Strong quakes rock eastern Indonesia; 3 dead

MSNBC.com ^ | 06/16/2010 | Staff

[OldDeckHand]

JAKARTA, Indonesia - Four strong earthquakes struck the same region of eastern Indonesia early Wednesday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The first magnitude 6.4 quake was followed by a 7.0 shaker. An hour later, a 5.1 magnitude temblor hit, followed 20 minutes later by a 6.2 rocker.

There were power blackouts in some areas but no initial reports of serious damage or casualties.

[OldDeckHand]

Not a quake hobbyist at all, but these seem like pretty strong swarms.

[Army Air Corps]

Rosie O’Donnell is dancing?

[emax]

Now I really feel I cannot be the only one who thinks this many earthquakes are pure coincidence. Maybe everyone else says I am just being a douchebag who probvably thinks the sun still revolves around Earth, but man it would be nice to have someone back me up on this, that this is reall a bit much for coincidence.

[James C. Bennett]

Wouldn’t such multiple releases of built-up plate stresses be better than all of them occurring all at once, as in the plate edges settling with a single, gigantic crash?

[OldDeckHand]

Well, like I said I'm not any kind of authority, or even enthusiast, but...there literally are hundreds of earthquakes each day, but the vast majority of those are well under 4.0. I do think it's unusual to have four quakes like this (relatively strong) so close together and in one place.

With respect to these quakes relative to the one in California just last night, I'd say it's purely coincidental. You can look at the statistics for yourself here...

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/

[OldDeckHand]

"Wouldn’t such multiple releases of built-up plate stresses be better than all of them occurring all at once, as in the plate edges settling with a single, gigantic crash?"

If Boxing Day, 2004 is any indication, I'd say yes.

But, I took college geology over 25 years ago and made the mistake of having a 0800 M/W class. I was so hung over every class, I have no idea how I passed it, but certainly don't remember anything useful from it.

[nolongerademocrat]

Let’s see:
1. Fly buzzing on t.v.
2. Buzzed by Bees at the White House.
3. Gulf Oil Spill.
4. Rat at the press conference.
5. Storm with thunder and lightening at Memorial Day half-hearted wreath hanging.
6. Floods (Arkansas, Oklahoma...)
7. Earthquake in California.
8. Earthquake in Indonesia...

Interesting.

[Mr. Mojo]

Rosie O’Donnell is dancing?

Or someone took away the fat Indonesian kid's smokes and he's throwing a tantrum.

[James C. Bennett]

LOL

[americanophile]

Seismologists keep saying they’re unrelated, but it seems like the whole pacific plate is in motion.

[verum ago]

The first magnitude 6.4 quake was followed by a 7.0 shaker. An hour later, a 5.1 magnitude temblor hit, followed 20 minutes later by a 6.2 rocker.

After tremor and shock this writer might be out of earthquake synonyms

[Outlaw Woman]

Can someone explain briefly how quakes and aftershocks differ? How do they determine whether it’s a quake or an aftershock?

[Revel]

Anybody ever notice what is almost exactly 180 degrees around the globe from the Gulf oil leak?

[VideoDoctor]

4.0 quake hit Anchorage, Alaska earlier tonight.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Let’s hope the child of Krakatoa, Anak Krakatoa, isn’t waking up.

[BuckeyeTexan]

What’s below Krakatoa is no other place on Earth.

[BuckeyeTexan]

is no = is like no

[rfp1234]

The frogs & locusts haven’t shown up yet.

[JDW11235]

I give up, what IS almost exactly 180º around the globe?

[nolongerademocrat]

There’s still time...