexico’s Colima volcano goes ballistic after weeks of relative calm

November 20, 2013 – MEXICO – On Monday night and Tuesday morning, the Colima volcano showed two strong exhalations; ejecting lava down its slopes and ash skyward, that has reached several villages. Since last Sunday, the Volcan de Fuego de Colima was reactivated after several weeks of apparent calm and until Tuesday registered between 30 and 35 puffs per day, spewing lava down its slopes and ash that reached the people of Cheese, municipality of Cuauhtémoc, Colima, and some towns in the state of Jalisco. Yesterday at 21:45 hours this morning between 8:00 and 8:30 am, the volcano emitted two strong exhalations heard that reached in the communities closest to the “granite colossus,” mainly in the municipalities of Comala and Cuauhtémoc. From the city of Colima there was a big cloud of steam that rose to just over 2 miles. The chief operating officer of the State System of Civil Protection, Melchor Ursua Quiroz, said: “The volcano has been recharged” and in the last two days has been sharp exhalations, which triggered an alert status from monitoring equipment installed before this new volcanic activity. 

Ursua said that the exhalations Quiroz registered so far, between 30 and 35, are water vapor, once in the mountainous area of the state, bordering Jalisco north, there has been heavy rainfall. He said those exhalations were accompanied by light columns of lava that caused lahars (ash, volcanic stone, mud and water) on the slopes of the volcano, which have been deposited in the canyons and streams of the Cordobán and the Hearth, “the latter was saturated volcanic material and will need to get heavy machinery for cleaning and desludging.” He also said that there is “a warning to the population,” which does not mean that there is intention evacuations, as this alert is intended only for people to be on the lookout for information on the conditions under which the colossus. The Colima Volcano is currently one of the busiest in the country and is the most monitored, however much of its equipment is damaged or it has been stolen and require replacement. –El Universal(translated)

Increased activity reported at volcanoes in Guatemala and Vanuatu

November 20, 2013 – GUATEMALA – Two lava flows are active on the upper slopes of the volcano at the moment, to the Taniluya (south) and Ceniza canyon (SE). The effusive activity started on 11 Nov and increased on 18 November, reaching a length of 600 m. Constant avalanches detach from the flow fronts. At the same time, explosive activity at the summit crater remained at low to moderate levels, with strombolian explosions that produce ash plumes of up to 800 m height and incandescent jets visible from distance. Some of the explosions generate shock waves that can be felt and heard in up to 15 km distance, causing roofs, doors and windows of houses to rattle. Fine ash fall occurred in Panimaché, Morelia abd Sangre de Cristo. -Volcano Discovery

Weak explosions at Yasur: Geohazards reports that the volcano continues to produce near-continuous ash emissions while explosions are relatively weak at the Yasur volcano on Vanuatu. This phase of ash emissions began on 3 November and are likely to continue into the coming days and weeks. Yasur Alert Level is still maintained at Level 1. Villages and communities located close and far away from the volcano, especially those in the prevailing trade winds direction (NW) are likely to receive ash falls. –Volcano Discovery

Tower of ash overshadows life beneath Indonesia’s erupting volcano

November 20, 2013 – INDONESIA – The 8-kilometre-high ash cloud from Mount Sinabung dwarfs this villager in the north of the island of Sumatra, Indonesia, on Monday. The volcano rumbled back to life in 2010 after lying dormant for hundreds of years. More than 6000 local people have been evacuated to temporary shelters – some had yet to return home following an eruption earlier this month. Two thousand, five hundred kilometers away on Java, another Indonesian volcano also exploded into activity yesterday. Mount Merapi killed hundreds of people when it last erupted in 2010. –New Scientist

