Major disasters recently struck two neighbouring nations. Nepal Earthquake and Sikkim flash floods. Though two different disasters struck two different nations. Scientists are exploring a possible link between Nepal Earthquakes & Sikkim flash floods.

Is there a link between Sikkim flash floods & Nepal earthquakes?

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: On Monday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Turkey and Syria, killing more than 4,400 people. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers are still searching for people stuck in the debris. An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves.&nbsp;Turkey and Syria border was struck by two powerful earthquakes within a span of 12 hours. The first quake was measured at 7.8 magnitudes, tremors of which were felt as far away as Cyprus and Cairo.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSV) said preliminary data showed the second larger quake was measured at 7.7 magnitudes and was 42 miles (67 km) north-east of Kahramanmaras, Turkey, at a depth of 2000 metres.&nbsp;

Here is a list of some of the world’s scariest earthquakes took place around the world since 2000:

June 22, 2022: In Afghanistan, more than 1,100 people died due to a magnitude 6.1 earthquake. The most affected provinces were Paktika, Khost and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It was felt over 310 miles (500 km) away by at least 119 million people, including parts of India and Iran.&nbsp;

August 14, 2021: In Haiti, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake killed&nbsp;more than 2,200 people. The epicentre was near the town of Leogane, Ouest department, which is approximately 16 miles (25 km) west of Haiti’s capital. By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded.

September 28, 2018: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit&nbsp;Indonesia, killing more than 4,300 people. The earthquake struck in the neck of the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia, with its epicentre located in the mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi.&nbsp;

August 24, 2016: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake in central Italy killed&nbsp;more than 300 people. Its epicentre was close to Accumoli, with its hypocentre at a depth of 4 ± 1 km, approximately 47 miles (75 km) southeast of Perugia and 45 km (28 mi) north of L'Aquila, in an area near the borders of the Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche regions.&nbsp;

April 25, 2015: In Nepal, more than 8,800 people are killed by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. It occurred at 11:56 Nepal Standard Time on Saturday, 25 April 2015. &nbsp;Its epicentre was east of Gorkha District at Barpak, Gorkha, roughly 53 miles (85 km)&nbsp;northwest of central Kathmandu, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 8.2 km (5.1 mi).

The ground motion recorded in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, was of low frequency, which, along with its occurrence at an hour when many people in rural areas were working outdoors, decreased the loss of property and human lives.

August 3, 2014: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Wenping, China, killed&nbsp;more than 700 people. Over 12,000 houses collapsed and 30,000 were damaged. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred 18 miles (29 km)&nbsp;WSW of Zhaotong city at 16:03 local time

September 24, 2013: A magnitude 7.7 quake strikes southwest Pakistan, killing more than 800 people. The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake took place on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at 11:29:48 UTC. The depth was reported to be 9.3 miles (15 km). The earthquake reportedly lasted about a minute, causing panic in cities of southern Pakistan such as Karachi and Hyderabad.

March 11, 2011: A magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggered&nbsp;a tsunami, killing more than 20,000 people. &nbsp;The epicentre was located some 80 miles (130 km) east of the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, and the focus occurred at a depth of 18.6 miles (about 30 km) below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean.&nbsp;

January 26, 2001: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the Bhuj in Gujarat, India at 8:46 am IST. The epicentre of the quake was about 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of the village of Chobari in the Kutch District of Bhuj. The earthquake killed 13,805 to 20,023 people, injured another 167,000 and destroyed nearly 340,000 buildings.&nbsp;

As soon as the news of the earthquakes at the Turkey-Syria border broke out, global communities rush over to send aid and relief operations to affected areas.&nbsp;

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: On Monday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Turkey and Syria, killing more than 4,400 people. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers are still searching for people stuck in the debris.

Turkey-Syria Earthquake: On Monday, a 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook parts of Turkey and Syria, killing more than 4,400 people. The death toll is expected to rise as rescuers are still searching for people stuck in the debris. An earthquake is the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves. Turkey and Syria border was struck by two powerful earthquakes within a span of 12 hours. The first quake was measured at 7.8 magnitudes, tremors of which were felt as far away as Cyprus and Cairo. The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSV) said preliminary data showed the second larger quake was measured at 7.7 magnitudes and was 42 miles (67 km) north-east of Kahramanmaras, Turkey, at a depth of 2000 metres. Here is a list of some of the world’s scariest earthquakes took place around the world since 2000: June 22, 2022: In Afghanistan, more than 1,100 people died due to a magnitude 6.1 earthquake. The most affected provinces were Paktika, Khost and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. It was felt over 310 miles (500 km) away by at least 119 million people, including parts of India and Iran. August 14, 2021: In Haiti, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake killed more than 2,200 people. The epicentre was near the town of Leogane, Ouest department, which is approximately 16 miles (25 km) west of Haiti’s capital. By 24 January, at least 52 aftershocks measuring 4.5 or greater had been recorded. September 28, 2018: A magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit Indonesia, killing more than 4,300 people. The earthquake struck in the neck of the Minahasa Peninsula, Indonesia, with its epicentre located in the mountainous Donggala Regency, Central Sulawesi. August 24, 2016: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake in central Italy killed more than 300 people. Its epicentre was close to Accumoli, with its hypocentre at a depth of 4 ± 1 km, approximately 47 miles (75 km) southeast of Perugia and 45 km (28 mi) north of L'Aquila, in an area near the borders of the Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo and Marche regions. April 25, 2015: In Nepal, more than 8,800 people are killed by a magnitude 7.8 earthquake. It occurred at 11:56 Nepal Standard Time on Saturday, 25 April 2015. Its epicentre was east of Gorkha District at Barpak, Gorkha, roughly 53 miles (85 km) northwest of central Kathmandu, and its hypocenter was at a depth of approximately 8.2 km (5.1 mi). The ground motion recorded in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, was of low frequency, which, along with its occurrence at an hour when many people in rural areas were working outdoors, decreased the loss of property and human lives. August 3, 2014: A magnitude 6.2 earthquake near Wenping, China, killed more than 700 people. Over 12,000 houses collapsed and 30,000 were damaged. According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred 18 miles (29 km) WSW of Zhaotong city at 16:03 local time September 24, 2013: A magnitude 7.7 quake strikes southwest Pakistan, killing more than 800 people. The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake took place on Tuesday 24 September 2013 at 11:29:48 UTC. The depth was reported to be 9.3 miles (15 km). The earthquake reportedly lasted about a minute, causing panic in cities of southern Pakistan such as Karachi and Hyderabad. March 11, 2011: A magnitude 9.0 quake off the northeast coast of Japan triggered a tsunami, killing more than 20,000 people. The epicentre was located some 80 miles (130 km) east of the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, and the focus occurred at a depth of 18.6 miles (about 30 km) below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean. January 26, 2001: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake shook the Bhuj in Gujarat, India at 8:46 am IST. The epicentre of the quake was about 5.5 miles (9 km) southwest of the village of Chobari in the Kutch District of Bhuj. The earthquake killed 13,805 to 20,023 people, injured another 167,000 and destroyed nearly 340,000 buildings. As soon as the news of the earthquakes at the Turkey-Syria border broke out, global communities rush over to send aid and relief operations to affected areas.

