Cyclone Ockhi is expected <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-at-least-16-dead-several-missing-as-cyclone-ockhi-nears-lakshadweep-sri-lanka-25598">to make landfall in Maharashtra and south Gujarat </a>in the next 24 hours, the Indian Metrological Department(IMD) said.

India&#39;s Metrological Department <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cyclone-ockhi-indian-navy-finds-9-kochi-fishermen-missing-for-15-days-25804">said heavy&nbsp;rains are likely to occur over </a>north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight.&nbsp;

Several districts in Gujarat will also receive &quot;light rains with increased intensity&quot;, the weather forecaster said, adding, that sea conditions will become rough over north Maharashtra and Gujarat coast.

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Mumbai: 12 Ships, 3 Dornier aircraft and 3 helicopters deployed by Coast Guard Region (West) for providing critical assistance to the fishermen at sea. Coast Guard District Headquarters at Cochin &amp; Kavaratti directed to provide assistance to stranded fishermen <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/SByv7juTDT">pic.twitter.com/SByv7juTDT</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937637334555619328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The IMD has warned fishermen in the Maharashtra and Gujarat area not to venture into the sea. India&#39;s defence forces are continuing efforts to airlift fishermen in the area&nbsp;who have been caught in the cyclone.

India has deployed ten Naval ships and eight aircrafts to assist in rescue and relief effort. The cyclone has claimed 14 lives in Kerala and Tamil Nadu&nbsp; 
with several fishermen still missing.

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Spoke to CMs of Tamil Nadu &amp; Kerala &amp; also to Administrator of Lakshadweep regarding situation in areas affected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a>. Centre is providing all possible assistance to these states/UT. Rescue &amp; relief ops. are going on in full swing, tweets HM Rajnath Singh (File pic) <a href="https://t.co/C3A8vzkgqr">pic.twitter.com/C3A8vzkgqr</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937634299074842629?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Kerala state emergency department said nearly 3,200 people were in relief camps with schools and colleges shut with at least 4,000 powerlines affected in the state.

Meanwhile, cyclone Ockhi has caused widespread damage in Sri Lanka with at least 77,000 people in sixteen districts affected in the island nation.

The southern Galle district has been badly hit by the cyclone. Nearly 4,000 people are in Sri Lankan relief camps, Reuters reported.

While Cyclone Ockhi was said to be weakening, another tropical storm was brewing in the Bay of Bengal on the east coast, officials said.

 
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India's Metrological Department said light rains are likely to occur over north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight.?

Cyclone Ockhi is expected to make landfall in Maharashtra and south Gujarat in the next 24 hours, the Indian Metrological Department(IMD) said. India's Metrological Department said heavy rains are likely to occur over north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight. Several districts in Gujarat will also receive "light rains with increased intensity", the weather forecaster said, adding, that sea conditions will become rough over north Maharashtra and Gujarat coast. Mumbai: 12 Ships, 3 Dornier aircraft and 3 helicopters deployed by Coast Guard Region (West) for providing critical assistance to the fishermen at sea. Coast Guard District Headquarters at Cochin & Kavaratti directed to provide assistance to stranded fishermen #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/SByv7juTDT — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × The IMD has warned fishermen in the Maharashtra and Gujarat area not to venture into the sea. India's defence forces are continuing efforts to airlift fishermen in the area who have been caught in the cyclone. India has deployed ten Naval ships and eight aircrafts to assist in rescue and relief effort. The cyclone has claimed 14 lives in Kerala and Tamil Nadu with several fishermen still missing. Spoke to CMs of Tamil Nadu & Kerala & also to Administrator of Lakshadweep regarding situation in areas affected by #CycloneOckhi. Centre is providing all possible assistance to these states/UT. Rescue & relief ops. are going on in full swing, tweets HM Rajnath Singh (File pic) pic.twitter.com/C3A8vzkgqr — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × Kerala state emergency department said nearly 3,200 people were in relief camps with schools and colleges shut with at least 4,000 powerlines affected in the state. Meanwhile, cyclone Ockhi has caused widespread damage in Sri Lanka with at least 77,000 people in sixteen districts affected in the island nation. The southern Galle district has been badly hit by the cyclone. Nearly 4,000 people are in Sri Lankan relief camps, Reuters reported. While Cyclone Ockhi was said to be weakening, another tropical storm was brewing in the Bay of Bengal on the east coast, officials said.

Tracking Cyclone Ockhi: Heavy rain expected in Mumbai, Gujarat

Thane and <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/tracking-cyclone-ockhi-heavy-rain-expected-in-mumbai-gujarat-25828">Navi Mumbai received rains ahead </a>of Cyclone Ockhi&#39;s arrival as the India&#39;s weather department warned&nbsp;the cyclone could reach Maharashtra and south Gujarat&nbsp;in the next 24 hours.

Maharashtra&#39;s Education and Sports minister Vinod Tawde said all schools and colleges in Mumbai&#39;s metropolitan region including Sindhudurga, Thane Raigad and Palghar Districts&nbsp;would remain closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure against cyclone Ockhi.

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Precautionary holiday declared on 5/12/17 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MumbaiRains?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MumbaiRains</a>
&mdash; Vinod Tawde (@TawdeVinod) <a href="https://twitter.com/TawdeVinod/status/937679179096584192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The Indian Metrological Department(IMD) has predicted the cyclone will reach north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight.&nbsp;

IMD official Pankaj Kumar said cyclone Ockhi is likely to cross south Gujarat near Surat by December 5.

The Gujarat government has issued instructions to district magistrates, asking them to take adequate precautionary measures. The Gujarat government has deployed National Disaster Relief Force&nbsp;(NDRF) teams as the cyclone nears the state.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> INS Kalpeni rescued 11 fishermen off the coast of Kochi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/dUE8PONK1K">pic.twitter.com/dUE8PONK1K</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937684083475341312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, angry fishermen protested before Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he visited a fishing village in the state capital, reports said. There were also protests by fishermen reportedly in Kanyakumari.

Home minister Rajnath Singh has promised &quot;all possible assistance to states and Union territories&quot; affected by Cyclone Ockhi.

Rescue &amp; relief operations are on in full swing, the home minister said.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kerala?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kerala</a> INS Kalpeni rescued 11 fishermen off the coast of Kochi <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CycloneOckhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CycloneOckhi</a> <a href="https://t.co/dUE8PONK1K">pic.twitter.com/dUE8PONK1K</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/937684083475341312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 4, 2017</a></blockquote>
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The cyclone has left a trail of destruction in Tamil Nadu. At least 19 people have been killed with several still missing in the sea.

The cyclone has&nbsp;destroyed several powerlines and houses in the state.

 
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Maharashtra's minister Vinod Tawde said all schools and colleges in Mumbai's metropolitan region would remain closed on Tuesday

Thane and Navi Mumbai received rains ahead of Cyclone Ockhi's arrival as the India's weather department warned the cyclone could reach Maharashtra and south Gujarat in the next 24 hours. Maharashtra's Education and Sports minister Vinod Tawde said all schools and colleges in Mumbai's metropolitan region including Sindhudurga, Thane Raigad and Palghar Districts would remain closed on Tuesday as a precautionary measure against cyclone Ockhi. Precautionary holiday declared on 5/12/17 for schools and colleges in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Sindhudurga, Thane, Raigad and Palghar Districts for the safety of the students due to the serious weather predictions on #CycloneOckhi #MumbaiRains — Vinod Tawde (@TawdeVinod) December 4, 2017 × The Indian Metrological Department(IMD) has predicted the cyclone will reach north Konkan and Goa including Mumbai tonight. IMD official Pankaj Kumar said cyclone Ockhi is likely to cross south Gujarat near Surat by December 5. The Gujarat government has issued instructions to district magistrates, asking them to take adequate precautionary measures. The Gujarat government has deployed National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) teams as the cyclone nears the state. #Kerala INS Kalpeni rescued 11 fishermen off the coast of Kochi #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/dUE8PONK1K — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × Meanwhile, angry fishermen protested before Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan when he visited a fishing village in the state capital, reports said. There were also protests by fishermen reportedly in Kanyakumari. Home minister Rajnath Singh has promised "all possible assistance to states and Union territories" affected by Cyclone Ockhi. Rescue & relief operations are on in full swing, the home minister said. #Kerala INS Kalpeni rescued 11 fishermen off the coast of Kochi #CycloneOckhi pic.twitter.com/dUE8PONK1K — ANI (@ANI) December 4, 2017 × The cyclone has left a trail of destruction in Tamil Nadu. At least 19 people have been killed with several still missing in the sea. The cyclone has destroyed several powerlines and houses in the state.

Watch: Rains lash Thane, Navi Mumbai as Cyclone Ockhi approaches Maharashtra coast

A strong quake of magnitude 6.0 struck southeastern Iran near the city of Kerman on Friday, the US&nbsp;Geological Survey said.

The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.3, was centered 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Kerman, which has a population of more than 821,000.

It struck at 6:32 a.m. (0232 GMT) and was very shallow, at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified the shaking.

A magnitude 6.0 quake is considered strong and is capable of causing severe damage.

A strong quake struck southeastern Iran near the city of Kerman on Friday, the US?Geological Survey said

A strong quake of magnitude 6.0 struck southeastern Iran near the city of Kerman on Friday, the US Geological Survey said. The quake, initially reported as a magnitude 6.3, was centered 36 miles (58 km) northeast of Kerman, which has a population of more than 821,000. It struck at 6:32 a.m. (0232 GMT) and was very shallow, at a depth of 6.2 miles (10 km), which would have amplified the shaking. A magnitude 6.0 quake is considered strong and is capable of causing severe damage.

Magnitude 6.0 earthquake hits southeast Iran

Director of National Centre for Seismology Vineet Gehlot said on Wednesday&nbsp;a major earthquake is due to hit&nbsp;Uttarakhand&#39;s Garhwal Himalaya, potentially damaging several parts of North India.&nbsp;

In the past, the possibility of severe earthquakes in the region have been slim, however, smaller quakes have&nbsp;hit the area&nbsp;letting out energy which could lead to a massive jolt,&nbsp;Gehlot said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

&quot;Statistics indicate there is a possibility of a major earthquake in Uttarakhand in the future. Reasons to believe so, no major earthquake has struck the region in past 500-700 years and energy required to build major earthquakes is accumulating since 100 years,&quot; Director of National Centre for Seismology&nbsp;Vineet Gehlot said.&nbsp;

He further urged that maximum precautions must be taken which could include safe building codes, proper planning in advance in order to be prepared as damage could occur in lowlands.&nbsp;

A 5.8 magnitude earthquake had hit Uttarakhand in February, with its tremors reaching Delhi-NCR and many states in&nbsp;north and east India.&nbsp;

Dr. Gehlot further warned that the maximum damage would be in the lowlands.

