Earthquake – Loyalty Islands Region

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Very strong earthquake in the greater Loyalty Islands / New Caledonia area

Last update: March 3, 2012 at 1:14 pm by By 

 

Earthquake overview : A very strong earthquake occurred at 11:19 PM (23:19) in the greater Loyalty Islands / New Caledonia area

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 6.9 (preliminary)
UTC Time :  Saturday, March 03, 2012 at 12:19:57 UTC
Local time at epicenter : Saturday, March 03, 2012 at 11:19:57 PM at epicenter
Depth (Hypocenter) : 31 km (19.3 miles)
Geo-location(s) :
254 km (158 miles) ESE (110°) from Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
323 km (200 miles) SSE (163°) from Isangel, Vanuatu  

 

Update 13:13 UTC
– The picture to the right shows very well the deep trench were 2 plates are subducting each other. The traveling speed of these plates is estimated to be approx. 8 cm / year which can be called a massive movement, and also the reason for these many sometimes violent earthquakes, luckily mostly with epicenter in the ocean.

Update 12:56 UTC
– Only 3000 people will experience a light MMI IV shaking and 34000 people a weak shaking. This may be the reason that we haven’t received experience reports yet. A lot of people in Vanuatu and New Caledonia will have slept through this earthquake and will be surprised tomorrow morning.

Update 12:51 UTC
– The maximum tsunami wave height near the coast of Isino will be 0.04m.  In other words, NO real tsunami has to be expected.
– A lot of strong to very strong aftershocks can be expected.

Update 12:49 UTC
GDACS simulation, is not mentioning a tsunami wave towards the New Caledonia or Vanuatu islands, most at risk in similar earthquakes.

Tsunami wave propagation courtesy GDACS

Update 12:42 UTC
– This area of the Pacific has regular massive earthquakes due to fast traveling tectonic plates.  Based on the Magnitude/ Depth and distance from the islands Earthquake-Report.com is calling this earthquake NOT dangerous for eventual damage or injuries on the nearest islands, however people and properties will be shaken very good.

Update 12:38 UTC
NOAA PACIFIC EVALUATION
NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA. HOWEVER – EARTHQUAKES OF THIS SIZE SOMETIMES GENERATE LOCAL TSUNAMIS THAT CAN BE DESTRUCTIVE ALONG COASTS LOCATED WITHIN A HUNDRED KILOMETERS OF THE EARTHQUAKE EPICENTER. AUTHORITIES IN THE REGION OF THE EPICENTER SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.   

for more information and updates, go to:    http://earthquake-report.com/2012/03/03/very-strong-earthquake-in-the-greater-loyalty-islands-new-caledonia-area/