Earthquake in Turkey, Syria: Timeline of the world's most devastating earthquakes since 2000

As the month of August gets underway, the startling explosion of roughly 4,000 earthquakes has triggered worries of a new volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. According to Severe Weather, strong swarms of up to 4,000 earthquakes have been found in Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, possibly caused by magma movement beneath the earth. This has experts concerned about a probable volcanic eruption.

The officials have increased the warning level in the area as a result of this. The likelihood of an eruption is rising progressively as the earthquake activity does.

One of the world's most active volcanic areas is Iceland, a volcanic island in the North Atlantic. It has produced notable eruptions throughout its history, which had a tremendous impact on Europe, North America, and the entire Northern Hemisphere.

Due to its location along the tectonic plate border between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, the island is constantly shaken by earthquakes. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is another name for this line of separation (MAR).

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge goes across Iceland in the graphic below, which also shows how the tectonic plates are spreading. On the Reykjanes Peninsula, it enters the southwest and turns north after travelling east. The main core volcanoes are depicted as red triangles.

But across the whole Atlantic Ocean, the tectonic plates have separated. What makes this place so special and why did it take millions of years for a big volcanic island to form there?

The answer is a hotspot or mantle plume, which is a vertical column of hot, molten rock rising from the mantle. It is beneath Iceland, as has been demonstrated by extensive research. As a result, it is more frequently referred to as the Icelandic plume.

The graphic below depicts the general location of the point when the plume joins Iceland under the Vatnajokull glacier (black circle). The mid-Atlantic ridge and volcanic locations are also visible.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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As the month of August gets underway, the startling explosion of roughly 4,000 earthquakes has triggered worries of a new volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula.

As the month of August gets underway, the startling explosion of roughly 4,000 earthquakes has triggered worries of a new volcanic eruption on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula. According to Severe Weather, strong swarms of up to 4,000 earthquakes have been found in Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula, possibly caused by magma movement beneath the earth. This has experts concerned about a probable volcanic eruption. The officials have increased the warning level in the area as a result of this. The likelihood of an eruption is rising progressively as the earthquake activity does. One of the world's most active volcanic areas is Iceland, a volcanic island in the North Atlantic. It has produced notable eruptions throughout its history, which had a tremendous impact on Europe, North America, and the entire Northern Hemisphere. Due to its location along the tectonic plate border between the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates, the island is constantly shaken by earthquakes. The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is another name for this line of separation (MAR). The Mid-Atlantic Ridge goes across Iceland in the graphic below, which also shows how the tectonic plates are spreading. On the Reykjanes Peninsula, it enters the southwest and turns north after travelling east. The main core volcanoes are depicted as red triangles. But across the whole Atlantic Ocean, the tectonic plates have separated. What makes this place so special and why did it take millions of years for a big volcanic island to form there? The answer is a hotspot or mantle plume, which is a vertical column of hot, molten rock rising from the mantle. It is beneath Iceland, as has been demonstrated by extensive research. As a result, it is more frequently referred to as the Icelandic plume. The graphic below depicts the general location of the point when the plume joins Iceland under the Vatnajokull glacier (black circle). The mid-Atlantic ridge and volcanic locations are also visible. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Fear of volcanic eruptions looms after Iceland witnesses 4000 earthquakes

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked&nbsp;Haiti&nbsp;on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged.

The destruction came little more than a decade after a devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed&nbsp;Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 200,000 people.

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Here's a look at why the Caribbean country is affected by earthquakes.

What causes earthquakes in&nbsp;Haiti?

Haiti&nbsp;occupies the western part of Hispaniola, a Caribbean island, it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is sandwiched between two fault systems, the Septentrional fault system to the north, and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system to the south.

The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system is considered likely responsible for Saturday's quake, as well as the one in 2010, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS).

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/quake-death-toll-surges-to-1297-in-haiti-as-rescue-efforts-continue-405886">Quake death toll surges to&nbsp;1,297 in Haiti as rescue efforts continue</a>&nbsp;

Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates - separate parts of the Earth's crust - suddenly slip past each other. Though friction holds these two plates together, the sudden release of energy in seismic waves cause the shaking associated with earthquakes.

Which quake was bigger, 2010's or Saturday's?

Saturday's quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, which is used to measure earthquake size, according to the USGS.

Though the quake in 2010 measured 7.0, the Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that Saturday's earthquake released twice as much energy as the previous one. It was felt in Jamaica, more than 200 miles (320 km) away.

Damage caused on Saturday so far appears less than 2010, the reasons for which are being studied.

"That's the million-dollar question right now," said William Barnhart, a geophysicist in the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

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While the 2010 earthquake struck in Leogane, just outside of&nbsp;Haiti's capital, Saturday's quake hit further from Port-au-Prince, in the Nippes department of southwestern&nbsp;Haiti.

Preliminary work suggests the quake's further distance from the capital and the mountainous, sparsely inhabited location of the epicentre - where a quake starts on the Earth's surface - could have had an impact, he added.

Will there be more earthquakes in&nbsp;Haiti?

Before the 2010 quake, the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system had not produced a major earthquake in decades, the USGS says.

However, the fault system was probably behind three other major earthquakes, occurring in 1751, 1770, and 1860 respectively, the USGS says, adding that the first two quakes destroyed Port-au-Prince.

Other quakes are likely to happen in the future.

"We know they will happen, but we don't know when they will happen," Barnhart said.

Did lessons from the 2010 earthquake have any impact?