Director of National Centre for Seismology Vineet Gehlot said on Wednesday a major earthquake is due to hit Uttarakhand's Garhwal Himalaya, potentially damaging several parts of North India. In the past, the possibility of severe earthquakes in the region have been slim, however, smaller quakes have hit the area letting out energy which could lead to a massive jolt, Gehlot said. "Statistics indicate there is a possibility of a major earthquake in Uttarakhand in the future. Reasons to believe so, no major earthquake has struck the region in past 500-700 years and energy required to build major earthquakes is accumulating since 100 years," Director of National Centre for Seismology Vineet Gehlot said. He further urged that maximum precautions must be taken which could include safe building codes, proper planning in advance in order to be prepared as damage could occur in lowlands. A 5.8 magnitude earthquake had hit Uttarakhand in February, with its tremors reaching Delhi-NCR and many states in north and east India.

Major quake may hit Uttarakhand: National Centre for Seismology

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/hafiz-saeed-designated-global-terrorist-us-reminds-pakistan-24887">Hafiz Saeed &#39;designated global terrorist&#39;, US reminds Pakistan</a>

In May 2008, the United States had designated Saeed as a &quot;Specially Designated Global Terrorist&quot; under Executive Order 13224.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/major-quake-may-hit-north-india-chief-of-seismology-center-24882">Major quake may hit Uttarakhand: National Centre for Seismology</a>

In the past, the possibility of severe earthquakes in the region have been slim, however, smaller quakes have hit the area letting out energy which could lead to a massive jolt, Director of National Centre for Seismology said.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-us-will-possibly-pursue-targeted-sanctions-against-myanmar-says-tillerson-24884">Rohingya crisis: </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-us-will-possibly-pursue-targeted-sanctions-against-myanmar-says-tillerson-24884">US</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/rohingya-crisis-us-will-possibly-pursue-targeted-sanctions-against-myanmar-says-tillerson-24884"> will possibly pursue targeted sanctions against Myanmar, says Tillerson</a>

Tillerson who had visited Myanmar a fortnight ago had avoided using the term &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; even as both the US and UN had slammed the Myanmar government over reported &quot;ethnic cleansing&quot; in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine state.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/switzerland-turns-down-baloch-leader-brahumdagh-bugtis-application-for-political-asylum-24886">Switzerland rejects Baloch leader Bugti&#39;s political asylum</a>

The decision was announced just a week after charging a lifetime entry ban on exiled Baloch leader Mehran Marri, Bugti&#39;s brother-in-law.

&nbsp;

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-assures-aid-to-argentina-over-missing-submarine-24885">Trump assures aid to Argentina over missing submarine</a>

&nbsp;US President Donald Trump has assured Argentina of all support and cooperation in finding the ARA San Juan submarine.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

Tillerson who had visited Myanmar a fortnight ago had avoided using the term "ethnic cleansing" even as both the US and UN had slammed the Myanmar government

Hafiz Saeed 'designated global terrorist', US reminds Pakistan In May 2008, the United States had designated Saeed as a "Specially Designated Global Terrorist" under Executive Order 13224. Major quake may hit Uttarakhand: National Centre for Seismology In the past, the possibility of severe earthquakes in the region have been slim, however, smaller quakes have hit the area letting out energy which could lead to a massive jolt, Director of National Centre for Seismology said. Rohingya crisis: US will possibly pursue targeted sanctions against Myanmar, says Tillerson Tillerson who had visited Myanmar a fortnight ago had avoided using the term "ethnic cleansing" even as both the US and UN had slammed the Myanmar government over reported "ethnic cleansing" in Myanmar's Rakhine state. Switzerland rejects Baloch leader Bugti's political asylum The decision was announced just a week after charging a lifetime entry ban on exiled Baloch leader Mehran Marri, Bugti's brother-in-law. Trump assures aid to Argentina over missing submarine US President Donald Trump has assured Argentina of all support and cooperation in finding the ARA San Juan submarine.

WION morning news brief, November 23, 2017

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been directed to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced on Monday.&nbsp;

The decision was taken by the Homeland Security Department, after stating that the &#39;extraordinary conditions&#39; in Haiti have improved to a large extent, giving them until July 2019 to prepare their return, following the 2010 earthquake which leads severe damage in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, reported by The Washington Post.&nbsp;

The Haitian government officials had permitted the individuals to remain in the US due to the poor economic and political conditions and well as the widespread cholera epidemic. Moreover, damages caused by three hurricanes since 2016 exacerbate the difficulty of returning Haitians. 
&nbsp; 
However, Trump administration officials have stated that the permit was temporary and by no means a way for people to become long-term residents.&nbsp;

Last month, the United Nations closed a peacekeeping mission in Haiti which included over 10,000 troops. The new mission will consist of around 1,300 international officers and 350 civilians who will help reform the current conditions in the country, reports said.

The Homeland Security Department announced the decision 60 days before the current TPS expires. The agency, in May, had extended the program for just six months instead of eighteen and demanded Haitians to prepare to go home.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Haiti is not ready to take 58,000,&rdquo; said Marleine Bastien, a South Florida Haitian activist who had requested for at least an 18-month extension of TPS. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s going to be tough for the families in the US&nbsp;and a disaster for Haiti. It is clear that they are making decisions on the basis of politics and not&nbsp;considering the facts. This is purely unacceptable.&rdquo; as reported by Miami Herald.

Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said that the decisions were&nbsp;&#39;unacceptable&#39; and pushed the administration to rethink the decision. While members of Congress from South Florida acted in alarm.&nbsp;

The temporary status covers around 435,000 people from nine countries who fled to the US, legally or otherwise, after being hit by powerful natural disasters.&nbsp;

Since taking office, Trump has directed to end the temporary permit program for Sudan and Nicaragua and has also claimed to take a decision on 86,000 Honduras, living in the country, until July 2018.

Days after the Haiti earthquake, former President Barack Obama had granted an eighteen-month protection status for the citizens of Haiti and renewed it everytime it expired.

A senior official on Monday said that 18 months is a long time to allow families with US-born children to make decisions about their future.

Around 59,000 Haitians, living under the Temporary Residency Permit, have been directed to leave the United States within 18 months, the Trump administration announced on Monday. The decision was taken by the Homeland Security Department, after stating that the 'extraordinary conditions' in Haiti have improved to a large extent, giving them until July 2019 to prepare their return, following the 2010 earthquake which leads severe damage in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, reported by The Washington Post. The Haitian government officials had permitted the individuals to remain in the US due to the poor economic and political conditions and well as the widespread cholera epidemic. Moreover, damages caused by three hurricanes since 2016 exacerbate the difficulty of returning Haitians. However, Trump administration officials have stated that the permit was temporary and by no means a way for people to become long-term residents. Last month, the United Nations closed a peacekeeping mission in Haiti which included over 10,000 troops. The new mission will consist of around 1,300 international officers and 350 civilians who will help reform the current conditions in the country, reports said. The Homeland Security Department announced the decision 60 days before the current TPS expires. The agency, in May, had extended the program for just six months instead of eighteen and demanded Haitians to prepare to go home. “Haiti is not ready to take 58,000,” said Marleine Bastien, a South Florida Haitian activist who had requested for at least an 18-month extension of TPS. “It’s going to be tough for the families in the US and a disaster for Haiti. It is clear that they are making decisions on the basis of politics and not considering the facts. This is purely unacceptable.” as reported by Miami Herald. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, said that the decisions were 'unacceptable' and pushed the administration to rethink the decision. While members of Congress from South Florida acted in alarm. The temporary status covers around 435,000 people from nine countries who fled to the US, legally or otherwise, after being hit by powerful natural disasters. Since taking office, Trump has directed to end the temporary permit program for Sudan and Nicaragua and has also claimed to take a decision on 86,000 Honduras, living in the country, until July 2018. Days after the Haiti earthquake, former President Barack Obama had granted an eighteen-month protection status for the citizens of Haiti and renewed it everytime it expired.

Haitians directed to leave US within 18 months

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/watch-heavy-snowfall-in-jks-sonamarg-and-naranag-24253">Heavy snowfall was reported</a> in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday.

Kashmir too witnessed heavy snowfall with the Mughal Road remaining closed for traffic as night temperature plunged across J&amp;K.

&quot;The road remained closed for vehicular traffic for the second day as the area around Peer Ki Gali witnessed another spell of snowfall during the night,&quot; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Mohammad Aslam told PTI.

Two feet snow had reportedly accumulated between Peer Ki Gali and Pushana, along the Mughal Road connecting Poonch district with south Kashmir&#39;s Shopian district.

The minimum temperature in Jammu fell by 1.7 degrees Celsius to settle at 9.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal on Sunday. 
&nbsp;

Kashmir too witnessed heavy snowfall with the Mughal Road remaining closed for traffic

Heavy snowfall was reported in Kinnaur district in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. Kashmir too witnessed heavy snowfall with the Mughal Road remaining closed for traffic as night temperature plunged across J&K. "The road remained closed for vehicular traffic for the second day as the area around Peer Ki Gali witnessed another spell of snowfall during the night," Deputy Superintendent of Police, Traffic, Mohammad Aslam told PTI. Two feet snow had reportedly accumulated between Peer Ki Gali and Pushana, along the Mughal Road connecting Poonch district with south Kashmir's Shopian district. The minimum temperature in Jammu fell by 1.7 degrees Celsius to settle at 9.5 degrees Celsius, three notches below normal on Sunday.

Watch: Heavy snowfall in Himachal Pradesh's Kinnaur district

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck in the Pacific Ocean, 74 kilometers (46 miles) east of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Sunday.

The quake initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, struck at 8:25 pm in the evening (4.25 a.m. ET) at a shallow depth of 13.0 km, the USGS said.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement that a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected and there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii.

The quake initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, struck at 8:25 pm in the evening

An earthquake of magnitude 6.4 struck in the Pacific Ocean, 74 kilometers (46 miles) east of the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said on Sunday. The quake initially reported as a magnitude 6.6, struck at 8:25 pm in the evening (4.25 a.m. ET) at a shallow depth of 13.0 km, the USGS said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said in a statement that a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami was not expected and there was no tsunami threat to Hawaii.

Earthquake of 6.4 magnitude strikes near New Caledonia

&nbsp;A strong intensity earthquake measuring 6.9 on Richter Scale hit Tibet&#39;s Nyingchi prefecture, located close to Arunachal Pradesh border, in the early hours of today.

The quake struck at 6:34 a.M (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC).

The quake struck at a depth of about 10 km, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

It was followed by 5-magnitude earthquake at 8:31 a.M (Beijing time) around the same place in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

The second quake struck at a depth of about 6 km.

Reports of any casualties and damage are awaited.

The magnitude measured at 6.9 occurred on a Saturday morning on the Tibetian plateau, but no damages have yet been reported.?

A strong intensity earthquake measuring 6.9 on Richter Scale hit Tibet's Nyingchi prefecture, located close to Arunachal Pradesh border, in the early hours of today. The quake struck at 6:34 a.M (Beijing Time), according to the China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC). The quake struck at a depth of about 10 km, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. It was followed by 5-magnitude earthquake at 8:31 a.M (Beijing time) around the same place in the Tibet Autonomous Region. The second quake struck at a depth of about 6 km. Reports of any casualties and damage are awaited.