Italy’s Mt. Etna spews fire in dramatic night time eruption

November 20, 2013 – SICILY, ITALY – Mount Etna, the most active volcano in Europe, put on a spectacular show Saturday night and into Sunday. A massive eruption from Etna lit up the night sky over the island of Sicily. The Sicilian mountain spewed ash and lava, lighting up the Italian sky and disrupting flights at Catania airport. While Etna is known for regular activity, its last major eruption was in 1992, when streams of lava oozed down the sides of the mountain. Diversion efforts were able to save nearly all of the town of Zafferana. The volcano has been tormenting its neighbors since 1500 BCE, when the first records of eruptions show people forced to flee. More than 200 eruptions have been documented since, with the most powerful being in 1669, when lava flows stretched more than 10 miles, and the longest eruption was in 1979, which went on for 13 years. -VOR

More earthquakes

6.6 magnitude quake strikes Guatemala: planet reeling from series of powerful earthquakes

Extinction Protocol,

7 September, 2013

September 7, 2013 – GUATEMALA – A 6.6-magnitude earthquake has hit Guatemala’s Pacific coastline, US seismologists say. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck around three miles (6km) south of Pajapita, at a depth of 42 miles (68km). Guatemala’s fire department issued a statement saying a few poorly-built homes were destroyed in the town of Patzicia, located between the epicenter and the capital. The quake was felt strongly in Guatemala City, the capital, and caused blackouts in some areas, but authorities have not reported any immediate injuries or damage. “People living in Guatemala City’s tall buildings were panicked,” said Eddy Sanchez, director of Guatemala’s National Institute of Seismology.  The Central American nation’s natural disaster agency said a major highway was blocked by a landslide. The quake was also reportedly felt in neighboring Mexico and El Salvador, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in both countries. The tremor was one of the strongest in Guatemala since a 7.4-magnitude earthquake last November killed 44 people in the west of the country. It was the strongest in 36 years and left thousands of people homeless and without electricity or water. –KLFM

Since the beginning of September, the planet has been reeling from a series of major earthquakes striking across the globe from Canada to Japan.

Volcanic activity

Guatemala’s Pacaya Volcano spits ash, gases

Pacaya Volcano, located 47 kilometers south of the capital, has had increased activity in recent days with ash and gas being released into the air, said the Institute of Volcanology (Insivumeh).

Tico Times,

19 December, 2012

On Wednesday, the institute issued a preventive alert and recommended the National Coordinator for Disaster Reduction (Conrad) to keep monitoring the 2,500-meter-tall volcano, located between the departments of Guatemala City and Escuintla.

“The activity yesterday [Tuesday] was a manifestation of reactivation, so people should be aware of developments in coming days,” Insivumeh experts said.

Conrad also released a statement on its website that recommends people “to keep informed and be aware of official information provided by authorities.”

The last eruption of Pacaya occurred in May 2010 when a powerful explosion sent ashes to three departments, including the capital, and forced the closing of La Aurora International Airport for five days.

One person was killed, thousands were injured and $500 million in losses were reported.

Meanwhile in Ecuador...

Ecuador volcano blasts more hot rock from crater

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The Tungurahua volcano in central Ecuador keeps spewing gas, ash and red-hot rock, forcing hundreds to evacuate from their homes.

The country's Geophysical Institute says incandescent rock shot from the crater of the 16,479-foot (5,023-meter) high mountain fell about half a mile (a kilometer) down its flanks. Explosions early Wednesday rattled windows 9 miles (14 kilometers) away, while rain-borne ash has been falling to the southwest of the crater.

Regional emergency director Lourdes Mayorga says that about 100 families are staying in shelters away from the danger zone, though they return during the day to work their fields. She says there will be forced evacuations if the volcanic activity intensifies.

Tungurahua has been active for the past 13 years. An outburst in 2006 left four dead and two missing.

And Russia....

Dramatic video: Russian

volcano spews lava

19 December

A volcano in Russia, which has been dormant since the 1970s, has erupted, spewing lava and sending ash into the air. . Report by Sophie Foster.

Extreme cold in Guatemala

From Dutchsinse

Cheryl Cyman-Frank Cyman :

" Sorry to butt in and change the subject, but something weird with the temperature in Guatamala, 7 degrees C (19F)!!

Here's the averages for December:Throughout the month of December daytime temperatures will generally reach highs of around 33°C that's about 91°F. At night the average minimum temperature drops down to around 23°C, that's 73°F.