While Barnhart says just Japan, Mexico, and US Western states have early-warning systems for earthquakes - which can buy just tens of seconds of advance notice - Claude Prepetit,&nbsp;Haiti's chief seismologist, said&nbsp;Haitians behaved differently after Saturday's quake, compared to in 2010.

Back then, he said, people exposed themselves to more danger by sheltering in buildings while aftershocks continued.

"We have learned our lesson," Prepetit said, but added more needs to be done. "We must build better, with better building materials, and then educate the population so that they can develop the right reflexes."

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked Haiti on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged.

Almost 1,300 people have been reported killed by a powerful earthquake that rocked Haiti on Saturday, with thousands more injured, and tens of thousands of buildings destroyed or damaged. The destruction came little more than a decade after a devastating 2010 earthquake that destroyed Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince and killed more than 200,000 people. Also read | Storm brings floods as Haitians seek help at overloaded hospitals after quake Here's a look at why the Caribbean country is affected by earthquakes. What causes earthquakes in Haiti? Haiti occupies the western part of Hispaniola, a Caribbean island, it shares with the Dominican Republic. Hispaniola is sandwiched between two fault systems, the Septentrional fault system to the north, and the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system to the south. The Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system is considered likely responsible for Saturday's quake, as well as the one in 2010, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). Also read | Quake death toll surges to 1,297 in Haiti as rescue efforts continue Earthquakes happen when two tectonic plates - separate parts of the Earth's crust - suddenly slip past each other. Though friction holds these two plates together, the sudden release of energy in seismic waves cause the shaking associated with earthquakes. Which quake was bigger, 2010's or Saturday's? Saturday's quake measured 7.2 on the Richter scale, which is used to measure earthquake size, according to the USGS. Though the quake in 2010 measured 7.0, the Richter scale is logarithmic, meaning that Saturday's earthquake released twice as much energy as the previous one. It was felt in Jamaica, more than 200 miles (320 km) away. Damage caused on Saturday so far appears less than 2010, the reasons for which are being studied. "That's the million-dollar question right now," said William Barnhart, a geophysicist in the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. Also read | After turmoil, Haiti gets hit with deadly quake killing over 300 While the 2010 earthquake struck in Leogane, just outside of Haiti's capital, Saturday's quake hit further from Port-au-Prince, in the Nippes department of southwestern Haiti. Preliminary work suggests the quake's further distance from the capital and the mountainous, sparsely inhabited location of the epicentre - where a quake starts on the Earth's surface - could have had an impact, he added. Will there be more earthquakes in Haiti? Before the 2010 quake, the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault system had not produced a major earthquake in decades, the USGS says. However, the fault system was probably behind three other major earthquakes, occurring in 1751, 1770, and 1860 respectively, the USGS says, adding that the first two quakes destroyed Port-au-Prince. Other quakes are likely to happen in the future. "We know they will happen, but we don't know when they will happen," Barnhart said. Did lessons from the 2010 earthquake have any impact? While Barnhart says just Japan, Mexico, and US Western states have early-warning systems for earthquakes - which can buy just tens of seconds of advance notice - Claude Prepetit, Haiti's chief seismologist, said Haitians behaved differently after Saturday's quake, compared to in 2010. Back then, he said, people exposed themselves to more danger by sheltering in buildings while aftershocks continued. "We have learned our lesson," Prepetit said, but added more needs to be done. "We must build better, with better building materials, and then educate the population so that they can develop the right reflexes."

Explainer: Why does Haiti have earthquakes?

Antarctica has witnessed over 30,000 tremors since the end of August, according to the new research by scientists at the University of Chile, who recorded a surge in seismic activity that has intrigued researchers who study the remote icy continent.

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As per the university's National Seismological Centre, the small quakes - including one stronger one of magnitude 6 - were detected in the Bransfield Strait, which is a 96-km wide ocean channel between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula.&nbsp;

The strait also is the place where several tectonic plates and microplates meet due to which the area experiences frequent rumbling. However, the past three months have been unusual, according to the centre.

“Most of the seismicity is concentrated at the beginning of the sequence, mainly during the month of September, with more than a thousand earthquakes a day,” the centre said.

The strait that increased in width at a rate of about 7 or 8 mm (0.30 inch) a year is now expanding 15 cm (6 inches) a year due to recurring quakes, the centre said.

“It’s a 20-fold increase ... which suggests that right this minute ... the Shetland Islands are separating more quickly from the Antarctic peninsula,” said Sergio Barrientos, the centre’s director.

Antarctica has witnessed over 30,000 tremors since the end of August, according to the new research by scientists at the University of Chile, who recorded a surge in seismic activity that has intrigued researchers who study the remote icy continent.

Antarctica has witnessed over 30,000 tremors since the end of August, according to the new research by scientists at the University of Chile, who recorded a surge in seismic activity that has intrigued researchers who study the remote icy continent. Also read: Iran begins construction at underground nuclear facility amid US tensions As per the university's National Seismological Centre, the small quakes - including one stronger one of magnitude 6 - were detected in the Bransfield Strait, which is a 96-km wide ocean channel between the South Shetland Islands and the Antarctic Peninsula. The strait also is the place where several tectonic plates and microplates meet due to which the area experiences frequent rumbling. However, the past three months have been unusual, according to the centre. “Most of the seismicity is concentrated at the beginning of the sequence, mainly during the month of September, with more than a thousand earthquakes a day,” the centre said. The strait that increased in width at a rate of about 7 or 8 mm (0.30 inch) a year is now expanding 15 cm (6 inches) a year due to recurring quakes, the centre said. “It’s a 20-fold increase ... which suggests that right this minute ... the Shetland Islands are separating more quickly from the Antarctic peninsula,” said Sergio Barrientos, the centre’s director.

Over 30,000 tremors rock Antarctica in three months, scientists say

A 7.5-magnitude quake hit off Russia's Kuril Islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, although there was no tsunami threat.

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The quake hit at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of Sapporo, USGS added.

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The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said "only very small tsunami waves were generated by this earthquake and there is no further threat".

It had previously warned tsunami waves were possible for coasts in the region.

The four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain -- Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri -- have been disputed between Moscow and Tokyo since the end of World War II.

The Kurils are known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

A 7.5-magnitude quake hit off Russia's Kuril Islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, although there was no tsunami threat. Also read: Russia to use mobile phones to track people at risk of coronavirus The quake hit at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of Sapporo, USGS added.