6.9-magnitude earthquake rattles Tibet

A rare 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit South Korea&#39;s southeast today, the second most powerful quake on record, in a country that seldom experiences significant tremors.

The quake, which was felt across much of the country including in the capital Seoul, struck at the shallow depth of nine kilometres near the southeastern industrial city of Pohang at around 2:30 pm, the Korea Meteorological Administration said.

The Korean peninsula rarely has to worry about significant quakes.

But seismic activity is closely monitored because a spike in activity is often the first indication that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test.

The South Korean port city of Pohang is the home to the headquarters of Posco -- the country&#39;s top, and the world&#39;s fourth largest, steelmaker.

Photos and video footage sent to local TV stations showed crumbled street walls and furniture violently shaking inside people&#39;s homes.

Local nuclear reactors were operating without disruption, Yonhap news agency said, citing officials at Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power.

The most quake recorded in the south was a 5.8-magnitude tremor that hit the southeastern city of Gyeongju in September last year.

No casualties or injuries have been reported yet, Yonhap news agency quoted the ministry of public safety as saying.

A rare 5.4-magnitude earthquake hit South Korea's southeast today, the second most powerful quake on record, in a country that seldom experiences significant tremors. The quake, which was felt across much of the country including in the capital Seoul, struck at the shallow depth of nine kilometres near the southeastern industrial city of Pohang at around 2:30 pm, the Korea Meteorological Administration said. The Korean peninsula rarely has to worry about significant quakes. But seismic activity is closely monitored because a spike in activity is often the first indication that North Korea has carried out a nuclear test. The South Korean port city of Pohang is the home to the headquarters of Posco -- the country's top, and the world's fourth largest, steelmaker. Photos and video footage sent to local TV stations showed crumbled street walls and furniture violently shaking inside people's homes. Local nuclear reactors were operating without disruption, Yonhap news agency said, citing officials at Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power. The most quake recorded in the south was a 5.8-magnitude tremor that hit the southeastern city of Gyeongju in September last year.

5.4-magnitude quake hits southern South Korea

Rescue operations have ended in areas of Iran hit by a powerful weekend earthquake that killed at least 450 people and injured thousands, state television reported on Tuesday, as many survivors, in need of food and water, battled the cold.

Sunday&rsquo;s 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck villages and towns in the mountainous area of Kermanshah province that borders Iraq while many people were at home asleep. At least 14 provinces in Iran were affected.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in the morning in the earthquake-stricken area in Kermanshah and promised that the government &ldquo;will use all its power to resolve the problems in the shortest time&rdquo;.

State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks.

A homeless young woman in Sarpol-e Zahab, one of the hardest-hit towns, told state TV that her family was exposed to the night cold because of lack of tents.

&ldquo;We need help. We need everything. The authorities should speed up their help,&rdquo; she said.

Television showed footage of rescue workers frantically combing through the rubble of dozens of villages immediately after the quake. But Iranian officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were extremely low.

&ldquo;The rescue operations in Kermanshah province have ended,&rdquo; Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran&rsquo;s Emergency Medical Services, said on state TV.

Iran&rsquo;s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offered his condolences on Monday and called on government agencies to do all they could to help.

Iranian police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to affected areas on Sunday night.

BITTER COLD

Hospitals in nearby provinces took in many of the injured, state television said, airing footage of survivors waiting to be treated. Hundreds of critically injured people were dispatched to hospitals in Tehran.

Iran&rsquo;s Red Crescent said emergency shelter had been provided for thousands of homeless people, but a lack of water, electricity, as well as blocked roads in some areas, hindered aid supply efforts.

Local authorities said traffic chaos on roads, caused by people from nearby provinces who were rushing to help, further hampered the flow of aid.

&ldquo;People in some villages are still in dire need of food, water, and shelter,&rdquo; governor of Qasr-e Shirin Faramarz Akbari told state television.

More than 30,000 houses in the area were damaged and at least two villages were completely destroyed, Iranian authorities said.

Houses in Iranian villages are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake. Some people are angry that among the collapsed buildings were houses that the government has built in recent years under its affordable housing programme.

Photographs posted on Iranian news websites showed rescue workers digging people out of collapsed buildings, cars smashed beneath rubble and rescue dogs trying to find signs of life under the twisted remains of collapsed buildings.

&ldquo;More people will die because of cold. My family lives in a village near Sarpol-e Zahab. I cannot even go there. I don&rsquo;t know whether they are dead or alive,&rdquo; Rojan Meshkat, 38, in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj told Reuters by telephone.

Iran is crisscrossed by major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that reduced the historic southeastern city of Bam to dust and killed some 31,000 people.

The quake, centred in Penjwin in Iraq&rsquo;s Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, killed at least six people in Iraq and injured more than 68. In northern Iraq&rsquo;s Kurdish districts, seven were killed and 325 wounded.

State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks

Rescue operations have ended in areas of Iran hit by a powerful weekend earthquake that killed at least 450 people and injured thousands, state television reported on Tuesday, as many survivors, in need of food and water, battled the cold. Sunday’s 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck villages and towns in the mountainous area of Kermanshah province that borders Iraq while many people were at home asleep. At least 14 provinces in Iran were affected. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrived in the morning in the earthquake-stricken area in Kermanshah and promised that the government “will use all its power to resolve the problems in the shortest time”. State television said thousands were huddling in makeshift camps while many others spent the second night in the open for fear of more tremors after some 193 aftershocks. A homeless young woman in Sarpol-e Zahab, one of the hardest-hit towns, told state TV that her family was exposed to the night cold because of lack of tents. “We need help. We need everything. The authorities should speed up their help,” she said. Television showed footage of rescue workers frantically combing through the rubble of dozens of villages immediately after the quake. But Iranian officials said the chances of finding any more survivors were extremely low. “The rescue operations in Kermanshah province have ended,” Pir-Hossein Kolivand, head of Iran’s Emergency Medical Services, said on state TV. Iran’s top authority, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, offered his condolences on Monday and called on government agencies to do all they could to help. Iranian police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to affected areas on Sunday night. BITTER COLD Hospitals in nearby provinces took in many of the injured, state television said, airing footage of survivors waiting to be treated. Hundreds of critically injured people were dispatched to hospitals in Tehran. Iran’s Red Crescent said emergency shelter had been provided for thousands of homeless people, but a lack of water, electricity, as well as blocked roads in some areas, hindered aid supply efforts. Local authorities said traffic chaos on roads, caused by people from nearby provinces who were rushing to help, further hampered the flow of aid. “People in some villages are still in dire need of food, water, and shelter,” governor of Qasr-e Shirin Faramarz Akbari told state television. More than 30,000 houses in the area were damaged and at least two villages were completely destroyed, Iranian authorities said. Houses in Iranian villages are often made of concrete blocks or mud brick that can crumble and collapse in a strong quake. Some people are angry that among the collapsed buildings were houses that the government has built in recent years under its affordable housing programme. Photographs posted on Iranian news websites showed rescue workers digging people out of collapsed buildings, cars smashed beneath rubble and rescue dogs trying to find signs of life under the twisted remains of collapsed buildings. “More people will die because of cold. My family lives in a village near Sarpol-e Zahab. I cannot even go there. I don’t know whether they are dead or alive,” Rojan Meshkat, 38, in the Kurdish city of Sanandaj told Reuters by telephone. Iran is crisscrossed by major fault lines and has suffered several devastating earthquakes in recent years, including a 6.6 magnitude quake in 2003 that reduced the historic southeastern city of Bam to dust and killed some 31,000 people. The quake, centred in Penjwin in Iraq’s Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, killed at least six people in Iraq and injured more than 68. In northern Iraq’s Kurdish districts, seven were killed and 325 wounded.

Iran earthquake: Rescue operations end, several still in makeshift camps

The death toll from the deadliest earthquake in Iran and Iraq has risen to more than 450, leaving more than 7000 people injured, according to media reports.&nbsp;

Several homeless victims of the powerful earthquake were gathered on a cold night on Monday, state TV said.&nbsp;

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Search operations are being carried out for dozens of people still trapped under rubbles of collapsed houses in towns and villages in the mountainous area of the western province of Kermanshah that borders Iraq.

The earthquake which happened on Sunday was felt as far&nbsp;away as Turkey and Pakistan, according to reports.&nbsp;

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The epicenter was near Ezgeleh, Iran, about 135 miles northeast of Baghdad, and had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. Seismologists in the country said it was the biggest quake to hit the western part of Iran, reports said.&nbsp;

At least eight people were killed on the Iraqi side of the border, according to Dr. Saif al-Badir, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, and at least 535 were hurt.

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Relief workers informed that proper aid was provided timely, however, there was a major shortage of blankets, children&#39;s clothes, medicine and large cans to store drinking water.&nbsp;

A local official said aftershocks hindered the process of setting up camps and tents for the homeless victims, but electricity had been restored in most of the quake-stricken areas.

&quot;The main problem is sheltering people in this cold weather. We need more tents,&quot; Qasr-e Shririn governor Faramarz Akbari told TV.

The epicenter was near Ezgeleh, Iran, about 135 miles northeast of Baghdad, and had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. Seismologists in the country said it was the biggest quake to hit the western part of Iran

The death toll from the deadliest earthquake in Iran and Iraq has risen to more than 450, leaving more than 7000 people injured, according to media reports. Several homeless victims of the powerful earthquake were gathered on a cold night on Monday, state TV said. Representative Photo (Reuters) × Search operations are being carried out for dozens of people still trapped under rubbles of collapsed houses in towns and villages in the mountainous area of the western province of Kermanshah that borders Iraq. The earthquake which happened on Sunday was felt as far away as Turkey and Pakistan, according to reports. Representative Photo (Reuters) × The epicenter was near Ezgeleh, Iran, about 135 miles northeast of Baghdad, and had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3. Seismologists in the country said it was the biggest quake to hit the western part of Iran, reports said. At least eight people were killed on the Iraqi side of the border, according to Dr. Saif al-Badir, a spokesman for the Health Ministry, and at least 535 were hurt. Representative Photo (Reuters) × Relief workers informed that proper aid was provided timely, however, there was a major shortage of blankets, children's clothes, medicine and large cans to store drinking water. A local official said aftershocks hindered the process of setting up camps and tents for the homeless victims, but electricity had been restored in most of the quake-stricken areas. "The main problem is sheltering people in this cold weather. We need more tents," Qasr-e Shririn governor Faramarz Akbari told TV.

Iran-Iraq earthquake: Death toll crosses 450, search operation on

Iranian rescue workers dug through rubble in a hunt for survivors on Monday after a major earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border, killing more than 300 and injuring thousands.

The 7.3-magnitude quake hit a border area 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 9:20 pm (1820 GMT) on Sunday, when many people would have been at home, the US Geological Survey said.

The worst affected areas were in Iran&#39;s western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner&#39;s office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured.

Across the border in Iraq, where the areas are more sparsely populated, the health ministry said eight people had died and several hundred were injured.