In recent times the highest recorded temperature in December has been 37°C that's 99°F, with the lowest recorded temperature 18°C, about 64°F."

Cold Wave Blamed for 2 Deaths in Guatemala

LAHT,

11 December, 2012

GUATEMALA CITY – A sharp drop in temperatures has caused two deaths in the western Guatemalan province of Quetzaltenango, first responders said Monday.

Oscar de Jesus Elias was found dead of hypothermia on a street outside the town of Olintepeque, fire rescue said.

The other fatality, identified only as a homeless woman, was discovered in Quetzaltenango city.

Parts of western Guatemala experienced temperatures as low as minus 7 C (19 F), the National Institute of Meteorology said, while many residents woke up Monday to find frost on their homes and vehicles.

Guatemalan weather forecasters predict the country will be affected by at least a dozen cold fronts between now and the end of next March.

The Conred emergency response agency announced that it has established shelters to provide homeless people with a refuge from the cold.

More than 500 people have flocked to the shelters over the last few days, Conred said Monday. EFE

Earthquakes

Earthquake hits northern Japan, no tsunami warning issued

Reuters,

8 November, 2012

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.5 shook northern Japan on Friday, public broadcaster NHK said.

No tsunami warning was issued, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage.

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Strong earthquake off Guatemala kills at least 48

TVNZ,

8 November, 2012

A strong earthquake off the coast of Guatemala has killed at least 48 people and trapped others under rubble, crushing homes and cars, destroying roads and forcing evacuations as far away as Mexico City.

Most of the dead were buried under debris in San Marcos state, a mountainous region near the Mexican border.

Landslides triggered by the 7.4-magnitude quake blocked highways and complicated rescue efforts.

It was the strongest earthquake to hit the Central American nation since 1976, when a 7.5-magnitude quake killed more than 20,000 people.

President Otto Perez, who confirmed the death toll after returning to the capital Guatemala City from a lightning trip to San Marcos, said that as many as 23 people were unaccounted for, while 153 people were being housed in emergency shelters.

"It's very sad to meet people here who are waiting to find their families who are still buried," Perez said in San Marcos.

"It's really a tragedy and we will do all we can to help the families that are suffering."

Rescue workers in bright yellow helmets worked through the night pulling bodies from the rubble-strewn streets of San Pedro Sacatepequez, San Marcos, as dazed locals looked on, taking stock of the damage.

"Thank God we're alive," said resident Arnulfo Portillo.

"To be honest, there's quite a few families who have been hit badly, but we're a tight-knight community and we'll come out on top."

Ten members of one family reportedly killed

In San Cristobal Cucho, also in San Marcos, all but one of an 11-member family died, buried under rubble, volunteer fireman Ovidio Fuentes told local radio.

Only the 17-year-old son survived.

Local Red Cross chief Carlos Enrique Alvarado said 75 homes were destroyed in the city of San Marcos alone and authorities said damage to the prison forced them to transfer 101 inmates to another jail.

Perez, who announced three days of mourning, said Spain and Venezuela had offered help.

Authorities distributed 16,000 emergency rations and mobilized more than 2000 soldiers to help with the rescue effort. The energy ministry said 73,000 people were left without electricity.

In Guatemala City, 161km from the quake's epicenter, the streets filled with office workers forced to evacuate buildings, although most soon returned to work.

"It was really big. I felt quite nauseous," said Vanessa Castillo, 32, a secretary who was evacuated from her 10th floor office in the capital.

Building janitor Jorge Gamboa said: "I was in the bathroom. When I came out the office was empty and I thought, what's happening? They didn't even say goodbye."

'Small tsunami'

The epicenter was 42km below the surface, according to the US Geological Survey.

The quake was felt in El Salvador and more than 1223km away in Mexico City, where some people also fled offices and homes.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a small tsunami was registered on Guatemala's coast, although there were no reports that it caused any damage.

Mayor Marcelo Ebrard said the quake was felt strongly in a large part of the city.

