Major Earthquake Hits Iran Today

An intensity 7.8 in the Richter Scale hit Southeastern Iran today around 3 in the afternoon, Dubai local time. So far, 40 have been reported dead but is still not confirmed. The epicenter of the quake near  Khash was strong enough that it was felt in India, Pakistan, nearby Gulf regions including the Middle East.

Iran was also the center of the news last week with a weaker magnitude of 6.3 eartquake to hit the country leaving 37 dead and 850 wounded.

We felt the strong earthquake in Dubai as well. Throngs of people were asked to leave their buildings in anticipation of stronger aftershocks. My office is in the 8th floor and my colleagues and I felt it so bad that I took cover under my table and waited for the big bosses to direct us to leave the building in an orderly fashion.

I am not sure how long the quake lasted but it felt so long. We felt giddy and a bit disoriented. None was hurt in the evacuation in our area. I just pray that there won't be any harsh aftershock to ensue. God help us all.

A Year After the Tsunami in Japan

I still see vivid images in my head when I watched the live devastation of the tsunami after the 9.0 magnitude earthquake in Japan 1 year ago. It took me several weeks to shake the images off my head. I kept seeing shaking buildings, spilling waves claiming the Earth and the trail of destruction the tsunami brought to Japan.

It has been a year now and Japan rebuilt its nation. It takes sheer perseverance and solidarity to pull oneself out of the greatest natural history of mankind. They are still picking up the shattered pieces and building the society that was once there in Northeast Japan.

Japan is mourning the victims of this natural disaster today as the whole world commemorate the events which transpired a year ago.

Here are some photos of the tsunami before and after. Photo credits: REUTERS/Kyodo

Quake in Himalayas

A 6.8 magnitude earthquake shook some remote areas in the Himalayan region and Northern parts of India today. The epicenter was 60 km west of Gangtok, Sikkim.

16 fatalities have been reported and 5 of those were from Nepal. Strong aftershocks were felt after the initial 6.8 quake.

Quake Hits U.S. East Coast

A magnitude of 5.9 quake rattled the east coast side of U.S. today at 1.51 p.m. EDT. The earthquake was centered Northwest of Richmond, Va. It shook Washington D.C as well and evacuation was conducted on the White House, Capitol and part of the Pentagon.

The rambling was felt as far as Rhode Island, New York City and Martha's Vineyard in Mass. where the US president is vacationing.

No casualties has been reported.

Earthquake Hits Luzon

A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Luzon (NW of Olongapo city) today, 25 July 2011 at 17:15 hours. No casualties have been reported so far.

Anniversary After Shock in Japan

Exactly 1 month after the catastrophic 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which rattled Japan, another 7.0 magnitude trembler was felt shortly after the ceremony to honor the victims of the event.

Sendai, the hardly hit northern town in Japan has issued evacuation alert citing health risk of living there in a long term basis.

Today's earthquake in Japan is about 100 miles North of Tokyo inland. 

Loyal Canine in Japan's Tsunami

I saw a poignant video of a dog who sat by his dog friend during the tsunami/earthquake in Japan. I cannot help but cry and wonder why humans cannot be like dogs - loyal and true.

If you have seen the video, you can feel the love of an animal to a fellow animal. Then you'll see why dogs are man's bestfriend - and a mutt's companion too.

Imminent Danger

Japan is still experiencing after shocks as we speak. The grim reality of facing the catastrophic effect of the recent off-shore quake and tsunami is overwhelming. The threat of a nuclear meltdown is also looming around the Japanese government and the world as a whole.

I am still following the development of the recent natural disasters which hit Japan last week. Bodies are now floating in the coastal areas and the hope of containing the scary nuclear meltdown is becoming dim.

I feel sad and scared. Much as we all want to do our share to help; these events are just beyond our capacity as humans. These things will remind us that there is certainly a higher power greater than mankind.

I pray all these imminent danger come to pass. We need to pray for Japan to have the strength to rebuild its nation. We cannot let the possible meltdown ruin the environment and the rest of the world. I believe that a prayer when said in unison becomes a prayer brigade. Let's do our part in any way we can.

8.9 Off-Shore Quake and Tsunami Hit Japan

Japan was struck by a strong off-shore quake today, Friday which hit on the Northern part of the country. The 8.9 earthquake caused tremors as far as Tokyo.