Some Iranians spent the night outdoors after fleeing their homes in the mountainous cross-border region, huddling around fires at dawn as the authorities deployed help to affected areas.

A woman and her baby were pulled out alive from the rubble in the Iranian town of Sar-e Pol-e Zaham, the worst hit in the quake, local media reported.

Officials said they were setting up relief camps but that access to the areas was not easy.

Iran&#39;s emergency services chief Pir Hossein Koolivand said it was &quot;difficult to send rescue teams to the villages because the roads have been cut off... there have been landslides&quot;.

The official IRNA news agency said 30 Red Cross teams had been sent to the quake zone, parts of which had experienced power cuts.

Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government and armed forces to mobilise &quot;all their means&quot; to help the population.

Collapsed walls&nbsp;

Local media reported hundreds of ambulances and dozens of army helicopters mobilised for rescue operations including in rural areas.

Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, an area of some 85,000 people close to the border, was the worst hit, with at least 236 dead, while the towns of Eslamabad and Qasr-e Shirin were also affected.

Some 259,000 people live in the areas around these towns, according to the latest population census.

State television footage showed tents, blankets, and food being distributed in areas hit by the quake.

At dawn on Monday in Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, buildings stood disfigured, their former facades lying in rubble on crumpled vehicles.

In an open space away from the wrecked housing blocks, men and women, some wrapped in blankets, huddled around a camp fire to keep warm.

In Iraq, the health ministry said the quake had killed seven people in the northern province of Sulaimaniyah and one in the province of Diyala to its south.

More than 500 people were injured in both provinces and the nearby province of Kirkuk.

Footage posted on Twitter showed panicked people fleeing a building in Sulaimaniyah, as windows shattered at the moment the quake struck, while images from the nearby town of Darbandikhan showed walls and concrete structures had collapsed.

In Darbandikhan, officials called on residents to sleep outside their homes as a precautionary measure.

In Sulaimaniyah, residents ran out onto the streets and some damage to property was reported, an AFP reporter there said.

Rekot Rachid, health minister for the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, said that, in Sulaimaniyah, four people were killed in the town of Darbandikhan, two in Karmiyan and another in the provincial capital.

Residents flee homes in Turkey&nbsp;

The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 23 kilometres, was felt for about 20 seconds in Baghdad, and for longer in other provinces of Iraq, AFP journalists said.

Iraqi health authorities said they treated dozens of people in its aftermath, most for shock.

On the Iranian side of the border, the tremor shook several cities in the west of the country including Tabriz.

It was also felt in southeastern Turkey, an AFP correspondent said. In the town of Diyarbakir, residents were reported to have fled their homes.

The quake struck along a 1,500-kilometre fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a belt extending through western Iran and into northeastern Iraq.

The area sees frequent seismic activity.

In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake near the Caspian Sea in northern Iran killed 40,000 people and left 300,000 more injured and half a million homeless. Within seconds the quake reduced dozens of towns and nearly 2,000 villages to rubble.

Thirteen years later, a catastrophic quake struck the ancient southeast Iranian city of Bam, famed for its mud brick buildings, killing at least 31,000 people and flattening swathes of the city.

Since then, Iran has experienced at least two major quake disasters, one in 2005 that killed more than 600 and another in 2012 that left some 300 dead.

More recently, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake near Iran&#39;s border with Turkmenistan in May killed two people, injured hundreds and caused widespread damage.

The worst affected areas were in Iran's western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner's office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured

Iranian rescue workers dug through rubble in a hunt for survivors on Monday after a major earthquake struck the Iran-Iraq border, killing more than 300 and injuring thousands. The 7.3-magnitude quake hit a border area 30 kilometres (20 miles) southwest of Halabja in Iraqi Kurdistan at around 9:20 pm (1820 GMT) on Sunday, when many people would have been at home, the US Geological Survey said. The worst affected areas were in Iran's western province of Kermanshah, where the coroner's office told state television that at least 328 people were dead and another 2,350 injured. Across the border in Iraq, where the areas are more sparsely populated, the health ministry said eight people had died and several hundred were injured. Some Iranians spent the night outdoors after fleeing their homes in the mountainous cross-border region, huddling around fires at dawn as the authorities deployed help to affected areas. A woman and her baby were pulled out alive from the rubble in the Iranian town of Sar-e Pol-e Zaham, the worst hit in the quake, local media reported. Officials said they were setting up relief camps but that access to the areas was not easy. Iran's emergency services chief Pir Hossein Koolivand said it was "difficult to send rescue teams to the villages because the roads have been cut off... there have been landslides". The official IRNA news agency said 30 Red Cross teams had been sent to the quake zone, parts of which had experienced power cuts. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ordered the government and armed forces to mobilise "all their means" to help the population. Collapsed walls Local media reported hundreds of ambulances and dozens of army helicopters mobilised for rescue operations including in rural areas. Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, an area of some 85,000 people close to the border, was the worst hit, with at least 236 dead, while the towns of Eslamabad and Qasr-e Shirin were also affected. Some 259,000 people live in the areas around these towns, according to the latest population census. State television footage showed tents, blankets, and food being distributed in areas hit by the quake. At dawn on Monday in Sar-e Pol-e Zahab, buildings stood disfigured, their former facades lying in rubble on crumpled vehicles. In an open space away from the wrecked housing blocks, men and women, some wrapped in blankets, huddled around a camp fire to keep warm. In Iraq, the health ministry said the quake had killed seven people in the northern province of Sulaimaniyah and one in the province of Diyala to its south. More than 500 people were injured in both provinces and the nearby province of Kirkuk. Footage posted on Twitter showed panicked people fleeing a building in Sulaimaniyah, as windows shattered at the moment the quake struck, while images from the nearby town of Darbandikhan showed walls and concrete structures had collapsed. In Darbandikhan, officials called on residents to sleep outside their homes as a precautionary measure. In Sulaimaniyah, residents ran out onto the streets and some damage to property was reported, an AFP reporter there said. Rekot Rachid, health minister for the autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, said that, in Sulaimaniyah, four people were killed in the town of Darbandikhan, two in Karmiyan and another in the provincial capital. Residents flee homes in Turkey The quake, which struck at a relatively shallow depth of 23 kilometres, was felt for about 20 seconds in Baghdad, and for longer in other provinces of Iraq, AFP journalists said. Iraqi health authorities said they treated dozens of people in its aftermath, most for shock. On the Iranian side of the border, the tremor shook several cities in the west of the country including Tabriz. It was also felt in southeastern Turkey, an AFP correspondent said. In the town of Diyarbakir, residents were reported to have fled their homes. The quake struck along a 1,500-kilometre fault line between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates, a belt extending through western Iran and into northeastern Iraq. The area sees frequent seismic activity. In 1990, a 7.4-magnitude quake near the Caspian Sea in northern Iran killed 40,000 people and left 300,000 more injured and half a million homeless. Within seconds the quake reduced dozens of towns and nearly 2,000 villages to rubble. Thirteen years later, a catastrophic quake struck the ancient southeast Iranian city of Bam, famed for its mud brick buildings, killing at least 31,000 people and flattening swathes of the city. Since then, Iran has experienced at least two major quake disasters, one in 2005 that killed more than 600 and another in 2012 that left some 300 dead. More recently, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake near Iran's border with Turkmenistan in May killed two people, injured hundreds and caused widespread damage.

Iran hunts for survivors as quake kills more than 300 near Iraq border

At least 332 people were killed in Iran and Iraq when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the region on Sunday, state media in the two countries said, and rescuers were searching for dozens trapped under rubble in the mountainous area.

State television said more than 328 people were killed in Iran and at least 2,500 were injured. Local officials said the death toll would rise as search and rescue teams reached remote areas of Iran.

The earthquake was felt in several western provinces of Iran but the hardest hit province was Kermanshah, which announced three days of mourning. More than 236 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border.

Iranian state television said the quake had caused heavy damage in some villages where houses were made of earthen bricks. Rescuers were labouring to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings.

The quake also triggered landslides that hindered rescue efforts, officials told state television. At least 14 provinces in Iran had been affected, Iranian media reported.

Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his condolences on Monday, urging all government agencies to do all they could to help those affected.

Dancing buildings

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 7.3. An Iraqi meteorology official put its magnitude at 6.5 with the epicentre in Penjwin in Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, close to the main border crossing with Iran.

Kurdish health officials said at least four people were killed in Iraq and at least 50 injured.

The quake was felt as far south as Baghdad, where many residents rushed from their houses and tall buildings when tremors shook the Iraqi capital.

&quot;I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air,&quot; said Majida Ameer, who ran out of her building in the capital&#39;s Salihiya district with her three children.

&quot;I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: &#39;Earthquake!&#39;&quot;

Similar scenes unfolded in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, and across other cities in northern Iraq, close to the quake&#39;s epicentre.

Cold weather

Electricity was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather.

The Iranian seismological centre registered around 118 aftershocks and said more were expected. The head of Iranian Red Crescent said more than 70,000 people were in need of emergency shelter.

Hojjat Gharibian was one of the hundreds of homeless Iranian survivors, who was huddled against the cold with his family in Qasr-e Shirin.

&quot;My two children were sleeping when the house started to collapse because of the quake. I took them and ran to the street. We spent hours in the street until aid workers moved us into a school building,&quot; Gharibian told Reuters by telephone.

Iran&#39;s police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to the quake-hit areas overnight, state TV reported.

Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said some roads were blocked and authorities were worried about casualties in remote villages. An Iranian oil official said pipelines and refineries in the area remained intact.

Iran sits astride major fault lines and is prone to frequent tremors. A magnitude 6.6 quake on Dec. 26, 2003, devastated the historic city of Bam, 1,000 km southeast of Tehran, killing about 31,000 people.

Hospital severely damaged

On the Iraqi side, the most extensive damage was in the town of Darbandikhan, 75 km east of the city of Sulaimaniyah in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region.

More than 30 people were injured in the town, according to Kurdish Health Minister Rekawt Hama Rasheed.

&quot;The situation there is very critical,&quot; Rasheed told Reuters.

The district&#39;s main hospital was severely damaged and had no power, Rasheed said, so the injured were taken to Sulaimaniyah for treatment. Homes and buildings had extensive structural damage, he said.

In Halabja, local officials said a 12-year-old boy died of an electric shock from a falling electric cable.

Iraq&#39;s meteorology centre advised people to stay away from buildings and not to use elevators in case of aftershocks.

Turkey and Israel

Residents of Turkey&#39;s southeastern city of Diyarbakir also reported feeling a strong tremor, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties there.

Turkish Red Crescent Chairman Kerem Kinik told broadcaster NTV that Red Crescent teams in Erbil were preparing to go to the site of the earthquake and that Turkey&rsquo;s national disaster management agency, AFAD, and National Medical Rescue Teams (UMKE) were also preparing to head into Iraq.

AFAD&rsquo;s chairman said the organisation was waiting for a reply to its offer for help.