A 7.5-magnitude quake hit off Russia's Kuril Islands on Wednesday, the US Geological Survey said, although there was no tsunami threat. Also read: Russia to use mobile phones to track people at risk of coronavirus The quake hit at a depth of 59 kilometres (37 miles), around 1,400 kilometres (around 850 miles) northeast of the Japanese city of Sapporo, USGS added. Also read: Russian President Vladimir Putin says, 'I am not a 'tsar', I work every day' The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said "only very small tsunami waves were generated by this earthquake and there is no further threat". It had previously warned tsunami waves were possible for coasts in the region. The four southernmost islands of the Kuril chain -- Habomai, Shikotan, Etorofu and Kunashiri -- have been disputed between Moscow and Tokyo since the end of World War II. The Kurils are known as the Northern Territories in Japan.

7.5-magnitude quake hits off Russia's Kuril Islands: USGS

A powerful earthquake shook the delivery room of a private hospital in Turkey's Malatya, minutes after a baby was born on Friday (January 24), video shows. The delivery room of a private hospital in Turkey's Malatya shakes as a midwife cleans a newborn baby.

Baby born as earthquake rocks Turkey

The Moon is steadily shrinking, causing wrinkling on its surface and earthquakes, according to an analysis of imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) published Monday.

The Moon is shrinking due to earthquakes, claims study

More homes on Hawaii's Big Island were destroyed on Saturday as eruptions linked to the Kilauea volcano increased, spewing lava into residential areas and forcing nearly 2,000 people to evacuate, officials said.

Scientists forecast more eruptions and more earthquakes, perhaps for months to come, after the southeast corner of the island was rocked by a 6.9 tremor on Friday, the strongest on the island since 1975.

The US&nbspGeological Survey (USGS) said on Saturday that several new lava fissures had opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Puna District, about a dozen miles (19 km) from the volcano. Not all the fissures were still active, it added.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said at midday local time on Saturday that "eruptive activity is increasing and is expected to continue."

Janet Babb, a spokeswoman for the observatory, said by telephone that the eruptions could carry on "for weeks or months."

Babb said the activity since Thursday is beginning to show similarities to another event in the area in 1955 that lasted for 88 days, when far fewer people lived near the volcano.

Although no significant lava flows have yet formed, additional outbreaks of lava, which can reach temperatures of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit (1,150 Celsius), were expected, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said.

The Hawaii Fire Department reported "extremely dangerous air quality conditions due to high levels of sulfur dioxide gas in the evacuation area," civil defense officials said on Saturday. The gas can cause skin irritations and breathing difficulties.

Ken Smith of Mountain View on the island ran errands on Friday evening on streets usually busy with pre-weekend traffic, "but the roads were totally empty," he said by telephone. "It felt almost apocalyptic."

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. Lava flows from the volcano have covered 48 square miles (125 square km), according to the USGS.

Kilauea began spewing lava into residential areas on Thursday after a series of earthquakes over the preceding week. Starting around 11 a.m. on Friday, the island experienced a flurry of earthquakes, culminating in the massive magnitude 6.9 tremor.

No injuries or deaths were reported, but Hawaii Governor David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to provide emergency help.

US&nbspRepresentative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii called on federal officials to send help quickly.

Gabbard, a Democrat, in a letter sent Friday, asked Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator William Long to respond to "short- and long-term housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and public health effects to Hawaii Island."

Gabbard said more than 1,800 residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens have been ordered to leave their homes since Thursday, when public works officials first reported steam and lava erupting from fissures in a road.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said at midday local time on Saturday that 'eruptive activity is increasing and is expected to continue'

More homes on Hawaii's Big Island were destroyed on Saturday as eruptions linked to the Kilauea volcano increased, spewing lava into residential areas and forcing nearly 2,000 people to evacuate, officials said. Scientists forecast more eruptions and more earthquakes, perhaps for months to come, after the southeast corner of the island was rocked by a 6.9 tremor on Friday, the strongest on the island since 1975. The US&nbspGeological Survey (USGS) said on Saturday that several new lava fissures had opened in the Leilani Estates subdivision of Puna District, about a dozen miles (19 km) from the volcano. Not all the fissures were still active, it added. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said at midday local time on Saturday that "eruptive activity is increasing and is expected to continue." Janet Babb, a spokeswoman for the observatory, said by telephone that the eruptions could carry on "for weeks or months." Babb said the activity since Thursday is beginning to show similarities to another event in the area in 1955 that lasted for 88 days, when far fewer people lived near the volcano. Although no significant lava flows have yet formed, additional outbreaks of lava, which can reach temperatures of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit (1,150 Celsius), were expected, the Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said. The Hawaii Fire Department reported "extremely dangerous air quality conditions due to high levels of sulfur dioxide gas in the evacuation area," civil defense officials said on Saturday. The gas can cause skin irritations and breathing difficulties. Ken Smith of Mountain View on the island ran errands on Friday evening on streets usually busy with pre-weekend traffic, "but the roads were totally empty," he said by telephone. "It felt almost apocalyptic." Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. Lava flows from the volcano have covered 48 square miles (125 square km), according to the USGS. Kilauea began spewing lava into residential areas on Thursday after a series of earthquakes over the preceding week. Starting around 11 a.m. on Friday, the island experienced a flurry of earthquakes, culminating in the massive magnitude 6.9 tremor. No injuries or deaths were reported, but Hawaii Governor David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to provide emergency help. US&nbspRepresentative Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii called on federal officials to send help quickly. Gabbard, a Democrat, in a letter sent Friday, asked Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator William Long to respond to "short- and long-term housing, infrastructure, agriculture, and public health effects to Hawaii Island." Gabbard said more than 1,800 residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens have been ordered to leave their homes since Thursday, when public works officials first reported steam and lava erupting from fissures in a road.

Earthquakes, lava fissures could last for months on Hawaii: US Geological Survey

Hawaii's Big Island was on high alert on Friday evening after the Kilauea volcano spent a day spewing lava into residential areas, forcing hundreds to evacuate, and a series of earthquakes, included a powerful tremor, shook the island.

Scientists and local officials warned residents that seismic and volcanic activity may continue after a 6.9 tremor shook buildings on the island's southeast corner at little after noon local time and more lava fissures were reported in a residential subdivision, where residents have been ordered to leave.

"Until we see earthquake activity dying down and the ground stops moving, it's likely that this activity is going to continue," said Tina Neal, a scientist in charge at the USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory after a late-afternoon community meeting attended by about 300 people.

