TONGA/FIJI REMAINS ACTIVE

 

EARTHQUAKE SUMMARY FOR SEPTEMBER 23, 2018

 

The strongest activity in the world today included an M 5.1 south of Tonga and an M 4.9 in Fiji. These are not unusual events and continue the regional activation which has included at least two great earthquakes in the past two months. Forecasts 119933, 119934 and 119949 had expected today's activity in Tonga.

 

O: 23SEP2018 19:54:31  17.7S  179.8W mb=4.9  EMSC   FIJI REGION                  

P: 18SEP2018 119933    17.0S  179.0W 4.0-6.1 BAAAA  Tonga Islands              

P: 18SEP2018 119934    18.0S  180.0W 4.0-5.6 BAAAA  Tonga Islands              

 

O: 23SEP2018 14:59:52  24.3S  175.6W mb=5.1  EMSC   SOUTH OF TONGA               

O: 23SEP2018 07:32:49  25.4S  177.7W mb=4.5  EMSC   SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS        

P: 18SEP2018 119949    27.0S  176.0W 4.0-5.7 BBBAA  Tonga Islands              

 

An aftershock of the M 5.2 in the Dominican Republic yesterday occurred today with M 4.4. NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.4 in the Dominican Republic was felt with intensity VII in Villa Elisa, Monte Cristi, Dominican Republic and II-III in the area(s) of Puerto Plata, Santiago, Milot, Nord, and Salcedo, Dominican Republic. The M 5.2 was one of the strongest in that area since the M 7.0 of January, 2010. Forecast 119762 expected today's event was likely within about 50 km of this epicenter around September 20.

 

O: 23SEP2018 07:23:09  19.7N   71.3W mb=4.4  EMSC   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC           

P: 20SEP2018 119762    20.0N   71.0W 3.0-4.7 BAAAA  Bahamas/No. Caribbean      

 

It was a quiet day in the U.S. and Canada today. The largest earthquake was an M 3.3 in Central Alaska. This event was not reported felt. The last earthquake within about 100 km of this epicenter with M>=3.3 occurred more than 1.5 years ago on February 13, 2017 with M 5.3 and prior to that on April 18, 2014 (M 4.3).   Forecast 119907 had expected activity in the area southwest of this epicenter

around September 21.

 

O: 23SEP2018 20:51:03  63.2N  144.3W Ml=3.3  EMSC   CENTRAL ALASKA               

P: 21SEP2018 119907    61.4N  146.5W 3.2-5.2 ABAAA  Central Alaska             

 

An unusual earthquake of M 3.1 also occurred in the Bristol Bay area of Alaska today. The only other event of M>=3.1 in the Bristol Bay area in the past year was an M 4.6 on February 25, 2018. Forecast 119904 expected moderate enhancement in the region in mid-September.

 

O: 23SEP2018 13:48:29  58.8N  158.4W Ml=3.1  EMSC   BRISTOL BAY                  

P: 16SEP2018 119904    60.1N  153.4W 3.2-5.1 CBCAA  Central Alaska             

OTHER GLOBAL EARTHQUAKE ACTIVITY

 

For most events there are two listings. The first line is the observed event starting with "O:" for Observed. There follows the date, month and year, the time in UT hours:minutes:seconds, the latitude and longitude, the given magnitude and the reporting agency followed by the geographic location. The second line starts with "P:" This is the forecast event as forecast in our summaries normally more than a month in advance. Magnitudes may vary in response to updated seismic watches and daily variations due to tidal and other influences. This line has the forecast date, month and year, the forecast number, latitude, longitude and forecast magnitude range.  This is followed by a comparison between the forecast and the event. The comparison includes letters A-D. The first is number of days difference from predicted (A:up to 2, B3-5; C:6-10; D:more than 10), Difference in latitude (A:up to 1 degree; B:1-2 degrees; C:2-4 degrees; D:more than 4 degrees); longitude (same comparison as with latitude); magnitude (A: within forecast range; B: higher than forecast range; C: lower than forecast range; D: no comparison possible). The last letter is a stand in for a future comparison which needs to be done statistically after a large number of forecasts have been made. In previous data, an excellent match is generally AAAAA; a good match as one or two B's; a fair match has several B's and C's and a poor match is one which contains a number of C's or D's. 

 

ASIA

 

O: 23SEP2018 22:57:36  55.2N  162.4E mb=4.0  EMSC   NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA 

P: 18SEP2018 119891    54.0N  158.0E 4.0-5.8 BBCAA  Kamchatka                  

 

O: 23SEP2018 06:54:26  29.5N   52.0E ML=4.0  EMSC   SOUTHERN IRAN                

P: 18SEP2018 119824    30.0N   52.0E 3.8-5.3 BAAAA  So. Iran                   

 

O: 23SEP2018 22:17:55  33.0N   45.9E mb=4.2  EMSC   IRAQ                         

P: 20SEP2018 119825    34.0N   49.0E 3.8-5.3 BACAA  So. Iran                   

 

O: 23SEP2018 15:05:06  37.4N   72.3E mb=4.6  EMSC   TAJIKISTAN                   

P: 18SEP2018 119790    37.0N   71.0E 3.8-5.3 BAAAA  Hindu Kush/Pakistan        

 

No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Asia today.

