Magnitude 6 earthquakes strike Kuril Islands and Vanuatu

March 24, 2013 – KURIL ISLANDS – A 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of far-eastern Russia early Sunday, the US Geological Survey reported. The quake, which hit at 0418 GMT at a depth of 9.7 kilometers (six miles), was centered 269 kilometers from the eastern Russian city of Ozernovsky, on the southern tip of the Kamchatka peninsula. The USGS said an underground formation there called the Kuril-Kamchatka arc is considered one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Since 1900, seven powerful earthquakes of magnitude 8.3 or greater have occurred along the arc, the USGS said. Four hours later, a 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck near the South Pacific island enclave of Vanuatu. –Global Post

Tremors continue at El Hierro, to the tune of over 160 in the last 24 hours. The scenario of an eruption in the near future is becoming increasingly likely: Volcanic tremor continues, suggesting magma is still moving although mostly laterally for the time being to an area just north of the western tip of the island. Small local (including at least one deep low-frequency event) earthquakes dot seismograms at and around Mammoth Mountain volcano (CA) (station MRD), and the Long Valley mountain was rattled by a very shallow 3.1 magnitude earthquake (at a depth of 5.8 km) on March 24. Meanwhile, low-level swarm activity continues at Coso Volcanic Field (CA). –Volcano Discovery

Quake swarm rattles Nevada: The earthquake swarm continues to move the California side of Peavine Mountain near Bordertown.  According UNR’s seismology lab, equipment detected more than a dozen quakes Saturday and another dozen Sunday morning. They are mostly too small to feel with the largest recorded at magnitudes of 2.1. The swarm includes more than 150 of the small earthquakes, and has lasted a week. –KOLO

Tobago tremor: A moderate earthquake has rattled Trinidad & Tobago, causing some alarm but no reported damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey says the magnitude-4.8 quake struck early Sunday and was centered some 81 kilometers northeast of Roxborough, an eastern town on the tourism-dependent island of Tobago. It was also felt on the Caribbean country of Barbados. Its epicenter was about 46 kilometers below the surface. In Tobago, police said they received calls from some jittery residents who lingered outside after the quake. –The Hindu

Northern California tremor: A magnitude–4.3 earthquake centered just offshore rattled the Northern California coast Sunday morning but caused no damage, authorities reported. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake’s epicenter was in the Pacific Ocean about 28 miles southwest of Ferndale, a quaint town of 1,370 people filled with dozens of well-preserved Victorian homes and store fronts. The temblor occurred at about 10:25 a.m. –KTLA