Some attendees shed tears as they asked officials about looting, travel restrictions and safety precautions at the Puna Geothermal Venture, a power plant in the eruption area.

"Today’s been a challenging day for everyone," Neal said.

The meeting came hours after the 6.9 tremor caused buildings to shake at the Community Center in Pahoa town, one of two evacuation centres in the area hastily set up after lava started burbling up through fissures in the ground in neighbourhoods nearby.

The day also saw several more eruptive lava fissures, each several hundred yards long, in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the Puna District about a dozen miles (19 km) from the volcano.

The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said in an alert that a total of six fissures had occurred. Although no significant lava flows have yet formed, additional outbreaks of lava, which can reach temperatures of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit (1,150 Celsius), were expected, the agency said.

Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. Lava flows from the volcano have covered 48 square miles (125 square km), according to the US&nbspGeological Survey. Scientists say it is nearly impossible to predict how long an eruption will last.

On Thursday, Kilauea began spewing lava into residential areas after a series of earthquakes over the past week. Starting around 11 a.m. on Friday, the island experienced a flurry of earthquakes, culminating in the massive magnitude 6.9 tremor.

Residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions were ordered to evacuate after public works officials reported steam and lava erupting from fissures in the road, the Civil Defense agency said.

Two houses have been destroyed, officials said.

No injuries or deaths were reported, but Hawaii Governor David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to provide emergency help.

Part of life

Keone Kalawe, 58, a native Hawaiian who was volunteering at an evacuation center in Pahoa, shrugged off the latest quake as "just part of life over here."

His family was forced out of the village of Kapoho, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Pahoa, after an eruption in 1960, and he's witnessed other eruptions over the past three decades. So he has lived with lava, which is not dangerous, he says.

"I tell people,'You just have to sidestep.'"

A 492-foot-long (150-meter) fissure ripped open a road and spewed lava for about two hours in Leilani Estates at about 5:30 pm&nbspon Thursday, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory said on its website.

Dale Miller, 58, a resident of Leilani Estates, said police knocked on his door at 4 am&nbspand ordered an evacuation.

"There are lava tubes on our property," he said referring to the natural tunnels underground that drain lava during an eruption. "The whole thing is Swiss cheese.

"It felt like there was something under the house -- like a big snake was moving under the house," said Lee Begaye, 61, Miller's partner and housemate.

Civil defense officials have warned the public about high levels of sulfur dioxide near the volcano, one reason for the evacuation orders. The gas can cause skin irritations and breathing difficulties.

Keala Noel, 64, also from Leilani Estates, said she didn't feel the lava was directly threatening them, but came to the shelter at 3 a.m. on Friday because of the sulfur.

"We stayed because we didn't feel any imminent danger. But I could hardly breathe yesterday," she said.

Scientists and local officials warned residents that seismic and volcanic activity may continue after a 6.9 tremor shook buildings on the island's southeast corner

Hawaii's Big Island was on high alert on Friday evening after the Kilauea volcano spent a day spewing lava into residential areas, forcing hundreds to evacuate, and a series of earthquakes, included a powerful tremor, shook the island. Scientists and local officials warned residents that seismic and volcanic activity may continue after a 6.9 tremor shook buildings on the island's southeast corner at little after noon local time and more lava fissures were reported in a residential subdivision, where residents have been ordered to leave. "Until we see earthquake activity dying down and the ground stops moving, it's likely that this activity is going to continue," said Tina Neal, a scientist in charge at the USGS Hawaii Volcano Observatory after a late-afternoon community meeting attended by about 300 people. Some attendees shed tears as they asked officials about looting, travel restrictions and safety precautions at the Puna Geothermal Venture, a power plant in the eruption area. "Today’s been a challenging day for everyone," Neal said. The meeting came hours after the 6.9 tremor caused buildings to shake at the Community Center in Pahoa town, one of two evacuation centres in the area hastily set up after lava started burbling up through fissures in the ground in neighbourhoods nearby. The day also saw several more eruptive lava fissures, each several hundred yards long, in the Leilani Estates subdivision in the Puna District about a dozen miles (19 km) from the volcano. The Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency said in an alert that a total of six fissures had occurred. Although no significant lava flows have yet formed, additional outbreaks of lava, which can reach temperatures of about 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit (1,150 Celsius), were expected, the agency said. Kilauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes and one of five on the island, has been in constant eruption for 35 years. Lava flows from the volcano have covered 48 square miles (125 square km), according to the US&nbspGeological Survey. Scientists say it is nearly impossible to predict how long an eruption will last. On Thursday, Kilauea began spewing lava into residential areas after a series of earthquakes over the past week. Starting around 11 a.m. on Friday, the island experienced a flurry of earthquakes, culminating in the massive magnitude 6.9 tremor. Residents in Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions were ordered to evacuate after public works officials reported steam and lava erupting from fissures in the road, the Civil Defense agency said. Two houses have been destroyed, officials said. No injuries or deaths were reported, but Hawaii Governor David Ige activated the Hawaii National Guard to provide emergency help. Part of life Keone Kalawe, 58, a native Hawaiian who was volunteering at an evacuation center in Pahoa, shrugged off the latest quake as "just part of life over here." His family was forced out of the village of Kapoho, about 6 miles (9.7 km) from Pahoa, after an eruption in 1960, and he's witnessed other eruptions over the past three decades. So he has lived with lava, which is not dangerous, he says. "I tell people,'You just have to sidestep.'" A 492-foot-long (150-meter) fissure ripped open a road and spewed lava for about two hours in Leilani Estates at about 5:30 pm&nbspon Thursday, the Hawaii Volcano Observatory said on its website. Dale Miller, 58, a resident of Leilani Estates, said police knocked on his door at 4 am&nbspand ordered an evacuation. "There are lava tubes on our property," he said referring to the natural tunnels underground that drain lava during an eruption. "The whole thing is Swiss cheese. "It felt like there was something under the house -- like a big snake was moving under the house," said Lee Begaye, 61, Miller's partner and housemate. Civil defense officials have warned the public about high levels of sulfur dioxide near the volcano, one reason for the evacuation orders. The gas can cause skin irritations and breathing difficulties. Keala Noel, 64, also from Leilani Estates, said she didn't feel the lava was directly threatening them, but came to the shelter at 3 a.m. on Friday because of the sulfur. "We stayed because we didn't feel any imminent danger. But I could hardly breathe yesterday," she said.

