Earth Shakes

…hundreds already confirmed dead after a powerful earthquake sent a tsunami barreling into the Indonesian island of Sulawesi on Friday. …official death toll at 384 by Saturday afternoon, all of them in the tsunami-struck city of Palu, but warned the toll was likely to rise. …many bodies still lay on the ground near the shore, the day after tsunami waves of 1.5 meters, or five feet, hit the shore. …tsunami was triggered by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake that sent buildings crumbling…

The first earthquake, measuring 5.4, hit central northern Italy at 7.10pm local time
The second devastating quake - measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale - followed two hours later
The epicentre was in countryside 80 miles from Rome and historic buildings were felt shaking in the capital…

OKLAHOMA COUNTY, Oklahoma -
Residents across the state were rocked awake Saturday morning after an earthquake struck in Central Oklahoma.

Around 7:00 a.m., a 5.6 magnitude earthquake shook and several residents and along with our staff began going to social media in response.…

Is Middle America Due For a Huge Earthquake?
In the early 19th century, a series of massive quakes rocked Missouri. Some experts predict that the state could be in for another round of violent shaking, while others warn that a big quake could strike elsewhere in the center of the continent.…

A series of powerful earthquakes which struck Asia and South America in the past week could be followed by a 'mega' quake in the near future, a scientist has claimed.…

A remote and active volcano on Alaska's Aleutian Islands erupted, sending ash 20,000 feet into the air, scientists said.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the Pavlof Volcano, which is about 600 miles southwest of Anchorage and roughly 40 miles from the nearest community, erupted Sunday at 4:18 p.m. local time. Alaska State Troopers could not immediately say if there were any reports of injuries.…

…This year, more than 5, 000 earthquakes have been recorded and studied in our state. Residents have become accustomed to the little shaking, rattling and rolling. However, experts say earthquakes in Oklahoma will likely increase in magnitude over time. Now, research said it's only a matter of time before we get a big one that will change life for those of us living here.…

Indicates Newport-Inglewood fault more important than previously thought
Risk in the next 30 years of 'big one' increased from about 4.7% to 7.0%
However, study says risk of smaller quakes has actually gone down

At least 876 people are known to have died in a powerful earthquake in Nepal, with many more feared trapped under rubble, officials say. The 7.8 magnitude quake struck an area between the capital, Kathmandu, and the city of Pokhara… Tremors were felt across the region, with further loss of life in India, Bangladesh, Tibet and on Mount Everest.…

Holland, Oklahoma’s seismology chief, is determined to find the cause of an unprecedented earthquake epidemic in the state. And he suspects pumping wastewater from oil and gas drilling back into the Earth has a lot to do with it.

“If my research takes me to the point where we determine the safest thing to do is to shut down injection -- and consequently production -- in large portions of the state, then that’s what we have to do,” Holland said. “That’s for the politicians and the regulators to work out.”

[Of course, confirmation bias could not be possible when he's looking for confirmation of his theory.]

Now add to that three more potentially dangerous faults in the Bellingham Basin, a tectonically active area along the coast of Washington, near the Canadian border. A team of researchers has discovered active tectonic faults in this region nearly 40 miles (60 kilometers) north of any previously known faults. ... capable of triggering magnitude-6.0 to -6.5 earthquakes ... "...if they ruptured again along their entire length, some of that rupture would be out in the water, and there might be a tsunami hazard related to that...."

The earthquake Tuesday in the Eastern United States was felt at 13 locations with nuclear power plants, from North Carolina to Michigan, but reactors shut down at only one, North Anna in Virginia, 10 miles from the epicenter. There was no damage to nuclear systems at any of the sites, according to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. [And we believe them! They're from the government!]

Shortly after the rare 5.8 earthquake in Virginia rattled Washington D.C. Tuesday, a Park Service spokesman said there was "absolutely no damage" to the Washington Monument. A more thorough assessment discovered a crack in the landmark. Not long after, additional damage was found, including three or four "significant" cracks. The monument has been closed indefinitely for further inspection and repairs, which will take at least a few weeks