In a tweet, Kinik said the Turkish Red Crescent was gathering 3,000 tents and heaters, 10,000 beds and blankets and moving them towards the Iraqi border.

&quot;We are coordinating with Iranian and Iraqi Red Crescent groups. We are also getting prepared to make deliveries from our northern Iraq Erbil depot,&quot; he said.

Israeli media said the quake was felt in many parts of Israel as well. In a statement, Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz said, &quot;My condolences to the people of Iran and Iraq over the loss of human life caused by the earthquake.&quot; Iran refuses to recognise Israel.

The quake also triggered landslides that hindered rescue efforts, officials told state television. At least 14 provinces in Iran had been affected, Iranian media reported.

At least 332 people were killed in Iran and Iraq when a magnitude 7.3 earthquake jolted the region on Sunday, state media in the two countries said, and rescuers were searching for dozens trapped under rubble in the mountainous area. State television said more than 328 people were killed in Iran and at least 2,500 were injured. Local officials said the death toll would rise as search and rescue teams reached remote areas of Iran. The earthquake was felt in several western provinces of Iran but the hardest hit province was Kermanshah, which announced three days of mourning. More than 236 of the victims were in Sarpol-e Zahab county in Kermanshah province, about 15 km (10 miles) from the Iraq border. Iranian state television said the quake had caused heavy damage in some villages where houses were made of earthen bricks. Rescuers were labouring to find survivors trapped under collapsed buildings. The quake also triggered landslides that hindered rescue efforts, officials told state television. At least 14 provinces in Iran had been affected, Iranian media reported. Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered his condolences on Monday, urging all government agencies to do all they could to help those affected. Dancing buildings The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake measured magnitude 7.3. An Iraqi meteorology official put its magnitude at 6.5 with the epicentre in Penjwin in Sulaimaniyah province in the Kurdistan region, close to the main border crossing with Iran. Kurdish health officials said at least four people were killed in Iraq and at least 50 injured. The quake was felt as far south as Baghdad, where many residents rushed from their houses and tall buildings when tremors shook the Iraqi capital. "I was sitting with my kids having dinner and suddenly the building was just dancing in the air," said Majida Ameer, who ran out of her building in the capital's Salihiya district with her three children. "I thought at first that it was a huge bomb. But then I heard everyone around me screaming: 'Earthquake!'" Similar scenes unfolded in Erbil, the capital of the Kurdistan Region, and across other cities in northern Iraq, close to the quake's epicentre. Cold weather Electricity was cut off in several Iranian and Iraqi cities, and fears of aftershocks sent thousands of people in both countries out onto the streets and parks in cold weather. The Iranian seismological centre registered around 118 aftershocks and said more were expected. The head of Iranian Red Crescent said more than 70,000 people were in need of emergency shelter. Hojjat Gharibian was one of the hundreds of homeless Iranian survivors, who was huddled against the cold with his family in Qasr-e Shirin. "My two children were sleeping when the house started to collapse because of the quake. I took them and ran to the street. We spent hours in the street until aid workers moved us into a school building," Gharibian told Reuters by telephone. Iran's police, the elite Revolutionary Guards and its affiliated Basij militia forces were dispatched to the quake-hit areas overnight, state TV reported. Iranian Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said some roads were blocked and authorities were worried about casualties in remote villages. An Iranian oil official said pipelines and refineries in the area remained intact. Iran sits astride major fault lines and is prone to frequent tremors. A magnitude 6.6 quake on Dec. 26, 2003, devastated the historic city of Bam, 1,000 km southeast of Tehran, killing about 31,000 people. Hospital severely damaged On the Iraqi side, the most extensive damage was in the town of Darbandikhan, 75 km east of the city of Sulaimaniyah in the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. More than 30 people were injured in the town, according to Kurdish Health Minister Rekawt Hama Rasheed. "The situation there is very critical," Rasheed told Reuters. The district's main hospital was severely damaged and had no power, Rasheed said, so the injured were taken to Sulaimaniyah for treatment. Homes and buildings had extensive structural damage, he said. In Halabja, local officials said a 12-year-old boy died of an electric shock from a falling electric cable. Iraq's meteorology centre advised people to stay away from buildings and not to use elevators in case of aftershocks. Turkey and Israel Residents of Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir also reported feeling a strong tremor, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties there. Turkish Red Crescent Chairman Kerem Kinik told broadcaster NTV that Red Crescent teams in Erbil were preparing to go to the site of the earthquake and that Turkey’s national disaster management agency, AFAD, and National Medical Rescue Teams (UMKE) were also preparing to head into Iraq. AFAD’s chairman said the organisation was waiting for a reply to its offer for help. In a tweet, Kinik said the Turkish Red Crescent was gathering 3,000 tents and heaters, 10,000 beds and blankets and moving them towards the Iraqi border. "We are coordinating with Iranian and Iraqi Red Crescent groups. We are also getting prepared to make deliveries from our northern Iraq Erbil depot," he said. Israeli media said the quake was felt in many parts of Israel as well. In a statement, Israeli Intelligence Minister Israel Katz said, "My condolences to the people of Iran and Iraq over the loss of human life caused by the earthquake." Iran refuses to recognise Israel.

Iran-Iraq earthquake: Death toll rises to 332

A strong 6.5 magnitude quake struck the Pacific coast of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/storm-nate-killed-at-least-7-in-costa-rica-5757">Costa Rica</a> near its capital city San Jose on Sunday night, but there were no initial reports of injuries or significant damage to infrastructure.

Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said authorities were gathering information and asked residents to remain calm and to be prepared for any possible aftershocks.

A Reuters witness said the quake was felt very briefly in San Jose, but it was enough to startle residents.

&quot;We&#39;re very scared. It&#39;s been years since we felt such a strong one,&quot; said Otto Vargas, a university professor in San Jose, who was home with his family when the shaking started.

The<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/earthquake-hits-iran-iraq-border-area-at-least-65-dead-24060"> quake</a> hit in a rural area near the popular beach tourism city of Jaco, where there are few tall buildings. It did not trigger a tsunami threat in the Pacific.

Firefighters in Jaco said there were no reports of victims or major damage, but said there were some electrical poles that had come loose and fallen. Social media showed images of supermarkets in Jaco with merchandise strewn across the aisles.

The Costa Rican Red Cross said it had no reports of casualties.

Neighboring El Salvador&#39;s civil protection agency tweeted that the quake caused some electrical posts to fall, while the civil protection agency in neighbouring Panama said there were no reports of damage there.

The quake, initially measured as much as 6.8 magnitude, was centred 43 miles (69 km) southwest of San Jose at a depth of 12.3 miles (20 km), the US&nbsp;Geological Survey said.

Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said authorities were gathering information and asked residents to remain calm and to be prepared for any possible aftershocks.

A strong 6.5 magnitude quake struck the Pacific coast of Costa Rica near its capital city San Jose on Sunday night, but there were no initial reports of injuries or significant damage to infrastructure. Costa Rican President Luis Guillermo Solis said authorities were gathering information and asked residents to remain calm and to be prepared for any possible aftershocks. A Reuters witness said the quake was felt very briefly in San Jose, but it was enough to startle residents. "We're very scared. It's been years since we felt such a strong one," said Otto Vargas, a university professor in San Jose, who was home with his family when the shaking started. The quake hit in a rural area near the popular beach tourism city of Jaco, where there are few tall buildings. It did not trigger a tsunami threat in the Pacific. Firefighters in Jaco said there were no reports of victims or major damage, but said there were some electrical poles that had come loose and fallen. Social media showed images of supermarkets in Jaco with merchandise strewn across the aisles. The Costa Rican Red Cross said it had no reports of casualties. Neighboring El Salvador's civil protection agency tweeted that the quake caused some electrical posts to fall, while the civil protection agency in neighbouring Panama said there were no reports of damage there. The quake, initially measured as much as 6.8 magnitude, was centred 43 miles (69 km) southwest of San Jose at a depth of 12.3 miles (20 km), the US Geological Survey said.

Earthquake in Costa Rica, no casualties

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, according to officials, but there were no immediate reports of damage.

The tremor hit at a depth of 107 kilometres (66 miles) some 67 kilometres from the town of Angoram, the administrative centre for the Pacific nation`s Lower and Middle Sepik regions, the United States Geological Survey said.

No tsunami warning was issued.

&quot;A quake of this type can cause damage and trigger landslides, but it was relatively deep which is a good thing,&quot; Geoscience Australia seismologist Phil Cummins said.

&quot;107 kilometres is getting to where the effects are mitigated.&quot;

He added that many buildings in the Sepik area were made of lighter materials, rather than brick and masonry, &quot;which is not as dangerous in events like this&quot;.

Earthquakes are common near Papua New Guinea, which lies on the 4,000-kilometre-long Pacific Australia plate.

It forms part of the &quot;Ring of Fire&quot;, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, according to officials, but there were no immediate reports of damage

A 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on Wednesday, according to officials, but there were no immediate reports of damage. The tremor hit at a depth of 107 kilometres (66 miles) some 67 kilometres from the town of Angoram, the administrative centre for the Pacific nation`s Lower and Middle Sepik regions, the United States Geological Survey said. No tsunami warning was issued. "A quake of this type can cause damage and trigger landslides, but it was relatively deep which is a good thing," Geoscience Australia seismologist Phil Cummins said. "107 kilometres is getting to where the effects are mitigated." He added that many buildings in the Sepik area were made of lighter materials, rather than brick and masonry, "which is not as dangerous in events like this". Earthquakes are common near Papua New Guinea, which lies on the 4,000-kilometre-long Pacific Australia plate. It forms part of the "Ring of Fire", a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.

6.5-magnitude quake hits Papua New Guinea

A strong earthquake with a 6.3 magnitude struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, causing some damage to buildings and sending people running from their homes.

The quake struck at a depth of 32.4 kilometres (20 miles) and was centred 32km west of Hila on the island of Ambon, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries and no tsunami warning was issued. The USGS website assessed the likelihood of deaths or major damage as low.

&quot;There was damage and it is still being monitored,&quot; Mochammad Riyadi, an official at Indonesia&#39;s meteorology and geophysics agency, told AFP.

The earthquake was one of five tremors that rattled Maluku province within 30 minutes, according to the agency. The others were all under magnitude 6.

&quot;People panicked and scattered out of houses and buildings,&quot; said national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho.

Indonesia sits on the Pacific &quot;Ring of Fire&quot; where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity.

An earthquake struck Indonesia&#39;s western province of Aceh last December, killing more than 100 people, injuring many more and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

The earthquake was one of five tremors that rattled Maluku province within 30 minutes, according to the US Geological Survey.