Hawaii on high alert after day of earthquakes, more lava fissures

Early in the morning on <a href="https://www.loc.gov/wiseguide/sept09/independence.html">Sept. 16, 1810</a>, priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church in the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico. His parishioners gathered round, and he <a href="https://books.google.com.sv/books?id=uuBVAAAAMAAJ&amp;source=gbs_navlinks_s">urged them</a> to revolt against Spain&rsquo;s two-year-old Napoleonic government.

Hidalgo&rsquo;s call to arms, which later became known later as the Grito de Dolores <a href="http://www.revistadelauniversidad.unam.mx/6709/carballo/67carballo.html">(Cry of Dolores)</a>, triggered the Mexican War of Independence. Every September 15, the president of Mexico takes to the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City to <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=4Zn_nCFYY_4C&amp;pg=PA243&amp;dq=grito+de+Dolores+Hidalgo&amp;hl=en&amp;sa=X&amp;redir_esc=y#v=onepage&amp;q=grito%20de%20Dolores&amp;f=false">reenact</a> it.

This year, just a week before Independence Day, a historic <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-seismologists-didnt-see-mexicos-deadly-earthquake-coming-83865">earthquake struck Mexico&rsquo;s southern coast</a>, killing <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/11/mexico/1505157398_686934.html">nearly 100 people</a>. So President Enrique Pe&ntilde;a Nieto added a poignant element to his Grito by including in the incantation a reference to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/09/world/americas/mexico-earthquake-juchitan-de-zaragoza.html?mcubz=3&amp;_r=0">impoverished states that were most devastated</a> by the quake, crying &ldquo;Long live the solidarity of Mexicans with Chiapas and Oaxaca!&rdquo;

It was a nice twist on tradition, but these two states will need more than expressions of solidarity to recover. The <a href="https://twitter.com/SismologicoMX/status/906132423275986945">8.2 magnitude</a> quake is the <a href="https://twitter.com/EPN/status/906079206987194368">strongest</a> Mexico has experienced in 100 years, surpassing even the Sept. 19, 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080610175800/http:/www.ssn.unam.mx/website/jsp/Carteles/sismo85.jsp">40,000 people</a> in and around Mexico City.

It was also significantly more powerful than the recent <a href="https://twitter.com/SSNMexico/status/910223086263336961">7.1 magnitude</a> earthquake that <a href="http://www.reforma.com/aplicaciones/articulo/default.aspx?id=1213679&amp;v=15">killed upwards of 200 people</a> in and around Mexico&rsquo;s capital on September 19.

Natural and man-made disasters

This latest quake shook Mexico City 32 years to the day after the 1985 &ldquo;big one.&rdquo; I was 11 years old when the quake hit, and I recall the government of President Miguel de la Madrid reacting with what can only be described as criminal apathy: In the first days after the disaster, he <a href="http://www.informador.com.mx/mexico/2012/367226/6/de-la-madrid-el-presidente-recordado-por-el-terremoto-de-1985.htm">prevented the army from rescuing victims</a> and rejected international aid.

The people of Mexico City, however, <a href="http://www.jornada.unam.mx/2005/09/11/mas-jesus.html">took to the streets</a>, distributing food, water and blankets among those who needed them and digging neighbors free from the rubble with their <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/articulo/metropoli/df/2015/09/13/terremoto-de-1985-la-solidaridad-en-su-maxima-expresion#imagen-1">bare hands</a>.

This time around, the death toll is significantly lower than it was in 1985: 78 fatalities in Oaxaca, 16 in Chiapas and four in Tabasco for the <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/11/mexico/1505157398_686934.html">first earthquake</a>, and more than 220 for the <a href="https://elpais.com/internacional/2017/09/19/actualidad/1505845600_736646.html">second</a>. In part, this reflects <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/1985/09/25/world/mexicans-link-damage-in-quake-to-breaches-of-city-building-code.html?mcubz=3">improvements</a> in building regulations since 1985 and the creation of both a <a href="http://www.cires.org.mx/">Mexican Seismic Alert System</a> and a <a href="https://www.gob.mx/proteccion-civil">National Civil Protection System</a>.

Still, the damages are daunting. Scores of buildings in Mexico City have suffered <a href="https://twitter.com/Enrique_Acevedo/status/910227100896022528">catastrophic damage</a>.

But it was Oaxaca and Chiapas &ndash; Mexico&rsquo;s two poorest states &ndash; that took the harshest blow. More than 2,500 <a href="http://www.jornada.com.mx/ultimas/2017/09/18/dano-el-sismo-2-646-escuelas-en-oaxaca-y-chiapas">schools</a> have been severely harmed and 85,000 <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/09/censo-danos-oaxaca-chiapas/">houses</a> have been affected &ndash; more than 17,000 of them beyond repair.

Poverty makes these disaster impacts worse in the south. On average, <a href="https://www.forbes.com.mx/los-10-estados-con-mas-pobres-en-mexico/">46 percent of Mexican households live in poverty</a>. But <a href="http://www.coneval.org.mx/coordinacion/entidades/Oaxaca/Paginas/Pobreza-2016.aspx">70 percent of Oaxaca&rsquo;s population</a> earns less than what&rsquo;s needed to satisfy basic family needs, according to the government&rsquo;s CONEVAL agency, and 77 percent of <a href="http://www.coneval.org.mx/coordinacion/entidades/Chiapas/Paginas/Pobreza-2016.aspx">Chiapas</a> households do.

In both states, the lowest-income families making as little as <a href="http://www.animalpolitico.com/2017/08/ingreso-menos-ganan-mayor-inegi/">37 pesos</a> (US$2) per day, less than half&nbsp;<a href="http://www.sat.gob.mx/informacion_fiscal/tablas_indicadores/paginas/salarios_minimos.aspx">the Mexican minimum wage</a>, which is 80.04 pesos, or around $4.50 a day.

The World Bank lists Mexico as the <a href="https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.MKTP.CD?year_high_desc=true">15th most powerful economy</a> in the world, but its wealth has not trickled down to the southern states.

That fact has left many on the ground wondering whether the <a href="http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/nacion/seguridad/garantizan-recursos-para-damnificados">16 billion Mexican pesos</a> ($901 million) in federal disaster assistance being offered to <a href="http://www.dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5497237&amp;fecha=14/09/2017">283 municipalities in Oaxaca</a> and <a href="http://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=5497236&amp;fecha=14/09/2017">97 in Chiapas</a> will get to where it needs to go.

