Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

There was little to no damage but the proximity is interesting. Does not appear to be on the same fault as Haiti.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60E4M920100115

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquak.../S_America.php

El

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

There was also an earthquake here in Ljubljana, Slovenia today (15.1.2010)...i think it was around 15:30 GMT+1... I was in the bus at that time...did not felt it. The news reported it was 3,7 coming from around city of Postojna.

There was also one of 2,1 magnitude -12.1.2010, also originating near Postojna.

Nothing compared to the Haiti... I just...mention it...

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

I have been watching that map for five years usually check it every other day

just too pass the time. It is obvious that things are heated up. Activity

is definitely on the rise. I have seen it rise and fall with amounts of activity

over the years. The only problem is it could be part of a natural cycle of

increased activity followed by decreased. It is hard to tell considering we can't

go back that far in history. Time will tell.

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

Myself, having been through the Northridge quake...actually about 10 blocks from the collapsed apartment buliding that I'm sure everyone has seen. Well 5.4 is nothing. To those who have never experienced a quake...5.4 can be a shocker...but it is not nearly what was experienced then, or in Haiti.

My guess, and I am no expert, is it was very likely caused by one and the same...more in the sense of an after shock. I would guess there are going to be many of those in the area for quite some time. Months most likely.

After the Northridge quake...for months afterward, we were getting 4 and 5 level shakers. Mostly there were reffered to as aftershocks.

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

Brook, any words of wisdom for people who don't realize that they are even living on a fault line? For example, this is true about the people in the SE usa. After all this talk on Avalon, it would be wise to remember the original intent: community support and preparation. Thanks. Linda

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

Hi 5thElement,

There was also an earthquake of 4.8 at the coastal region of Venezuela the day after the Haiti tradgedy.

But to really rock your world, check out these earthquakes over the last few days: http://www.myforecast.com/bin/earthq...4&metric=false

Best regards,

Steve

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

A few years back I some how ended up as the "disaster preparedness trainer" for our company and I watched the USGS pretty closely. I have since changed positions so I only peek occasionally at it. Have you looked at Steve A's link?

http://www.myforecast.com/bin/earthq...4&metric=false

Is that typical for that area? Or part of the ramping up you were talking about?

We go through EQ "swarms" here were 100's a day occur of 2's & 3's- typically in March.

I could talk about this stuff all day - the Earth and her cycles fascinate me.

El

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

I would say..just hang on tight. Ride it out. And of course..most important... Most of the deaths and damage are due to homes and buildings not made to withstand an earthquake. When they rebuilt most of the places here in California..they build with special reinforcement.

Most of the really bad damager is due to poor construction. Not meant to withstand an earthquake.

As for living on a fault line. I can ride my bike in 20 minutes to the west side of the San Andres fault :shocked: So I am very aware of what it's like to be so close. When I "ground" myself...many times I tap into small seismic activity..which constantly reminds me where I live :wink2:

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

Hi Brook,

I agree with you. I would also go on one step further and say that now is an ideal opportunity for governments, instead of offering aid, to experiment with earthquake proof buildings, or new lighter materials. For example in Japan some new houses are made from cardboard cylinders, or the way in the US how the timber frames are all braced together to withstand a rocky tremor, or once again in Japan how high buildings are built on 'shock absorbers'.

I think once this mess has been resolved and almost half of the capital city has been razed to the ground, the opportunity should not be missed.

Best regards,

Steve

Re: Venezuela Quake 5..4
 

To put things in practical terms, the difference from a magnitude 5.0 to a 6.0 is 1.0. That 1.0 in the Richter scale means that 6 is 10 times more powerful than 5. 7 is 20 times more powerful than 5. The 1994 Northridge earthquake had a 6.7 magnitude. The Haiti earthquake was a deadly 7.2, or 5 times stronger than Northridge.

I was talking to one of my brother yesterday who lives in the tallest residential building in Puerto Rico, and although it was built with category 4/5 hurricanes in mind, and perhaps smaller earthquakes, I don't think there is a high rise that could withstand such a strong earthquake.

Cheers,

Mel