Categories: ThecounT

Pacific Rim Ring Of Fire Earthquakes Spark Foreshock Concern

The 8.2 earthquake in northern Chile was only one in a string of recent earthquakes along what is known as the “Ring of Fire,” a circle of quake-prone areas on the Pacific Rim.

While Tuesday’s earthquake in Chile was large by any measure, seismologists remain concerned it could have been a foreshock to a much larger quake in this region – a section of plate boundary that hasn’t seen a major rupture in 137 years.

A magnitude 7.8 just struck on Wednesday in Iquique, Chile and a magnitude 5.1 quake hit Los Angeles last week, followed by aftershocks along the California coast. And South America will be on the lookout in coming days for aftershocks that have already started following Tuesday night’s temblor.

source

Both cities lie along the so-called Ring of Fire, where two plates underneath the earth’s surface occasionally bump up against other plates, according to Kate Hutton, staff seismologist at California Institute of Technology.

“That affects South America, the California coast, Alaska, Japan, the Philippines. Basically any places around the Pacific Rim are at risk,” she said.

Seismologists have known for decades that this section of the plate boundary was due for action in the relatively near future.

source

THECOUNT.COM "ALWAYS OPEN! Since 2005!"

this is why i'm hot

Recent Posts

Olympic Star Snowboarder Sophie Hediger Dies After Caught in Swiss Avalanche

AROSA, Switzerland. (THECOUNT) -- The Swiss-Ski federation has confirmed the heartbreaking news of the death…

11 hours ago

Previously Deported Migrant Arrested for Setting Woman Ablaze in NYC Subway

NEW YORK CITY, NY. (THECOUNT) -- A horrifying incident unfolded on a New York City…

11 hours ago

‘Twice Deported’ Mexican Man ID’d As Wrong-Way Driver In Crash That Killed Metro Officer Colton Pulsipher

LAS VEGAS, NV. (THECOUNT) -- In a tragic incident earlier this month, Las Vegas Metropolitan…

12 hours ago

IL Man John Fleet Arrested In Monday Channahon Crash That Killed State Trooper Clay Carns

JOLIET, IL. (THECOUNT) -- In a heart-wrenching incident just two days before Christmas, Illinois State…

12 hours ago

PA Man Tom Reitz ID’d As Victim In Monday Beaver Twp Fatal Crash

JEFFERSON COUNTY, PA. (THECOUNT) -- Just two days before Christmas, a tragic single-vehicle accident claimed…

12 hours ago

NC Man Justin ‘Daniel Prince’ Davis ID’d As Victim In Sunday Wilson Fatal Hit-And-Run

WILSON, NC. (THECOUNT) -- In the early hours of Sunday morning, a tragic hit-and-run incident…

1 day ago