Unequal development in Mexico is an ongoing challenge. A <a href="http://www.banxico.org.mx/publicaciones-y-discursos/publicaciones/informes-periodicos/reportes-sobre-las-economias-regionales/%7BF88DFFC0-499D-D23B-BB92-E8D9539B76D1%7D.pdf">recent report from the Bank of Mexico</a> showed that during the second trimester of 2017, the Mexican economy grew in north (0.9 percent), center-north (1.2 percent) and central zones (0.7 percent), home to such powerhouse cities as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, but contracted over 1 percent in the rural south.

If there&rsquo;s a silver lining to these twin earthquakes, it&rsquo;s that the post-disaster recovery analyses have finally shed some light on the <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/chis/poblacion/default.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=07">historical neglect of Chiapas</a> and <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/oax/poblacion/">Oaxaca</a>, together home to around nine million Mexicans.

What the earthquake unearthed

It is not incidental that many of those residents are of indigenous descent. Upwards of <a href="https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/121653/Infografia_INDI_FINAL_08082016.pdf">40 percent</a> of Mexico&rsquo;s indigenous peoples live in the southern states of <a href="http://www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/oax/poblacion/diversidad.aspx">Oaxaca</a>, <a href="http://cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/chis/poblacion/diversidad.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=07">Chiapas</a> and <a href="http://www.cuentame.inegi.org.mx/monografias/informacion/yuc/poblacion/diversidad.aspx?tema=me&amp;e=31">Yucat&aacute;n</a>.

Their economic exclusion dates back to the colonial era. In 1813, a Chiapas priest, Mariano Robles Dom&iacute;nguez de Mazariegos, testified in Spain to the &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=34">violent humiliations</a>&rdquo; suffered by the indigenous inhabitants of Chiapas, who, he said, lived a life of &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=41">agitation and continuous terror and distress</a>&rdquo; because they were treated with such &ldquo;<a href="http://weblioteca.uv.es/cgi/view7.pl?sesion=201709181948475512&amp;source=uv_im_b15136097&amp;div=41">contempt and hatred</a>.&rdquo;

More than 200 years later, on New Year&rsquo;s Day 1994, the <a href="http://hemisphericinstitute.org/hemi/en/su10-tourism/item/879-su10-brief-historical-background-zapatista-movement">Zapatistas</a>, whose ranks consist of largely of poor Mayans from Chiapas, used similar words to justify an indigenous rebellion against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had just been signed.

Condemning NAFTA as a death sentence for traditional agricultural methods still practiced on collectively owned indigenous lands, the <a href="http://schoolsforchiapas.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/1st-Declaration-of-the-Lacandona-Jungle.pdf">First Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle</a> asserted that Chiapas&rsquo; rural population had &ldquo;nothing&rdquo;: &ldquo;no land, no work, no health care, no food nor education&rdquo; &ndash; not even a roof over their heads.

As the recent earthquake reveals, the plight of indigenous Mexicans has not improved markedly over the past 200 years. Their homes offered tenuous shelter from the quake at&nbsp;best, and their food supplies, long delicate, are <a href="https://lasillarota.com/nacion/a-una-semana-del-sismo-padecen-hambre-e-incertidumbre/176692">now running short</a>.

The worst and the best of Mexico

Mexico is and always will be a land of earthquakes. Pre-Columbian records <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-seismologists-didnt-see-mexicos-deadly-earthquake-coming-83865">report</a> seismic activity attributed to the wrath of gods said to be unhappy about the state of human affairs.

Today, quakes still <a href="https://books.google.com.au/books?id=vAF-9pNtpg8C&amp;printsec=frontcover&amp;source=gbs_ge_summary_r&amp;cad=0#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false">unearth</a> the best and the worst in Mexico.

It&rsquo;s not clear that Pe&ntilde;a Nieto, whose government is dogged by <a href="https://theconversation.com/for-many-mexicans-this-government-spying-scandal-feels-eerily-familiar-79981">scandals</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/governors-gone-wild-mexico-faces-a-lost-generation-of-corrupt-leaders-76858">wildly public corruption</a>, can make use of this crisis to bring social change to Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Other politicians are falling short of this high bar, too. In a <a href="https://www.facebook.com/anahimusic/videos/10155462147581368/">Facebook video</a>, the wife of <a href="http://www.24-horas.mx/reconoce-manuel-velasco-a-enrique-pena-nieto-como-aliado-de-chiapas/">Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco</a>, a member of Pe&ntilde;a Nieto&rsquo;s inner circle, toured a ruined Chiapas home to show the administration &ldquo;is helping&rdquo; but lamented her &ldquo;tousled&rdquo; hair.

The populace, at least, is coming to its own assistance. Right after the quake in Mexico City, people formed veritable <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/09/19/552141609/at-least-42-people-killed-as-powerful-earthquake-convulses-central-mexico">factory lines of diggers</a> to excavate their buried neighbors and lent out bicycles so stranded colleagues could make their way home.

Residents of Mexico&rsquo;s southern region have also shown the country what resilience looks like, even in the face of overwhelming historical odds. In the town of Juchit&aacute;n, Oaxaca, where the historic town hall pancaked after the earthquake, a man picked up a Mexican flag that had previously decorated its facade, shook off the dust and then, in an act that touched millions, he placed it atop the debris.

&nbsp;

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" nofollow="" rel="">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/twin-earthquakes-expose-mexicos-deep-inequality-84012" nofollow="" rel="">original article</a>.

Oaxaca and Chiapas, Mexico?s two poorest states, have taken the harshest blow in the recent earthquakes.