A strong earthquake with a 6.3 magnitude struck eastern Indonesia on Tuesday, causing some damage to buildings and sending people running from their homes. The quake struck at a depth of 32.4 kilometres (20 miles) and was centred 32km west of Hila on the island of Ambon, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported. There were no immediate reports of injuries and no tsunami warning was issued. The USGS website assessed the likelihood of deaths or major damage as low. "There was damage and it is still being monitored," Mochammad Riyadi, an official at Indonesia's meteorology and geophysics agency, told AFP. The earthquake was one of five tremors that rattled Maluku province within 30 minutes, according to the agency. The others were all under magnitude 6. "People panicked and scattered out of houses and buildings," said national disaster mitigation agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Indonesia sits on the Pacific "Ring of Fire" where tectonic plates collide, causing frequent seismic and volcanic activity. An earthquake struck Indonesia's western province of Aceh last December, killing more than 100 people, injuring many more and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Strong earthquake in eastern Indonesia, no casualties reported

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit the Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh on Friday morning.

The tremors were felt at around 8:07 a.m. in the morning.However, there was no report of loss of life or damage to property.

Earlier this month, an earthquake of almost similar intensity was recorded in the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh.

Himachal Pradesh had suffered the most devastating earthquake in 1905 in the Kangra valley in which over 20,000 people were killed.

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit the Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh on Friday morning.

An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter scale hit the Mandi region of Himachal Pradesh on Friday morning. The tremors were felt at around 8:07 a.m. in the morning.However, there was no report of loss of life or damage to property. Earlier this month, an earthquake of almost similar intensity was recorded in the Chamba region of Himachal Pradesh. Himachal Pradesh had suffered the most devastating earthquake in 1905 in the Kangra valley in which over 20,000 people were killed.

Earthquake jolts Himachal Pradesh's Mandi

In 2004, the tsunami, which was caused due to the earthquake in the Indian Ocean left a dark chapter in Indian history. Memories from that unfortunate event still haunt India. According to reports, in India, 10,749 people lost their lives and 5,640 are still missing.&nbsp;

Not to forget the recent Uttarakhand floods of 2013, which gave goosebumps to all those who were watching the rescue operations, videos and images live on their TV screens and on social media.

Also, the Gujarat earthquake that occurred in 2001 which claimed 25,000 lives and the super cyclone in&nbsp;Odisha that caused severe damage to human lives and property.

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<h5>India became the first country to set up its own National Disaster Management Division.</h5>
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Disasters natural or man-made are common throughout the world. It continues to occur without warning and the magnitude and frequency&nbsp;is intensifying with every new occurrence.

Even developed countries like the USA cannot save themselves from such&nbsp;disasters. In 2017, hurricane Maria had hit the northeastern coast of the USA, causing damage worth $51.2 billion.

Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, hailstorms, droughts etc. are the most frequently occurring disasters in India. Recently, huge parts of the Indian region was submerged in water due to torrential rains causing immeasurable loss to&nbsp;the country.

The damage&nbsp;is not limited to only humans, animals are also affected by disasters. In 2017, Assam was affected badly by floods, there was a huge impact on endangered species especially on the one-horned rhino. Around 225 animals died in Kaziranga Nationa Park, 15 rhinos were found dead.

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<h5>If a natural or man-made disaster hits Indian region, then are we ready?</h5>
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Displacement of the population, scarcity of food, loss of property and houses, emotional aftershocks are few human impact of natural disasters. The poorly constructed buildings, rapid increase in population, lack of economic nets, poor forecast and late warnings are few of the reasons that are responsible for the large-scale destruction.

India is one of&nbsp;the world&#39;s most disaster-prone country due to its geo-climatic condition and large population. With&nbsp;every nation concentrating on disaster reduction, India recently set up its own National Disaster Management Division. For this attempt, India was praised by the UN.

But the question is:&nbsp;if a natural or man-made disaster hits the Indian region in the near future, then will we be ready? With every new shocking event, the percentage and degree of destruction is increasing manifolds. It&#39;s getting magnified due to the excessive loss of lives and property and poor assessment of the situation.&nbsp;

If a stampede that broke out because of false rumour at the Prabhadevi railway station in Mumbai, which killed at least 23 people then, what an earthquake or a&nbsp;cyclone can&nbsp;do is unimaginable!

To decrease the impact of the disaster on human lives, it is very necessary to have proper knowledge about government policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management, also creating a network for disaster management is important.

It is impossible to curb the frequency of disasters but with proper initiative, pre-planning, accuracy in decision making through which the impact of a major disaster can be reduced.

Developing a network for disaster management is important to reduce impact of disaster

In 2004, the tsunami, which was caused due to the earthquake in the Indian Ocean left a dark chapter in Indian history. Memories from that unfortunate event still haunt India. According to reports, in India, 10,749 people lost their lives and 5,640 are still missing. Not to forget the recent Uttarakhand floods of 2013, which gave goosebumps to all those who were watching the rescue operations, videos and images live on their TV screens and on social media. Also, the Gujarat earthquake that occurred in 2001 which claimed 25,000 lives and the super cyclone in Odisha that caused severe damage to human lives and property. India became the first country to set up its own National Disaster Management Division. × Disasters natural or man-made are common throughout the world. It continues to occur without warning and the magnitude and frequency is intensifying with every new occurrence. Even developed countries like the USA cannot save themselves from such disasters. In 2017, hurricane Maria had hit the northeastern coast of the USA, causing damage worth $51.2 billion. Floods, cyclones, earthquakes, landslides, hailstorms, droughts etc. are the most frequently occurring disasters in India. Recently, huge parts of the Indian region was submerged in water due to torrential rains causing immeasurable loss to the country. The damage is not limited to only humans, animals are also affected by disasters. In 2017, Assam was affected badly by floods, there was a huge impact on endangered species especially on the one-horned rhino. Around 225 animals died in Kaziranga Nationa Park, 15 rhinos were found dead. If a natural or man-made disaster hits Indian region, then are we ready? × Displacement of the population, scarcity of food, loss of property and houses, emotional aftershocks are few human impact of natural disasters. The poorly constructed buildings, rapid increase in population, lack of economic nets, poor forecast and late warnings are few of the reasons that are responsible for the large-scale destruction. India is one of the world's most disaster-prone country due to its geo-climatic condition and large population. With every nation concentrating on disaster reduction, India recently set up its own National Disaster Management Division. For this attempt, India was praised by the UN. But the question is: if a natural or man-made disaster hits the Indian region in the near future, then will we be ready? With every new shocking event, the percentage and degree of destruction is increasing manifolds. It's getting magnified due to the excessive loss of lives and property and poor assessment of the situation. If a stampede that broke out because of false rumour at the Prabhadevi railway station in Mumbai, which killed at least 23 people then, what an earthquake or a cyclone can do is unimaginable! To decrease the impact of the disaster on human lives, it is very necessary to have proper knowledge about government policies, plans and guidelines for disaster management, also creating a network for disaster management is important. It is impossible to curb the frequency of disasters but with proper initiative, pre-planning, accuracy in decision making through which the impact of a major disaster can be reduced.

India needs to focus on disaster reduction management

&nbsp;

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People gather on a street in Mexico City during an earthquake. An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck southern Mexico late Thursday and was felt as far away as Mexico City. (AFP)
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The death toll in the earthquake which struck off southern Mexico overnight on Thursday has risen to six.&nbsp;A tsunami warning was issued immediately.

The two fatalities came in the southern state of Chiapas, interior minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong told AFP. The quake hit off the coast of Chiapas.

The quake triggered waves as high as 2.3 ft (0.7 m) in Mexico, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

As far as 14,000 km (8700 miles) away in the Philippines, the national disaster agency put the country&rsquo;s entire eastern seaboard on alert for a possible tsunami.

Mexico&#39;s interior ministry said the quake had a magnitude of 8.4, while the US Geological Survey put it at a revised 8.1, up from 8.0 initially.

Earlier reports said the earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale had hit&nbsp;off the southern coast of Mexico.

The earthquake shook&nbsp;buildings across the centre and south of the country, Reuters reported.

There were no immediate reports of major damage.

The epicentre was 123 km (76 miles) southwest of the town of Pijijiapan, at a depth of 33 km (21 miles). Widespread, hazardous tsunami waves were possible, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said.

&quot;Based on all available date ... widespread hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts,&quot; the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.

&quot;Tsunami waves reaching more than three meters above the tide level are possible along the coasts of Mexico,&quot; it said, with lower waves in other countries.

The tsunami warning was for the coasts of Mexico, down through Central America into Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras, and as far south as &nbsp;Ecuador.

Mexico&#39;s civil protection agency said it was the strongest earthquake to hit the country since a devastating 1985 tremor that toppled buildings and killed thousands.

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8.2 earthquake off Mexico coast via <a href="https://t.co/UFrwwrgV2d">pic.twitter.com/UFrwwrgV2d</a>
&mdash; NJL ?? ?? MEDIA ?? (@ANTI_ALP) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANTI_ALP/status/906039054759636992">September 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Mexico City earthquake sets off mysterious bright lights <a href="https://t.co/81VL9Wiwsk">https://t.co/81VL9Wiwsk</a> <a href="https://t.co/X7wwtVPkzr">pic.twitter.com/X7wwtVPkzr</a>
&mdash; Louise Stainton (@LouiseStaintonU) <a href="https://twitter.com/LouiseStaintonU/status/906034653856858116">September 8, 2017</a></blockquote>
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People gather on a street in downtown Mexico City during an earthquake. (AFP)
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Mexico Earthquake (AFP)
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The quake is strongest to hit the country since 1985

People gather on a street in Mexico City during an earthquake. An earthquake of magnitude 8.0 struck southern Mexico late Thursday and was felt as far away as Mexico City. (AFP) × The death toll in the earthquake which struck off southern Mexico overnight on Thursday has risen to six. A tsunami warning was issued immediately. The two fatalities came in the southern state of Chiapas, interior minister Miguel Angel Osorio Chong told AFP. The quake hit off the coast of Chiapas. The quake triggered waves as high as 2.3 ft (0.7 m) in Mexico, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. As far as 14,000 km (8700 miles) away in the Philippines, the national disaster agency put the country’s entire eastern seaboard on alert for a possible tsunami. Mexico's interior ministry said the quake had a magnitude of 8.4, while the US Geological Survey put it at a revised 8.1, up from 8.0 initially. Earlier reports said the earthquake of magnitude 8 on the Richter scale had hit off the southern coast of Mexico. The earthquake shook buildings across the centre and south of the country, Reuters reported. There were no immediate reports of major damage. The epicentre was 123 km (76 miles) southwest of the town of Pijijiapan, at a depth of 33 km (21 miles). Widespread, hazardous tsunami waves were possible, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said. "Based on all available date ... widespread hazardous tsunami waves are forecast for some coasts," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. "Tsunami waves reaching more than three meters above the tide level are possible along the coasts of Mexico," it said, with lower waves in other countries. The tsunami warning was for the coasts of Mexico, down through Central America into Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras, and as far south as Ecuador. Mexico's civil protection agency said it was the strongest earthquake to hit the country since a devastating 1985 tremor that toppled buildings and killed thousands. 8.2 earthquake off Mexico coast via pic.twitter.com/UFrwwrgV2d — NJL ?? ?? MEDIA ?? (@ANTI_ALP) September 8, 2017 × Mexico City earthquake sets off mysterious bright lights https://t.co/81VL9Wiwsk pic.twitter.com/X7wwtVPkzr — Louise Stainton (@LouiseStaintonU) September 8, 2017 × People gather on a street in downtown Mexico City during an earthquake. (AFP) × Mexico Earthquake (AFP) ×

At least six dead as massive earthquake strikes off Mexico, tsunami warning issued

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked the region south of the Philippine capital on Friday, causing buildings in Manila and nearby areas to sway, seismologists and witnesses said.

