Teachable Moments

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March 4, 2021 (13:27:36 UTC)
Quake Location

Magnitude 7.3 New Zealand & 7.4, 8.1 Kermadec Islands

Three large earthquakes occurred along the Kermadec Trench, north of New Zealand. The earliest and southern-most earthquake (M 7.3 at 13:27 UTC) occurred northeast of Gisborne, New Zealand at a depth of 20 km. The M 7.4 and M 8.1 earthquakes occurred at 17:41 and 19:28 UTC respectively near the Kermadec Islands, New Zealand.  Given the ~950 km distance from the M 7.3 to the two larger earthquakes, it is unlikely the M 7.3 triggered the two larger events.

February 28, 2001 (18:54:32 UTC)
Quake Location

Magnitude 6.8 Nisqually (Historic Earthquake)

The magnitude 6.8 Nisqually earthquake occurred just before 11 AM local time on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2001 at a depth of 51.8 km (32 miles).  This earthquake was felt from central Oregon to southern British Columbia and as far east as northwestern Montana.  One person died and approximately 400 people were injured. There was damage from Seattle to Olympia with widespread landslides and liquefaction.

February 13, 2021 (14:07:50 UTC)
Quake Location

Magnitude 7.1 Japan

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck late Saturday night local time about 94.2 km (58.5 miles) southeast of Sendai, Japan. At least 50 people were reported injured and nearly a million households were left without power.

February 10, 2021 (13:19:55 UTC)
Quake Location

Magnitude 7.7 Loyalty Islands

A magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck just after midnight on Thursday local time about 527 km (328 miles) east of Nouméa, New Caledonia. There are no reports of damage or injuries.

February 9, 1971 (14:00:41 UTC)
Quake Location

Magnitude 6.6 San Fernando (Historic Earthquake)

Fifty years ago, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake shook the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles in the early morning of February 9th. It destroyed homes, damaged hospitals and schools, knocked out power to more than 600,000 people, triggered over 1,000 landslides, and caused sections of elevated freeways to collapse. 64 people lost their lives and more than 2,500 were injured.

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