Early in the morning on Sept. 16, 1810, priest, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla rang the bell of his church in the small town of Dolores, near Guanajuato, Mexico. His parishioners gathered round, and he urged them to revolt against Spain’s two-year-old Napoleonic government. Hidalgo’s call to arms, which later became known later as the Grito de Dolores (Cry of Dolores), triggered the Mexican War of Independence. Every September 15, the president of Mexico takes to the balcony of the National Palace in Mexico City to reenact it. This year, just a week before Independence Day, a historic earthquake struck Mexico’s southern coast, killing nearly 100 people. So President Enrique Peña Nieto added a poignant element to his Grito by including in the incantation a reference to the impoverished states that were most devastated by the quake, crying “Long live the solidarity of Mexicans with Chiapas and Oaxaca!” It was a nice twist on tradition, but these two states will need more than expressions of solidarity to recover. The 8.2 magnitude quake is the strongest Mexico has experienced in 100 years, surpassing even the Sept. 19, 1985 earthquake that killed an estimated 40,000 people in and around Mexico City. It was also significantly more powerful than the recent 7.1 magnitude earthquake that killed upwards of 200 people in and around Mexico’s capital on September 19. Natural and man-made disasters This latest quake shook Mexico City 32 years to the day after the 1985 “big one.” I was 11 years old when the quake hit, and I recall the government of President Miguel de la Madrid reacting with what can only be described as criminal apathy: In the first days after the disaster, he prevented the army from rescuing victims and rejected international aid. The people of Mexico City, however, took to the streets, distributing food, water and blankets among those who needed them and digging neighbors free from the rubble with their bare hands. This time around, the death toll is significantly lower than it was in 1985: 78 fatalities in Oaxaca, 16 in Chiapas and four in Tabasco for the first earthquake, and more than 220 for the second. In part, this reflects improvements in building regulations since 1985 and the creation of both a Mexican Seismic Alert System and a National Civil Protection System. Still, the damages are daunting. Scores of buildings in Mexico City have suffered catastrophic damage. But it was Oaxaca and Chiapas – Mexico’s two poorest states – that took the harshest blow. More than 2,500 schools have been severely harmed and 85,000 houses have been affected – more than 17,000 of them beyond repair. Poverty makes these disaster impacts worse in the south. On average, 46 percent of Mexican households live in poverty. But 70 percent of Oaxaca’s population earns less than what’s needed to satisfy basic family needs, according to the government’s CONEVAL agency, and 77 percent of Chiapas households do. In both states, the lowest-income families making as little as 37 pesos (US$2) per day, less than half the Mexican minimum wage, which is 80.04 pesos, or around $4.50 a day. The World Bank lists Mexico as the 15th most powerful economy in the world, but its wealth has not trickled down to the southern states. That fact has left many on the ground wondering whether the 16 billion Mexican pesos ($901 million) in federal disaster assistance being offered to 283 municipalities in Oaxaca and 97 in Chiapas will get to where it needs to go. Unequal development in Mexico is an ongoing challenge. A recent report from the Bank of Mexico showed that during the second trimester of 2017, the Mexican economy grew in north (0.9 percent), center-north (1.2 percent) and central zones (0.7 percent), home to such powerhouse cities as Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City, but contracted over 1 percent in the rural south. If there’s a silver lining to these twin earthquakes, it’s that the post-disaster recovery analyses have finally shed some light on the historical neglect of Chiapas and Oaxaca, together home to around nine million Mexicans. What the earthquake unearthed It is not incidental that many of those residents are of indigenous descent. Upwards of 40 percent of Mexico’s indigenous peoples live in the southern states of Oaxaca, Chiapas and Yucatán. Their economic exclusion dates back to the colonial era. In 1813, a Chiapas priest, Mariano Robles Domínguez de Mazariegos, testified in Spain to the “violent humiliations” suffered by the indigenous inhabitants of Chiapas, who, he said, lived a life of “agitation and continuous terror and distress” because they were treated with such “contempt and hatred.” More than 200 years later, on New Year’s Day 1994, the Zapatistas, whose ranks consist of largely of poor Mayans from Chiapas, used similar words to justify an indigenous rebellion against the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which had just been signed. Condemning NAFTA as a death sentence for traditional agricultural methods still practiced on collectively owned indigenous lands, the First Declaration of the Lacandona Jungle asserted that Chiapas’ rural population had “nothing”: “no land, no work, no health care, no food nor education” – not even a roof over their heads. As the recent earthquake reveals, the plight of indigenous Mexicans has not improved markedly over the past 200 years. Their homes offered tenuous shelter from the quake at best, and their food supplies, long delicate, are now running short. The worst and the best of Mexico Mexico is and always will be a land of earthquakes. Pre-Columbian records report seismic activity attributed to the wrath of gods said to be unhappy about the state of human affairs. Today, quakes still unearth the best and the worst in Mexico. It’s not clear that Peña Nieto, whose government is dogged by scandals and wildly public corruption, can make use of this crisis to bring social change to Oaxaca and Chiapas. Other politicians are falling short of this high bar, too. In a Facebook video, the wife of Chiapas Governor Manuel Velasco, a member of Peña Nieto’s inner circle, toured a ruined Chiapas home to show the administration “is helping” but lamented her “tousled” hair. The populace, at least, is coming to its own assistance. Right after the quake in Mexico City, people formed veritable factory lines of diggers to excavate their buried neighbors and lent out bicycles so stranded colleagues could make their way home. Residents of Mexico’s southern region have also shown the country what resilience looks like, even in the face of overwhelming historical odds. In the town of Juchitán, Oaxaca, where the historic town hall pancaked after the earthquake, a man picked up a Mexican flag that had previously decorated its facade, shook off the dust and then, in an act that touched millions, he placed it atop the debris. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article.

Twin earthquakes expose Mexico's deep inequality

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck off the Indonesian island of Lombok today, the United States Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. 
 
The earthquake, which hit 234 km (145 miles) south of Lombok, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles), also briefly startled tourists on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. 
 
The quake was strong, with tremors lasting for three to four seconds, but did not trigger a tsunami alert, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of Indonesia&#39;s Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). 
 
&quot;The quake went on for quite a while,&quot; said a witness in Lombok. &quot;People ran out from houses in panic.&quot; 
 
In December 2004, a strong earthquake off the Indonesian Island&nbsp;Sumatra&nbsp;had triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 14 countries.Indonesia was the worst hit, followed by Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.&nbsp;

The quake was strong, but did not trigger a tsunami alert

An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 struck off the Indonesian island of Lombok today, the United States Geological Survey said, but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage. The earthquake, which hit 234 km (145 miles) south of Lombok, at a depth of 29 km (18 miles), also briefly startled tourists on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. The quake was strong, with tremors lasting for three to four seconds, but did not trigger a tsunami alert, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, a spokesman of Indonesia's Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB). "The quake went on for quite a while," said a witness in Lombok. "People ran out from houses in panic." In December 2004, a strong earthquake off the Indonesian Island Sumatra had triggered a tsunami that killed 230,000 people in 14 countries.Indonesia was the worst hit, followed by Sri Lanka, Thailand and India.

6.2 quake strikes Indonesia, no casualties reported

earthquakes

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