Earthquakes

PacoLoco · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:31 pm

Quote:

Costa Rica quake leaves at least 2 dead
By Leland Baxter-Neal
Tico Times Staff
4:21 p.m. CST

At least two people are dead after a 6.2 magnitude earthquake rocked Costa Rica's populous Central Valley this afternoon.

Two girls, ages 7 and 9, were reported killed after being buried under a landslide triggered by the earthquake. Various news outlets reported serious damage in various communities, including at least six houses that collapsed near the quake's epicenter.

The tremor's epicenter was 10 kilometers east of PoÃ¡s Volcano, Costa Rica 's most-visited national park, northwest of San JosÃ©, and 6 kilometers deep, according to the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica (OVSICORI).

TV's Channel 7 Telenoticias reported that at least 1,000 tourists were stranded in Vara Blanca, a small town at the base of the volcano.

The National Emergency Commission put the San JosÃ© greater metropolitan area on a red alert as emergency teams were arriving to the area more than two hours after the 1:19 p.m. (CST) quake.

The earthquake is the biggest felt in recent years in the Central Valley , where people poured from their homes and office buildings as the streets shook. A quake of 6.5 was registered in Costa Rica 's Southern Zone Nov. 26, 2008, according to Walter JimÃ©nez, of OVSICORI.

A tremor measuring 4 on the Richter originated in the same area yesterday, but caused no damage.

At least five aftershocks were felt in San JosÃ© and the Central Valley , though OVSICORI reported that at least 200 were registered in the first 40 minutes after the quake.

Today's tremor was felt across the country, with damage to buildings reported in San JosÃ© , Alajuela and Heredia. Businesses and schools, including the University of Costa Rica , were evacuated shortly after the quake.

The Red Cross reported that a landslide had cut off access to the community of Vara Blanca, but emergency workers were in communication with the people there.

The Juan SantamarÃa International Airport, northwest of San JosÃ©, was temporarily closed as officials checked for damage to the runway in what Public Works and Transport Minister Karla GonzÃ¡lez called a â€œroutineâ€ measure.

Walter JimÃ©nez, of OVSICORI, warned that further quakes should be expected in the coming days, but could not estimate their strength.

GonzÃ¡lez told Channel 7 that her ministry is investigating possible damage to a dam on the RÃo Blanco River in SarapiquÃ, on the Caribbean slope.

BangBang57 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 8:51 pm

Luck4unme wrote:

Nhank:

Repretel Canal 11 just reported a bottle of salsa tomate fell off the shelf at a pulperia in Vargas Arrya!

LMFAO

BigBambu · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:14 pm

Nhhank wrote:

Repretel Canal 11 just reported a bottle of salsa tomate fell off the shelf at a pulperia in Vargas Arrya!

Did it break??? :shock:

PacoLoco · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:19 pm

Video just in! :shock: - http://www.teletica.com/videos.php Fuerte sismo sacude a Costa Rica

Wow, would be surprised if there's not more casualties reported in the next few days.

Pacifica55 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 9:55 pm

Yeah, it is looking a lot more serious than a salsa bottle I'm afraid. Really heartbreaking watching them dig out the little girls while their playmates stood around (aftershock right now).

Patriot · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:19 pm

Having never experienced an earthquake I can not imagine what it is like.

ALL I WISH IS THAT EVERYONE ON THIS BOARD WHO IS IN CR AT THIS TIME, and those that live in CR ARE SAFE AN UNHARMED. Especially the people of CR

My heart goes out to the families that may have lost someone in the quake. :cry:

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:20 pm

my espanol is not that good but think channel 6 reported 4 dead on the news tonight. :cry:

BangBang57 · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 10:48 pm

This is really a grave situation! There are at least 2 dozen slides; several homes are destroyed; several vehicles were pushed down the side of the mountains, some may be buried; many vehicles are traped in streches of road between slides (including several buses): some vehicles are not accesable by land. There are at least 5 dead and this number is expected to rise. It may be several days before the total number of dead is known.

And as several of us have said, the after shocks continue!

SlimJohnson · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:29 pm

The roads really took a hit. I wonder how long before their repaired? The road damage is major. Very sad about those who have lost their lives. Thanks to everyone for their up to date reports. Stay safe.

Gringo Malo · **Posted:** Thu Jan 08, 2009 11:43 pm

The GF called from my house in Santa Barbara, balling her eyes out and I could hear the K*ds crying in the background. The 8 year old was refusing to go back inside the house until she spoke with me. Lots of explaining that the earth moved only a tiny bit and that things would be OK. Told them they could soon move to the frozen tundra with me. The earth doesn't move here cause its frozen.

DiegoC · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:15 am

I was talking on the phone to my son who lives on the high desert above San Bernardino. There was an earthquake while we were talking about how to call down to Costa Rica to see how the family is.

At this point (1114 PM Eastern Time) I cannot place a long distance call to Costa Rica.

The California earthquake was a 5.0 January 8, 2009 at 19:49:46 hours

Located at 34.113N 117.294W 13.8
2 km ( 1 mi) South of San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino is right on the famous San Andres fault line which essentailly runs the length of Califorina.

BlueDevil · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:28 am

After hearing the news here in Medellin, I called my amiga who lives in Invu Canas, Alajuela. She says they really took a hit, but the house is still standing. My amiga said that it is impossible to get to Alajuela centro, and all the hotels are jam-packed with stranded tourists.

PacoLoco · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:31 am

Channel 7 has a couple more videos up, this is terrible.

Some places got hit really hard, and the landslides...
http://www.teletica.com/videos.php

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:40 am

DiegoC wrote:

I was talking on the phone to my son who lives on the high desert above San Bernardino. There was an earthquake while we were talking about how to call down to Costa Rica to see how the family is.

At this point (1114 PM Eastern Time) I cannot place a long distance call to Costa Rica.

The California earthquake was a 5.0 January 8, 2009 at 19:49:46 hours

Located at 34.113N 117.294W 13.8
2 km ( 1 mi) South of San Bernardino, CA

San Bernardino is right on the famous San Andres fault line which essentailly runs the length of Califorina.

Has been revised to 4.5

Quote:

4.5 Mw - GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, CALIF.
Preliminary Earthquake Report Magnitude 4.5 Mw
Date-Time

* 9 Jan 2009 03:49:46 UTC
* 8 Jan 2009 19:49:46 near epicenter
* 9 Jan 2009 03:49:46 standard time in your timezone

Location 34.113N 117.294W
Depth 13 km
Distances

* 2 km (1 miles) S (182 degrees) of San Bernardino, CA
* 6 km (4 miles) NNE (25 degrees) of Colton, CA
* 8 km (5 miles) E (89 degrees) of Rialto, CA
* 88 km (55 miles) E (86 degrees) of Los Angeles Civic Center, CA

Location Uncertainty Horizontal: 0.3 km; Vertical 0.8 km
Parameters Nph = 142; Dmin = 1.0 km; Rmss = 0.38 seconds; Gp = 14Â°
M-type = Mw; Version = Q
Event ID CI 10370141 ***This event has been revised.

For updates, maps, and technical information, see:
Event Page
or
U.S.G.S. Earthquake Hazards Program

CISN Southern California Management Center
Caltech Seismological Laboratory
U.S. Geological Survey

http://www.cisn.org/scmc.html

Irish Drifter · **Posted:** Fri Jan 09, 2009 12:43 am

After shocks, some strong, continue. Sure they are very frightening to those in the heavily damaged areas. Hell they shake me up and I suffered no damage other than a few broken things that shook of shelves.

www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Earthquakes

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