A tsunami followed thereafter and reached nearby areas in Tokyo like the city of Sendai where water swept some farmlands. Small vessels and even cars and trucks were swept to shore due to the power of the big tsunami.

So far, casualties have been reported but the agency is not yet certain.

Last Wednesday, Japan also experienced a 7.3 magnitude earthquake and now again. Tsunami alert has been issued to surrounding countries and as far as South America, Alaska, New Zealand, Philippines, Indonesia, Russia and Chile.

Please everyone, let us all offer our prayers to the Japanese people. We don't know how big the damage is but seeing the video footage of the tsunami sweeping across coastal towns will make our hearts break. Let's all offer our sincere prayers to all our Japanese brothers and sisters. May God help us all.

Latest Quake to Hit New Zealand

A magnitude of 6.3 earthquake shook Christchurch, New Zealand today. 65 casualties have already been reported as of this time. The city was left in rubbles and ruins. Plenty of people are still trapped in the rubbles and rescue operations are currently happening.

We can recall that New Zealand was also badly hit last Sept. 4, 2010 with a magnitude of 7.1 earthquake. I offer my prayers to all of them. It is so disheartening that there has to be fatalities as this struck on the middle of the day in the city center.

Let us all offer our prayers to them and may the rescue operation be a success. 

Earthquake Hits New Zealand

The city of Christchurch - the second largest city in New Zealand - was hit by a strong earthquake early today, 4 Sept. 2010. The earthquake registered at 7.0 magnitude. The effect caused power cuts and raptured roads and damages to buildings. So far, no casualty has been reported.

New Zealand is located along the Pacific Ring of Fire where active volcanoes and earthquakes occur. New Zealand also had a strong shake felt last year in the South Island's Fiordland.

Volcano Erupts in Iceland

After a ground-shaking event happened to China two days ago, a volcano erupts in the idyllic Iceland on the same day. The FIMMVORDUHALS Volcano near the EYJAFJALLAJOKULL glacier in Iceland spewed ash clouds and steam. People in Iceland fear for flood because the eruption can cause the melting of ice.

People are being evacuated to safety in the event another major eruption occurs. This is the second time the volcano erupted in less than a month.

What's going on?

Mexico Quake

I read from the news that a magnitude of 7.2 earthquake shook Mexico on Easter Sunday. Some were reported injured and a few perished. I did not follow the news this time as I am really spooked by all these natural calamities happening one after the other.

I am offering my prayers to the people of Mexico. I hope there will be no more ground shaking events to happen anywhere.

Two Earthquakes

Haiti has not fully recovered yet and another catastrophe has hit the world. Japan was hit by an earthquake on 26 February, 2010. It registered with a magnitude of 6.9 in the Richter Scale. The news is still hot when another quake hit Chile yesterday, 27 February and it registered 8.8. in the RS. Reports indicate that plenty of people perished in the Chilean earthquake.

I am not a harbinger of bad news but the signs are everywhere such as weather disturbances, political unrest, and economic downturn.

Let's all offer our prayers to the people of Japan and Chile. Tsunami alert has been raised on countries lying on the Pacific region. Please take heed.

Praying for Haiti

Our volunteer group here has barely recovered from the Ondoy incident in the Philippines. We are now gearing for another set of fund-raising activities and donations to aid the victims of the calamity in Haiti.

I was watching CNN a while ago. I knew I shouldn't have. My threshold for showing emotion is low that I cannot help but cry for their suffering. I pray that we all do our share to help these people who are still homeless, hungry, tired, sleep-deprived and broken. Do your part to reach out. Let's all help and pray for the people of Haiti.

Shaken but not Stirred

There was a tremor here in Dubai around 2:35 p.m. today and I was one of the few in the office who felt it. I instantly alerted everyone that I was experiencing tremors - twice, about a minute apart. The first one was stronger than the 2nd. The epicenter was said to be in Iran. The seismic activity measured around 6.1 in the Richter scale.

My colleagues just laughed it off saying I was overly "sensitive" about these stuff. Well, I quipped: "One day, you people will thank me for being an environmental freak! I am in-tune with nature so things like this, I feel right away." I felt like the "boy who cried wolf" when I told them there were tremors as I spoke. What can I do if I am that princess with a pea under the mattress?

I told them, the next time it happens (which I hope and pray that it doesn't), I won't warn them. I'll pick up my bag and run like crazy out of the office! Leave me a pink slip for all I care!!! I'll be running for my life!