"There are evacuations in various parts of the city," he said via Twitter. 

 

For video GO HERE

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US geologists say East Coast earthquakes travel farther, do more damage than thought before

Data from the 2011 earthquake centered in Virginia shows East Coast tremors can travel much farther and cause damage over larger areas than previously thought, the U.S. Geological Survey said Tuesday.

Washington Post,

7 November, 2012

The agency estimated about one-third of the U.S. population could have felt the magnitude 5.8 tremor centered about 50 miles northwest of Richmond, which would mean more people were affected than any earthquake in U.S. history. Scientists also found the quake that caused more than $200 million in damage triggered landslides at distances four times farther and over an area 20 times larger than research from previous quakes has shown.

“Scientists are confirming with empirical data what more than 50 million people in the eastern U.S. experienced firsthand: this was one powerful earthquake,” USGS Director Marcia McNutt said in a news release about the findings presented at the Geological Society of America conference in Charlotte, N.C.

Researchers used landslides to see how far-reaching the shaking from East coast earthquakes could be. The unexpected jolt cracked the Washington Monument in spots and toppled delicate masonry high atop the National Cathedral. The shaking was felt from Georgia to New England.

According to the findings, the farthest landslide from the quake was 150 miles from the epicenter, a greater distance than any other similar-sized earthquake. Previous similar quakes have resulted in landslides no farther than 36 miles from the epicenter.

Additionally, the landslides from the 2011 tremor occurred in an area of about 12,895 square-miles — about the size of the state of Maryland. Previous studies indicated an area of about 580 square-miles — about the size of Houston — from an earthquake of similar magnitude.

“It’s just much more dangerous to have an earthquake at that level back on the East Coast than it would be on the West Coast,” said Edwin Harp, a USGS scientist and co-author of the study. “If something big happened, although it’s much less frequent, it would tend to damage a lot more buildings because they’re probably not quite up to the codes that they are in California.”

Geologic structure and rock properties on the East Coast allow seismic waves to travel farther without weakening compared with the West Coast, Harp said.

He said equations used to predict ground shaking might need to be revised now that scientists know more about the power of East Coast earthquakes.

The information also will help with building codes as well as emergency preparedness, the USGS said.

While West Coast earthquake veterans scoffed at what they viewed as only a moderate temblor, the August 2011 quake changed the way officials along the East Coast viewed emergency preparedness. Emergency response plans that once focused on hurricanes, tornadoes, flooding and snow are being revised to include quakes.

Some states have enacted laws specifically related to the quake, and there is anecdotal evidence of a spike in insurance coverage for earthquake damage.

Earthquakes

Guatemala rocked by 7.4 richter earthquake

An earthquake in Guatemala has killed at least 48 people.

The epicentre of the magnitude 7.4 quake was 160 km west of the Capital, Guatemala City.

6.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near Vancouver Island

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/6-3-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-near-vancouver-island/

A  6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred off Vancouver Island Wednesday night.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports that the quake occurred about 182 kilometres southwest of Port Hardy, B.C. around 9 p.m. ET.

There were no immediate reports of any damage.

No tsunami warnings have been issued. A number of tsunami warnings were issued when a 7.7-magnitude quake struck off B.C.’s coast on Oct. 27, but all were later downgraded.

At that time, the coastal area from the north tip of Vancouver Island to Cape Decision, Alaska was in potential danger. The quake was felt across north-central B.C. and some low-lying communities were evacuated as a precaution.

–CTV

California-Oregon Earthquake: 4.2 Quake Strikes Off The Coast

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpress.com/2012/11/08/california-oregon-earthquake-4-2-quake-strikes-off-the-coast/

PORTLAND, Oregon — 

A 4.2-magnitude earthquake has struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Oregon and California. 

 

The U.S. Geological Survey says the quake struck early Wednesday roughly 140 miles west of Gold Beach, Ore., just north of the California border. 

 

The sheriff’s office in Curry County says there are no immediate reports of shaking or damage. 

 

–Huffington Post