The quake struck just off the coast of Lian town at 1:28 pm (0528 GMT), at a relatively deep 173 kilometres, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported.

The US Geological Survey measured it at 6.2 magnitude.

&quot;Due to its depth we do not expect any damage,&quot; the institute&#39;s director Renato Solidum said on government television.

A rescue official at the town closest to the epicentre also reported no damage or casualties.

But buildings in Manila and other nearby areas swayed, with employees of Malacanang presidential palace and other government buildings in central Manila and the nearby town of Bacoor evacuated, witnesses said.

&quot;City hall employees as well as those transacting business there were ordered to leave the building as a precaution,&quot; government lawyer Bugsy del Rosario from Bacoor reported.

&quot;It wasn&#39;t really that strong. We did not see anyone running out of buildings here,&quot; said fire officer John Christopher Carandang from Lian, a town of 46,000 people about 70 kilometres&nbsp;south of Manila.

The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur.

Last month a 6.5-magnitude quake killed two people and heavily damaged power generation plants on the central island of Leyte, leaving large areas of the central Philippines without power for weeks.

Eight people also died and more than 250 were injured following a 6.5-magnitude quake outside the southern city of Surigao in February.

The latest major quake to hit the Philippines was in 2013 when a 7.1-magnitude quake left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches in the central islands.

A rescue official at the town closest to the epicentre reported no damage or casualties.

A strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked the region south of the Philippine capital on Friday, causing buildings in Manila and nearby areas to sway, seismologists and witnesses said. The quake struck just off the coast of Lian town at 1:28 pm (0528 GMT), at a relatively deep 173 kilometres, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology reported. The US Geological Survey measured it at 6.2 magnitude. "Due to its depth we do not expect any damage," the institute's director Renato Solidum said on government television. A rescue official at the town closest to the epicentre also reported no damage or casualties. But buildings in Manila and other nearby areas swayed, with employees of Malacanang presidential palace and other government buildings in central Manila and the nearby town of Bacoor evacuated, witnesses said. "City hall employees as well as those transacting business there were ordered to leave the building as a precaution," government lawyer Bugsy del Rosario from Bacoor reported. "It wasn't really that strong. We did not see anyone running out of buildings here," said fire officer John Christopher Carandang from Lian, a town of 46,000 people about 70 kilometres south of Manila. The Philippines lies on the so-called Ring of Fire, a vast Pacific Ocean region where many earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. Last month a 6.5-magnitude quake killed two people and heavily damaged power generation plants on the central island of Leyte, leaving large areas of the central Philippines without power for weeks. Eight people also died and more than 250 were injured following a 6.5-magnitude quake outside the southern city of Surigao in February. The latest major quake to hit the Philippines was in 2013 when a 7.1-magnitude quake left more than 220 people dead and destroyed historic churches in the central islands.

Strong 6.2 quake rocks Philippines

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit the&nbsp;&nbsp;Andaman Islands on Friday morning.

There are no early reports of loss of life or property.

No Tsunami warning has been issued.

Elesewhere, a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked the region south of the Philippine capital, causing buildings in Manila to sway, seismologists told AFP.

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told AFP the quake struck just off the coast of &nbsp;Lian, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Manila at 1:28 pm (0528 GMT), at a relatively deep 173 kilometres.

The Philippine seismologists measured it at 6.1 magnitude while the US Geological Survey put it at 6.2.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An earthquake measuring 5.0 on the Richter scale hit the Andaman Islands on Friday morning. There are no early reports of loss of life or property. No Tsunami warning has been issued. Elesewhere, a strong 6.2-magnitude earthquake rocked the region south of the Philippine capital, causing buildings in Manila to sway, seismologists told AFP. The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told AFP the quake struck just off the coast of Lian, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) south of Manila at 1:28 pm (0528 GMT), at a relatively deep 173 kilometres. The Philippine seismologists measured it at 6.1 magnitude while the US Geological Survey put it at 6.2.

5.0 magnitude earthquake strikes Andaman islands, no tsunami warning

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 off Russia&#39;s Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a tsunami warning but the threat has now passed, the US Geological Survey and US Pacific Tsunami Center reports.

The quake struck at 11:34 am on Tuesday (2334 GMT on Monday) some 125 miles (200 km) from the city of Nikolskoye on Bering island off the Kamchatka Peninsula. The epicenter was west of Attu, the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of Alaska&#39;s remote Aleutian Islands.

The earthquake was very shallow, only 6 miles (10 km) below the seabed, which would have amplified its effect, but it was far from any mainland and there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage.

The Kamchatka branch of Russia&#39;s emergency situations ministry had warned that waves up to 50 cm (1-2/2 feet) high could reach Nikolskoye.

The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned earlier that &quot;hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts within 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake epicenter.&quot; But it later said that based on all available data the tsunami threat from this earthquake had passed.

The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 7.7 before being revised down to 7.4 and finally upgraded to 7.8, a major quake normally capable of causing widespread and heavy damage when striking on or near land.

The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, including several above magnitude 5.0.

The quake struck at 11:34 am on Tuesday (2334 GMT on Monday) some 125 miles (200 km) from the city of Nikolskoye on Bering island off the Kamchatka Peninsula

A powerful earthquake of magnitude 7.8 off Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula triggered a tsunami warning but the threat has now passed, the US Geological Survey and US Pacific Tsunami Center reports. The quake struck at 11:34 am on Tuesday (2334 GMT on Monday) some 125 miles (200 km) from the city of Nikolskoye on Bering island off the Kamchatka Peninsula. The epicenter was west of Attu, the westernmost and largest island in the Near Islands group of Alaska's remote Aleutian Islands. The earthquake was very shallow, only 6 miles (10 km) below the seabed, which would have amplified its effect, but it was far from any mainland and there were no immediate reports of any casualties or damage. The Kamchatka branch of Russia's emergency situations ministry had warned that waves up to 50 cm (1-2/2 feet) high could reach Nikolskoye. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had warned earlier that "hazardous tsunami waves were possible for coasts within 300 km (186 miles) of the earthquake epicenter." But it later said that based on all available data the tsunami threat from this earthquake had passed. The quake was initially reported as a magnitude 7.7 before being revised down to 7.4 and finally upgraded to 7.8, a major quake normally capable of causing widespread and heavy damage when striking on or near land. The quake was followed by numerous aftershocks, including several above magnitude 5.0.

Magnitude 7.8 quake hits off Russia's Kamchatka

Earthquake tremors measuring&nbsp;3.2 on the Richter scale were felt again in Rohtak city in India&#39;s northern state of Haryana&nbsp;at 8:13am(local time) after a 5.0 magnitude earthquake hit the same area early on Friday morning.

Earlier, tremors measuring 5.0 magnitude on the Richter scale were felt in Delhi and adjoining areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) in the early morning hours on Friday.

The tremor&nbsp;shook the national capital around 4:25 am(local time).

The epicentre of the earthquake was in Rohtak, Haryana.

There was no immediate loss of life and property reported from anywhere.

Further details are awaited.

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Earthquake occurred at 4:25 AM, region being Rohtak(Haryana), and magnitude 5 which is moderate: Ved Prakash Thakur,Seismology Dep Scientist <a href="https://t.co/G9wLMjF7PA">pic.twitter.com/G9wLMjF7PA</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/870461894657687552">June 2, 2017</a></blockquote>
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(ANI)

Earthquake tremors measuring?3.2 on the Richter scale were felt again in Rohtak city

Earthquake tremors measuring 3.2 on the Richter scale were felt again in Rohtak city in India's northern state of Haryana at 8:13am(local time) after a 5.0 magnitude earthquake hit the same area early on Friday morning. Earlier, tremors measuring 5.0 magnitude on the Richter scale were felt in Delhi and adjoining areas of the National Capital Region (NCR) in the early morning hours on Friday. The tremor shook the national capital around 4:25 am(local time). The epicentre of the earthquake was in Rohtak, Haryana. There was no immediate loss of life and property reported from anywhere. Further details are awaited. Earthquake occurred at 4:25 AM, region being Rohtak(Haryana), and magnitude 5 which is moderate: Ved Prakash Thakur,Seismology Dep Scientist pic.twitter.com/G9wLMjF7PA — ANI (@ANI_news) June 2, 2017 × (ANI)

Earthquake tremors felt again in Haryana's Rohtak city

Around 1500-1800 tourists were feared stranded after a landslide occurred near Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand&#39;s Chamoli district, blocking the Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said today&nbsp;that 1800 tourists had been affected and not 15,000 as some media reports claimed earlier.

He said arrangements were being made for their rescue,&nbsp;authorities were working on clearing debris, and that the route will be open today.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SpotVisual?src=hash">#SpotVisual</a>: Officials inspect landslide site in Uttarakhand; BRO working to clear Highway; all assistance being given to stranded tourists <a href="https://t.co/ADzF1PHXsU">pic.twitter.com/ADzF1PHXsU</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI_news) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI_news/status/865791989329018880">May 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
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District Collector Ashish Joshi said on Friday that BRO (Border Roads Organisation) personnel are engaged in clearing the roads and it could be opened for the traffic by tomorrow afternoon.

He also said efforts are on to provide all facilities to 1,000-1,500 pilgrims who are at Joshimath, Karnaprayag, Pipalkoti, Govindghat and Badrinath.&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)

?The landslide occurred near Vishnuprayag on Badrinath route

Around 1500-1800 tourists were feared stranded after a landslide occurred near Vishnuprayag in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district, blocking the Rishikesh- Badrinath National Highway. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat said today that 1800 tourists had been affected and not 15,000 as some media reports claimed earlier. He said arrangements were being made for their rescue, authorities were working on clearing debris, and that the route will be open today. #SpotVisual: Officials inspect landslide site in Uttarakhand; BRO working to clear Highway; all assistance being given to stranded tourists pic.twitter.com/ADzF1PHXsU — ANI (@ANI_news) May 20, 2017 × District Collector Ashish Joshi said on Friday that BRO (Border Roads Organisation) personnel are engaged in clearing the roads and it could be opened for the traffic by tomorrow afternoon. He also said efforts are on to provide all facilities to 1,000-1,500 pilgrims who are at Joshimath, Karnaprayag, Pipalkoti, Govindghat and Badrinath. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Arrangements being made for 1800 tourists impacted by Uttarakhand landslide: Chief Minister

Five persons were killed and&nbsp;several injured after a mini bus was hit by an avalanche on the Bhaderwah-Basholi highway in Jammu and Kashmir&#39;s Doda district today.