 

INDONESIA AND PHILIPPINES

 

O: 23SEP2018 10:57:32   0.8N   98.6E mb=4.6  EMSC   NIAS REGION, INDONESIA       

P: 18SEP2018 119710     0.0N   98.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA  So. Sumatera               

 

O: 24SEP2018 03:42:21   6.3S  145.8E mb=5.0  EMSC   NEW GUINEA, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 

P: 16SEP2018 119720     5.0S  146.0E 4.0-5.5 CBAAA  New Ireland                

 

O: 23SEP2018 23:30:22   8.3S  116.8E ML=4.4  EMSC   LOMBOK REGION, INDONESIA     

P: 19SEP2018 119730     9.0S  118.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA  Sumbawa Island area        

 

O: 24SEP2018 00:11:37  20.7N  122.1E mb=4.4  EMSC   BATAN ISL REGION, PHILIPPINES

P: 18SEP2018 119775    22.0N  122.0E 4.0-5.5 CBAAA  Taiwan                     

 

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

 

O: 24SEP2018 00:39:54  11.1N   86.9W Mw=4.8  EMSC   NEAR COAST OF NICARAGUA      

P: 22SEP2018 119751    11.0N   87.0W 3.5-5.3 AAAAA  Nicaragua                  

 

O: 23SEP2018 08:07:36  14.4N   93.8W ML=4.0  EMSC   OFF COAST OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO 

P: 22SEP2018 119738    15.0N   93.0W 3.5-5.1 AAAAA  Chiapas, Mexico            

 

O: 24SEP2018 06:54:29  15.1N   94.5W ML=4.3  EMSC   OFF COAST OF CHIAPAS, MEXICO 

O: 24SEP2018 03:02:32  16.0N   94.1W ML=4.0  EMSC   OFFSHORE CHIAPAS, MEXICO     

P: 22SEP2018 119739    16.0N   94.0W 3.5-5.1 AAAAA  Chiapas, Mexico            

 

O: 23SEP2018 21:21:26  17.1N   94.9W ML=4.0  EMSC   OAXACA, MEXICO               

O: 24SEP2018 04:22:15  17.2N   94.5W ML=4.2  EMSC   VERACRUZ, MEXICO             

O: 23SEP2018 15:26:41  17.9N   92.7W ML=4.1  EMSC   TABASCO, MEXICO              

P: 22SEP2018 119739    16.0N   94.0W 3.5-5.1 ABAAA  Chiapas, Mexico            

 

O: 23SEP2018 06:54:18  18.8N   68.2W Md=3.1  EMSC   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC REGION    

P: 22SEP2018 119756    19.0N   69.0W 3.4-4.9 AAAAA  Puerto Rico                

 

O: 23SEP2018 21:49:26  19.0N   64.9W MD=3.5  EMSC   VIRGIN ISLANDS REGION        

O: 24SEP2018 01:59:52  19.5N   63.8W MD=3.6  EMSC   VIRGIN ISLANDS REGION        

P: 20SEP2018 119746    18.0N   64.0W 3.0-5.2 BBAAA  Leeward Islands            

 

O: 23SEP2018 07:23:09  19.7N   71.3W mb=4.4  EMSC   DOMINICAN REPUBLIC           

P: 20SEP2018 119762    20.0N   71.0W 3.0-4.7 BAAAA  Bahamas/No. Caribbean      

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.4 in the Dominican Republic was felt with intensity VII in Villa Elisa, Monte Criti, Dominican Republic and II-III in the area(s) of Puerto Plata, Santiago, Milot, Nord, and Salcedo, Dominican Republic.

 

O: 23SEP2018 19:06:28  21.2S   68.9W ML=4.5  EMSC   TARAPACA, CHILE              

O: 23SEP2018 20:41:17  22.3S   67.8W ML=4.2  EMSC   POTOSI, BOLIVIA              

P: 17SEP2018 119937    22.0S   68.0W 4.0-5.8 CAAAA  Argentina                  

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 5.0 in Northern Chile was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Iquique, Tarapaca, Chile.

 

No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Central or South America today.

 

AFRICA AND EUROPE

 

No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported in Europe today.

