Four Major Earthquakes In 48 Hours: Some Experts Expect Worse

Scientists fear 'the Big One' as four major earthquakes strike Asia in 48 hours

There have been three large earthquakes recorded today, including a major one in southern Japan which destroyed buildings and left at least 45 people injured, after Myanmar was rocked yesterday.

Yesterday tremors were also felt as far as 500 miles away at the national park in India where the Royal couple Kate and William were visiting.

Today The Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital confirmed admitting 45 injured patients, including five with series problems after a quake of magnitude 6.2 to 6.5 and a series of strong after shocks ripped through Kumamoto city.

Several buildings were damaged or destroyed and at least six people are believed to be trapped under homes in Mashiki and local reports said one woman was rescued in critical condition 

Scientists say there has been an above average number of significant earthquakes across south Asia and the Pacific since the start of the year.

The increased frequency has sparked fears of a repeat of the Nepal quake of 2015, when 8,000 people died, or even worse.

Roger Bilham, seismologist of University of Colorado, said: "The current conditions might trigger at least four earthquakes greater than 8.0 in magnitude. 

"And if they delay, the strain accumulated during the centuries provokes more catastrophic mega earthquakes."

Yesterday's quake was followed by a 5.9-magnitude earthquake which struck off the coast of the southern Philippines.

The earthquake happened at 2.20am (Singapore time) off Mindanao island.

Local authorities said there was no tsunami risk and that they had not received reports of casualties or damage.

Buildings were destroyed by a powerful 6.4 magnitude quake which shook southern Japan today.

Japan's Meteorological Agency said the epicentre was in the Mashiki town in the Kumamoto prefecture. 

Officials said the region's nuclear facilities were not affected.

A 6 magnitude earthquake also hit today off the coast of the Pacific island of Vanuatu, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

It was 53 miles from town Port Orly and the fourth one this week in the immediate area, after a 6.4-strength tremor hit a week earlier. 

Vanuatu is on the "Pacific Ring of Fire," one of the most seismic parts of the globe and known for its earthquakes and volcanoes.

Seismologists say the Himalayan region is overdue for a tremor stronger than Nepal's 7.9 strength quake last year.

Today's quakes take the total to nine across Asia in a period of just over three and a half months - nearly three every month.

Three major quakes this afternoon: M6.0 - Vanuatu, M6.2 earthquake north of Kumamoto and a M6.0 - 5km E of Uto, Japan

An afternoon of madness as three major quakes are reported, the first was a magnitude 6.0 - 86km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, see picture above.

The second was this afternoon's magnitude  6.2 earthquake north of Kumamoto, on the island of Kyushu in southwest Japan, which occurred as the result of strike-slip faulting at shallow depth.
Although the magnitude was not high the fact that the quake was shallow was responsible for considerable damage.

The third to strike this afternoon was a magnitude 6.0 - 5km E of Uto, Japan.
Today's major quakes bring the April total to 12 and the year total to 40

Very strong dangerous earthquake below Kyushu, Japan - at least 4 people killed, 741 injured

** About 13,000 people are at evacuation sites in the southwestern prefecture of Kumamoto after Thursday's major earthquake.
** Japan's transport ministry and a railway operator say an out-of-service Shinkansen was derailed due to Thursday's major earthquake. No one was injured.

Update 16:22 UTC : Sadly enough we have to report that at least 3 people have been killed in the earthquake(s). Scientists warn for strong to very strong aftershocks (something that happened already). 12 people have been injured and 1 person was unconscious. 600 people had to be evacuated from their houses.

Update 16:08 UTC : Professor Max Wyss, who specializes in theoretical prognoses of injuries and fatalities expects : 10 to 200 injuries and 0 to 30 fatalities

Update 15:15 UTC :  A new very powerful aftershock (almost as strong as the mainshock) occurred a few minutes ago. Preliminary Magnitude M6.4 at a depth of 6 km. Maximum JMA shaking 6+ (mainshock was more powerful at JMA7)

Earthquake rocks Japan, other tremors felt in Myanmar

According to The Independent, Japan’s Meteorological Academy detected the quake was centered on the island of Kyushu.

There are no reports of deaths, but some buildings have collapsed.  There were some aftershocks. Officials claim there is no tsunami danger or any threat to nuclear facilities.

An official in Kasumi Nakamura, a village near the epicenter said the shaking lasted about 30 seconds.

“Papers, files, flower vases and everything fell on the floor,” he said in a telephone interview with local media.

The U.S. Geological Survey noted the quake was 6.2 miles deep.

An earthquake also hit Myanmar in the past 24 hours.

It measured 6.9 and struck 246 miles north of the capital of Naypyidaw, a sparsely populated area. There were no injuries and minimal damage was reported.

Shaking was felt in the densely populated city of Yangon, and nervous residents fled buildings and fleed into the streets.

People in Bangladesh, Tibet and India also felt some tremors.

In the Pacific, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit Vanuatu. It was the 4th time a quake hit the region over the past week.  The country is part of the “ring of fire” zone that experiences frequent seismic activity.

Strong quake kills 9, injures more than 760 in Japan

At least nine people were killed and 761 injured by a magnitude 6.5 earthquake Thursday night that toppled houses and buckled roads in southern Japan, the government's chief spokesman said.

Yoshihide Suga said he would visit the area Friday to assess the damage. He said 1,600 soldiers had been deployed, and TV reports showed some delivering blankets and adult diapers to the thousands of people who took shelter because their homes were wrecked or unsafe.

About 44,000 people sought refuge, though some returned home in the morning.

The quake struck at 9:26 p.m. at a depth of 11 kilometers (7 miles) near Kumamoto city on the island of Kyushu, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. There was no tsunami risk.