The avalanche hit the vehicle on its way to Bhaderwah from Bani and it rolled down into a 1500-feet gorge, according to BRO workers clearing the snow and debris near Chattar Gali pass, 38 kms from Bhaderwah.

The bus was carrying 12 passengers.&nbsp;BRO workers along with some locals started rescue operations and also informed the police,&quot;&nbsp;SDPO, Bhaderwah, Birjesh Sharma said.

&quot;As of now three of the injured including the driver of the vehicle have been rescued and sent to Sub District Hospital Bhaderwah,&quot; he said.

Five bodies have been retrieved from the snow, reports said.

(PTI)

The avalanche hit the vehicle on its way to Bhaderwah from Bani and it rolled down into a 1500-feet gorge

Five persons were killed and several injured after a mini bus was hit by an avalanche on the Bhaderwah-Basholi highway in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district today. The avalanche hit the vehicle on its way to Bhaderwah from Bani and it rolled down into a 1500-feet gorge, according to BRO workers clearing the snow and debris near Chattar Gali pass, 38 kms from Bhaderwah. The bus was carrying 12 passengers. BRO workers along with some locals started rescue operations and also informed the police," SDPO, Bhaderwah, Birjesh Sharma said. "As of now three of the injured including the driver of the vehicle have been rescued and sent to Sub District Hospital Bhaderwah," he said. Five bodies have been retrieved from the snow, reports said. (PTI)

Bus hit by avalanche in J&K's Doda district, 5 dead

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Andaman and Nicobar islands this morning, reports said.&nbsp;There are&nbsp;no reports of casualties so far.

According to National Centre for Seismology, a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences, the quake, whose epicentre was in the Nicobar islands region, occurred at 8:21am(Indian Standard Time) at a depth of 10 kms.

However, it was not so powerful as to merit a tsunami warning. India has a dedicated tsunami warning centre that sends alerts to states and neighbouring countries in case of an earthquake.

There were no immediate reports of loss of life or property.

Another earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale jolted Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir at 5:48 am.

(WION with agency inputs)

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Andaman and Nicobar islands, no casualties has been reported

An earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale struck Andaman and Nicobar islands this morning, reports said. There are no reports of casualties so far. According to National Centre for Seismology, a unit of Ministry of Earth Sciences, the quake, whose epicentre was in the Nicobar islands region, occurred at 8:21am(Indian Standard Time) at a depth of 10 kms. However, it was not so powerful as to merit a tsunami warning. India has a dedicated tsunami warning centre that sends alerts to states and neighbouring countries in case of an earthquake. There were no immediate reports of loss of life or property. Another earthquake measuring 3.6 on the Richter scale jolted Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir at 5:48 am. (WION with agency inputs)

Earthquake in  Andaman and Nicobar islands, no tsunami alert

Earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi at 10:33&nbsp;pm (Indian Standard Time). The tremors lasted about 35&nbsp;seconds.

The National Seismological Bureau said the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale was in Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India.

&nbsp;

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Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, Noida, Uttarakhand
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Felt tremors in Delhi..Hope everyone is safe and sound after this <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/earthquake?src=hash">#earthquake</a>
&mdash; Ragini Nayak (@NayakRagini) <a href="https://twitter.com/NayakRagini/status/828652385388023808">February 6, 2017</a></blockquote>
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Tremors were felt in parts of North India, including New Delhi, according to Indian media reports.

&quot;The quake was quite heavy. It lasted for 25 or 30 seconds, but there are no reports of damage so far received,&quot; said Ashok Kumar, a senior police official in the state capital Dehradun.&nbsp;

Amit Negi, the secretary of disaster management in the state said they had alerted all districts and were coordinating with them.

There are no reports of loss of lives or damage to property.

(WION)

The National Seismological Bureau said the earthquake measured 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale

Earthquake tremors were felt in Delhi at 10:33 pm (Indian Standard Time). The tremors lasted about 35 seconds. The National Seismological Bureau said the epicentre of the earthquake measuring 5.8 magnitude on the Richter Scale was in Rudraprayag in Uttarakhand, a state in the north of India. Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, Noida, Uttarakhand — ANI (@ANI_news) February 6, 2017 × Felt tremors in Delhi..Hope everyone is safe and sound after this #earthquake — Ragini Nayak (@NayakRagini) February 6, 2017 × Tremors were felt in parts of North India, including New Delhi, according to Indian media reports. "The quake was quite heavy. It lasted for 25 or 30 seconds, but there are no reports of damage so far received," said Ashok Kumar, a senior police official in the state capital Dehradun. Amit Negi, the secretary of disaster management in the state said they had alerted all districts and were coordinating with them. There are no reports of loss of lives or damage to property. (WION)

Earthquake tremors felt in Delhi, epicentre in Rudraprayag district in Uttarakhand

A strong quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale rocked southern Chile on Christmas Day, triggering a tsunami alert.

The tsunami alert, however, was lifted about 90 minutes after the powerful quake shook the South American nation.

The quake&#39;s&nbsp;epicentre was the southern part of Chiloe island, in a zone of several national parks.&nbsp;

Images of cracked roads were tweeted by Chilean media.

There have been no reports of any damage or casualties.

The quake struck in the evening while most people were celebrating Christmas.

Thousands of people have been evacuated from the coastal areas after a tsunami alert was activated..

Chile is in a quake-prone region, lying on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire of frequent seismic activity. As a result, buildings are usually built to resist swaying.

The last big quake to shake Chile was on September 16, 2015, when an 8.3 temblor followed by a tsunami hit the north of the country, killing 15 people. A coastal evacuation order had limited the number of casualties.

In 2010 another quake measuring 8.8, also followed by a tsunami, struck the center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people.

(WION with inputs from AFP)

The country's emergency service has called for the evacuation of coastal areas

A strong quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale rocked southern Chile on Christmas Day, triggering a tsunami alert. The tsunami alert, however, was lifted about 90 minutes after the powerful quake shook the South American nation. The quake's epicentre was the southern part of Chiloe island, in a zone of several national parks. Images of cracked roads were tweeted by Chilean media. There have been no reports of any damage or casualties. The quake struck in the evening while most people were celebrating Christmas. Thousands of people have been evacuated from the coastal areas after a tsunami alert was activated.. Chile is in a quake-prone region, lying on the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire of frequent seismic activity. As a result, buildings are usually built to resist swaying. The last big quake to shake Chile was on September 16, 2015, when an 8.3 temblor followed by a tsunami hit the north of the country, killing 15 people. A coastal evacuation order had limited the number of casualties. In 2010 another quake measuring 8.8, also followed by a tsunami, struck the center and south of the country, killing more than 500 people. (WION with inputs from AFP)

Chile hit by 7.7 earthquake

A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit off the Solomon Islands on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said. There were no initial reports of casualties.

It struck at 4:38 am (1738 GMT Thursday) at a depth of 49 km (30 miles), the USGS said.

An initial tsunami warning in the region has been lifted.

The earthquake was at first&nbsp;reported to be of magnitude 8.0.

&quot;Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within the next three hours along some coasts of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae,&quot; the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had said earlier,

A tsunami warning for Hawaii was also lifted.

Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office director Loti Yates told Reuters he had received reports of collapsed buildings in villages in Makira, the island closest to the epicentre of the massive undersea quake.

Around 50,000 people are reported to be living in the Makira Province

&quot;Villages that we have made contact with have evacuated, actually most of the communities that we have spoken with had already evacuated,&quot; Yates told Reuters. &quot;They called us from the hills, which is good.&quot;

Yates said he had not received any reports of deaths.&nbsp;

John Pirimare, a resident on Nafinua Island, spoke to Reuters from up the hills where he evacuated immediately after the quake with around 500 to 600 villagers after they received the tsunami warning on their phones.

&quot;It was a great shock but no serious damage,&quot; Pirimare said. &quot;Most of the people went straight here; and we won&#39;t leave until the tsunami threat has passed.&quot;

Yates told Reuters that the authorities in the Solomons would start to assess the damage as morning dawned.

Australia said there was no risk to its coastlines. New Zealand cancelled a marine and beach threat warning.

(WION with inputs from Reuters)

The were no initial reports of casualties but authorities say collapsed buildings have been reported from villages in Makira province

A massive earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 hit off the Solomon Islands on Thursday, the US Geological Survey said. There were no initial reports of casualties. It struck at 4:38 am (1738 GMT Thursday) at a depth of 49 km (30 miles), the USGS said. An initial tsunami warning in the region has been lifted. The earthquake was at first reported to be of magnitude 8.0. "Hazardous tsunami waves from this earthquake are possible within the next three hours along some coasts of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, New Caledonia, Tuvalu and Kosrae," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre had said earlier, A tsunami warning for Hawaii was also lifted. Solomon Islands National Disaster Management Office director Loti Yates told Reuters he had received reports of collapsed buildings in villages in Makira, the island closest to the epicentre of the massive undersea quake. Around 50,000 people are reported to be living in the Makira Province "Villages that we have made contact with have evacuated, actually most of the communities that we have spoken with had already evacuated," Yates told Reuters. "They called us from the hills, which is good." Yates said he had not received any reports of deaths. John Pirimare, a resident on Nafinua Island, spoke to Reuters from up the hills where he evacuated immediately after the quake with around 500 to 600 villagers after they received the tsunami warning on their phones. "It was a great shock but no serious damage," Pirimare said. "Most of the people went straight here; and we won't leave until the tsunami threat has passed." Yates told Reuters that the authorities in the Solomons would start to assess the damage as morning dawned. Australia said there was no risk to its coastlines. New Zealand cancelled a marine and beach threat warning. (WION with inputs from Reuters)

Tsunami warning lifted after massive 7.7 earthquake hits Solomon Islands

An&nbsp;earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale shook Nepal&nbsp;early&nbsp;this morning.

Nepal&#39;s National Centre for Seismology (NCS), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake occurred at 5:05 am, and at a depth of 10 kilometres, PTI reported.

The NCS located&nbsp;the earthquake&#39;s&nbsp;epicentre at Solukhumbu, near Everest, and around 150 kilometres east of Kathmandu, and recorded its intensity&nbsp;at 5.6.

PTI reports that this was the 475th aftershock above a 4 magnitude of the April 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal.

Thankfully there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, according to PTI, which was also felt in Kathmandu and in other parts of central and Eastern Nepal.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

There have been no immediate reports of casualties or damage from the quake, which was felt as far as outside Kathmandu

An earthquake measuring 5.5 on the Richter Scale shook Nepal early this morning. Nepal's National Centre for Seismology (NCS), a unit of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, said the quake occurred at 5:05 am, and at a depth of 10 kilometres, PTI reported. The NCS located the earthquake's epicentre at Solukhumbu, near Everest, and around 150 kilometres east of Kathmandu, and recorded its intensity at 5.6. PTI reports that this was the 475th aftershock above a 4 magnitude of the April 2015 earthquake that devastated Nepal. Thankfully there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties from the earthquake, according to PTI, which was also felt in Kathmandu and in other parts of central and Eastern Nepal. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Nepal hit by 5.5 magnitude earthquake

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