Scientists: Haiti, DR may facing big quake period

[ROVER]

Scientists: Haiti, DR may facing big quake period

By TRENTON DANIEL | Associated Press – Thu, Jan 26, 2012



PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — Haiti and the neighboring Dominican Republic could be in for a period of periodic powerful earthquakes, according to a scientific study released Thursday.

The study says Haiti's 7.0-magnitude earthquake two years ago is likely to be the first of several quakes of a similarly powerful magnitude.

The Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake caused widespread damage in the Haitian capital and surrounding cities. Officials say the disaster killed 314,000 people and toppled thousands of crudely built homes.

"The 2010 Haiti earthquake may mark the beginning of a new cycle of large earthquakes on the Enriquillo fault system after 240 years of seismic quiescence," lead author William Bakun of the U.S. Geological Survey wrote. "The entire Enriquillo fault system appears to be seismically active; Haiti and the Dominican Republic should prepare for future devastating earthquakes."

The authors document a series of four major earthquakes of magnitude 6.6 and higher that struck Hispaniola, the Caribbean island shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The phase began in 1701, near the site of the 2010 quake, and ended in 1770.

There was no evidence of significant earthquake activity on the Enriquillo fault system in the 240 years from 1770 until the 2010 disaster, except for an earthquake in 1860 that likely occurred offshore, the study said.
The possibility that a newly active period has begun underscores the need for Haiti and the Dominican Republic to focus on building seismic-proof structures, Bakun said.

"Whatever information people have to guide reconstruction efforts in Haiti ... is certainly useful," Bakun said by telephone from Merlo Park, California.

The study appears in the February edition of the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America.
Moderate quakes have struck the Dominican Republic in recent weeks but there were no reports of damage.

http://news.yahoo.com/scientists-hai...023226753.html

[Jimbo44]

That did it, I am calling Jet Blue right now...... wonder how Miami Bch is these days??

[naptime]

i feel like this should have been posted by sidney.

[Kevy]

i feel like this should have been posted by sidney.

it is like someone took his job.

[deezl]

Well, they did have 4 quakes (that I know of) just last week, including 3 pretty much all with the same epicenter (south of Rio San Juan) on the same day. And seismologists have warned that the Santiago area is in danger of a big 'un (7.0 or worse).

So.... Yeah...

[ROVER]

When I was in Sosua the first week in January I was in Rocky's lying in bed at 5 a.m. in the morning half awake and half asleep and the room began to wobble for about 4 or 5 seconds. Not enough to wake you up if you were sleeping but enough that I wondered was that just an earthquake. 5 minutes later another smaller wobble.

Next day I asked the guys if any of them felt anything and they said it was in the newspaper that it was an earthquake somewhere around Santo Domingo. Since the big one in Haiti they have been coming closer and closer in time.

[ROVER]

From Sosua News


28 January 2012

Earthquakes felt in Sosúa

In recent days a number of earthquakes were felt in the Puerto Plata region.

The epic centers

January 24 at 4.40 PM, Tuesday afternoon the last earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale was felt in Sosúa. The epicenter was located in Nagua. In Sosúa we felt an earthquake twice in a row that lasted a few seconds. In the pool you could see some waves in the water. The kids leaving school at that time panicked an ran out to the street. But for the rest everybody stayed calm and there is no damage found. So no damage to homes, buildings, furniture etc. Many tourists in Casa Marina and Don Andres said they thought it was a nice experience. It wobbled a bit and the water rippled, no reason to worry.

[BrooklynBeas]

From Sosua News


28 January 2012

Earthquakes felt in Sosúa

In recent days a number of earthquakes were felt in the Puerto Plata region.

Click to see pic The epic centers

January 24 at 4.40 PM, Tuesday afternoon the last earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 on the Richter scale was felt in Sosúa. The epicenter was located in Nagua. In Sosúa we felt an earthquake twice in a row that lasted a few seconds. In the pool you could see some waves in the water. The kids leaving school at that time panicked an ran out to the street. But for the rest everybody stayed calm and there is no damage found. So no damage to homes, buildings, furniture etc. Many tourists in Casa Marina and Don Andres said they thought it was a nice experience. It wobbled a bit and the water rippled, no reason to worry.

I felt this earthquake, was sitting in my hotel room at Rockies, on my iPad and watching ESPN, typing an email to my friend... I actually started writing in the email, I think I just felt an earthquake, but quickly hit the backspace key so I didn't get any comments about "is the pre a Chica in your room" or "how many drinks did ou have", about 20 minutes later I came out of the room and Rick says, hey B, did you feel that earthquake!? I was like, oh hh shit, my first one... The next day back in my room, I decided to look It up on the Internet and the first result I had in google was the new earthquake that hit that following day, 4.5 on the scale... Of course everyone was OK thank god,but it was kinda cool after the fact that I felt my first earthquake. I thought u couldn't predict earthquakes, but I guess you can in the DR cause the last week I was there, I heard a lot of gossip about a big one coming!

[KoKi9290]

I was in La Vega for those quakes last month. I think there were a total of five over two days. For whatever reason, the strength of the quake lessened as it ran up and down the coast but stayed pretty strong as it ran into the Cibao. Had three hairline cracks in three different walls in the second floor duplex where I was staying. really don't want to be in any building in the DR when a big one hits.

[joeysterr]

I'm on the 4th floor of my house in HAITI right now and I really didn't need to read that

[joeysterr]

I'm on the 4th floor of my house in HAITI right now and I really didn't need to read that

Weak shaking just felt guys! I feel like killing y'all for the jinx!!

[joeysterr]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/dyfi/events/us/b0008dbe/us/index.html