Strong earthquake jolts western Philippines
Seismologists say a strong offshore earthquake has rocked the western Philippines and was felt in Manila and nearby areas. There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.
The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the epicenter of Friday’s 6.1 magnitude temblor was 45 miles (73 kilometers) southwest of Mindoro island’s Mamburao town.
Seismologist Ismael Narag says no tsunami warning was issued for the shallow earthquake. Aftershocks are expected.
In Manila, some 125 miles (200 kilometers) northeast of the epicenter, office workers felt their chairs and hanging ornaments swaying for a few seconds.
Earthquake strikes U.S.-Mexico border
CALEXICO, Calif.—An earthquake in northern Mexico has shaken towns on the inland border in California.
Seismologist Dale Grant of the U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.9 quake struck just before 4 p.m. It was centered about 25 miles southeast of the city of Calexico and 23 miles northeast of Mexicali, Mexico at a depth of 6.2 miles.
Grant says very few people have reported feeling the quake.
A dispatcher with the Calexico Police Department says the police station shook briefly but there have been no reports of damage or injuries.
Calexico is a city of about 27,000 people 120 miles east of San Diego.
Earthquake jolts parts of Pakistan
Islamabad : An earthquake jolted several parts of Pakistan on Saturday, but there was no human or material loss reported.
According to Metrological Department, an earthquake measuring 5.4 on the Richter Scale was felt in Islamabad, Peshawar, Malakand, Swat and several districts of North-West Frontier Province (NWFP).
The epicenter of the earthquake was in Kohe Hindukush Mountains, according to the Metrological Department, in a statement posted on its website.
There were no reports of life or property loss.
The quake revived the memories of October 2005, when a giant earthquake of 7.6 magnitude killed more than 73,000 people and displaced 2.5 million others in northern areas of Pakistan.
Strong earthquake hits western China
BEIJING — Officials say a strong earthquake has shaken western China but there are no reports of injuries or serious damage.
The U.S. Geological Survey says the magnitude-5.4 quake struck at 4:54 p.m. Saturday in the region bordering Sichuan and Gansu provinces. It
says it was centered 30 miles (50 kilometers) northwest of Guangyuan in Sichuan province at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 kilometers).
China’s official Xinhua News Agency says Chinese seismologists measured the quake at magnitude 5.1 and that no casualties or damage were reported.
A magnitude-7.9 quake in Sichuan province last year left almost 90,000 people dead or missing.
Indonesian earthquake shakes Bali resort island
BALI, Indonesia — A strong earthquake shook the popular Indonesian resort island of Bali early Saturday, injuring at least seven people and sending panicked tourists and residents fleeing out of homes and hotels.
No tsunami warning was issued and there were no immediate reports of major damage.
The magnitude 5.8 quake hit just after 6 a.m. local time (2300 GMT) 45 miles (75 kilometers) south of Denpasar, the island’s capital, the U.S.
Geological Survey said. Indonesia’s Meteorological and Geophysics Agency put the quake at a more powerful 6.4 magnitude.
Seven people were treated for head injuries and broken bones at Sanglah Hospital in Denpasar, said Dr. Ken Wirasandi, adding that women and children had run from their homes screaming when the ground began to rattle.
“I was frightened because it was strong,” said Ernst Raynaldo, a tourist from the Netherlands who was staying at the Kuta beach strip. “I ran out immediately as I saw many others rushing into the swimming pool,” which was the closest open space.
The Bali quake comes just two weeks after a larger tremor on the main Indonesian island of Java killed of left missing nearly 100 people and ruined thousands of homes.
Indonesia, a vast archipelago, straddles continental plates and is prone to seismic activity along what is known as the Pacific Ring of Fire. A huge quake off western Indonesia caused a powerful tsunami in December 2004 that killed about 230,000 people in a dozen countries, half of them in Aceh province.