 

SOUTHWEST PACIFIC

 

O: 23SEP2018 22:06:52  16.7S  173.9W mb=4.5  EMSC   TONGA                        

P: 18SEP2018 119934    19.0S  174.0W 4.0-5.4 BCAAA  Tonga Islands              

 

O: 23SEP2018 19:54:31  17.7S  179.8W mb=4.9  EMSC   FIJI REGION                  

P: 18SEP2018 119933    17.0S  179.0W 4.0-6.1 BAAAA  Tonga Islands              

P: 18SEP2018 119934    18.0S  180.0W 4.0-5.6 BAAAA  Tonga Islands              

 

O: 23SEP2018 17:05:26  22.0S  176.4W mb=4.6  EMSC   FIJI REGION                  

P: 17SEP2018 119948    22.0S  180.0W 4.0-5.8 CACAA  Tonga Islands              

 

O: 23SEP2018 14:59:52  24.3S  175.6W mb=5.1  EMSC   SOUTH OF TONGA               

O: 23SEP2018 07:32:49  25.4S  177.7W mb=4.5  EMSC   SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS        

P: 18SEP2018 119949    27.0S  176.0W 4.0-5.7 BBBAA  Tonga Islands              

 

OCEAN RIDGES

 

No significant (M>=5) or unusual earthquakes were reported on Ocean Ridges today.

 

 

ZEALANDIA AND AUSTRALIA REGION

 

No earthquakes of M>=4 were recorded in the regions of Zealandia or Australia

today. GeoNet did not report any felt events in the area.

 

JAPAN AND KURIL ISLANDS

 

O: 23SEP2018 22:57:36  55.2N  162.4E mb=4.0  EMSC   NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA 

P: 18SEP2018 119891    54.0N  158.0E 4.0-5.8 BBCAA  Kamchatka                  

 

O: 23SEP2018 21:33:41  33.8N  136.7E mb=4.1  EMSC   NEAR S. COAST OF WESTERN HONSH

P: 18SEP2018 119787    34.0N  135.0E 3.5-4.9 BABAA  Central/So. Honshu Japan   

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.1 in Southern Honshu, Japan was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Narashino, Chiba and Tochigi, Japan.

 

O: 23SEP2018 13:29:48  35.2N  141.2E mb=4.8  EMSC   NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAP

O: 23SEP2018 15:05:34  36.5N  140.6E mb=4.6  EMSC   NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAP

P: 18SEP2018 119806    36.0N  142.0E 4.0-5.4 BAAAA  Off East Coast Honshu      

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 4.6 in Southeastern Honshu, Japan was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Ibaraki at Tokai, Mito, Tsuchiura and Naka and in Narita, Chiba, Japan.

 

O: 24SEP2018 04:53:57  45.2N  143.4E mb=4.2  EMSC   HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION       

P: 19SEP2018 119846    43.0N  142.0E 3.5-5.4 BCAAA  Hokkaido, Japan            

 

 

U.S./CANADA*

 

WESTERN U.S./CANADA

 

CALIFORNIA

 

O: 23SEP2018 19:18:03  34.0N  117.2W ML=2.0  EMSC   GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALI

P: 20SEP2018 119818    33.7N  117.5W 2.5-4.8 BAAAA  So. California             

 

O: 24SEP2018 02:27:47  39.6N  122.0W MD=2.1  EMSC   NORTHERN CALIFORNIA          

P: 21SEP2018 119864    40.6N  122.4W 2.5-4.4 BAAAA  Northern California        

 

O: 24SEP2018 06:20:29  40.5N  123.8W MD=2.3  EMSC   NORTHERN CALIFORNIA          

O: 23SEP2018 09:59:03  40.6N  124.0W Md=2.0  EMSC   NORTHERN CALIFORNIA          

P: 20SEP2018 119865    40.3N  124.7W 2.5-4.6 BAAAA  Off Coast of No. Calif     

 

ALASKA

 

O: 23SEP2018 13:48:29  58.8N  158.4W Ml=3.1  EMSC   BRISTOL BAY                   

P: 16SEP2018 119904    60.1N  153.4W 3.2-5.1 CBCAA  Central Alaska             

 

O: 23SEP2018 20:51:03  63.2N  144.3W Ml=3.3  EMSC   CENTRAL ALASKA               

P: 21SEP2018 119907    61.4N  146.5W 3.2-5.2 ABAAA  Central Alaska              

 

PACIFIC NORTHWESTERN U.S./WESTERN CANADA

 

No events of M>=2 were located in the northwestern U.S. or western Canada today.

 

ROCKY MOUNTAINS REGION

 

O: 24SEP2018 03:50:23  46.9N  112.5W ML=2.7  EMSC   WESTERN MONTANA              

P: 22SEP2018 119853    45.7N  112.1W 2.0-3.9 ABAAA  Montana/Idaho              

 

EASTERN U.S./CANADA

 

O: 23SEP2018 22:08:56  36.0N   96.8W mb=2.7  EMSC   OKLAHOMA                     

P: 22SEP2018 119829    37.0N   96.0W 2.0-4.3 AAAAA  Southern Plains            

 

NEIC reported this earthquake of M 2.7 in Oklahoma was felt with intensity II-III in the area(s) of Cushing and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

 

HAWAII

 

No earthquakes of M>=3 were located in Hawaii.