(Major) Earthquakes list April 16, 2012 – Phuket, Thailand earthquake mystery solved

Last update: April 16, 2012 at 11:25 pm by By

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M 5.5      2012/04/16 11:23     Depth 10.5 km      SOUTHERN GREECE
The preliminary earthquake epicenter is located in the sea at +50 km from Kalamata
GFZ reports (automatic) a Magnitude of 5.2 at a depth of 10 km. EMSC reports a Magnitude of 5.3 at a depth of 20 km (all data preliminary)
Update 11:50 UTC : USGS has published his data and now reports a Magnitude of 5.5 at a depth of 10.5 km. Distance of the epicenter to Kalamata : 55 km
Update 11:53 UTC : The epicenter is located in the Ionian Sea in between the fault and the Islands of Sapientza and Schiza.  Sapientza has a population of 7 and Schiza a polulation of 2 (2001 census). Distance from the epicenter to the mainland (Methoni, 2.638 inhabitants) : approx. 20 km.
Update 11:56 UTC : Based on the (preliminary) data we possess at the moment, we expect no serious damage or injuries from this earthquake.

Earthquake Phuket, Thailand
Please use the form below when you may have felt some shaking, even a weak one.
Experience report from Phuket (just in) : short and sharp, ground shaking…
Update 09:59 UTC  : The Thai Meteorological service has not yet reported an earthquake. The most recent M5.6 aftershock in the Indian Ocean will normally to far away to feel some shaking from it. The origin must be something else . We will in the meantime link the experience reports we are receiving to this Sumatra / Indian Ocean quake.
Update 10:09 UTC : The Thai government confirmed the earthquake and told that it was felt even stronger than the Sumatra quake on April 11.
Earthquake-Report.com has received a number of felt reports all originating from Phuket, which means that the strongest impact will have been around Phuket.
Update 10:13 UTC : All we know so far comes from the experience reports in our site and a mention in a Thai newspaper.  It indicates that an earthquake has occurred. Based on our experience, we expect that will be shallow and very local. We expect a Magnitude in between 3 and 4, max. M4.5.
Update 10:20 UTC : The “Phuket Wan Tourism News” is mentioning an official report that the Magnitude would be M5.3! At Earthquake-Report.com we have a hard time to believe this, as such an earthquake must have been detected in the meantime by the major seismological agencies in the world. We think that the Thai officials have referred to the Sumatra aftershock, which in NO way can be linked to the current earthquake (providing that the data we have is correct).  The newspaper mentions also that officials had had calls from Rawai, Chalong, Patong and Kamala about the earthquake.
Update 10:20 UTC :  A lot of people panicked and ran to higher grounds, as the 2004 cruel tsunami and last week experience with Tsunami alarm is till in the memory cache.
Update 10:35 UTC : This earthquake has not yet received any official mention or report so far.
 Update 12:25 UTC : Once again, we do not believe that the Phuket shaking has its origin in the 5.3 earthquake (aftershock) in the Indian Ocean. The distance from this aftershock’s epicenter to Phuket is +1000 km. Only an earthquake with a Magnitude of 7+ is able to create some weak shaking from such a distance. Based on our daily experience, we expect this earthquake to originate from a local fault as we only received mentions from Phuket and a limited area around Phuket.
Update 13:23 UTC : The Phuket Wan Tourism News has finally solved the mystery around the Phuket earthquake. As stated in our earlier updates, the origin of the quake is Phuket based (Thalang district), the Magnitude of 4.3.  In an update the news-site wrote : Thailand’s National Disaster Warning Center said a quake hit Thailand on Monday – and the epicenter was in Phuket’s Thalang district. Acting director Burin Wetchbantoeng said that an earthquake of 4.3 magnitude hit in Phuket at 4.44pm with epicenter at Thalang district
Update 16:57 UTC : We are quiet surprised that the Thai Meteorological Department has not listed this earthquake so far !  Only the international are mentioned (which confused press and local people) .
Update 18:20 UTC : Thai Meteorological Department has reported that a M2.1 earthquake occurred at 16:47 local time  with epicenter in Talang, Phuket. It looks that also the

M 5.8      2012/04/16 02:17     Depth 9.9 km      SULAWESI, INDONESIA
10:17:49 AM at epicenter – Epicenter location see below in list
169 km (105 miles) NNW of Kendari, Sulawesi, Indonesia
Please read our in-depth report about this earthquake – Click here
* The earthquake occurred in a very populated area. The nearest populated places are: Wiwirano (18km), Larea (19km), Kolono (19km), Wawontoa (9km), Unsongi (18km). The closest civilian airport is Soroako (53km).
Population near the epicenter (providing that the earthquake data are correct). Radius 2 km : 16 people, 5 km : 791 people, 10 km : 3,250 people and 20 km 23,936 people.
* The epicenter is located in a hilly area with slopes as much as 43% based on GDACS data.
* BMKG, the local seismological agency reports a magnitude of M5.7 at a depth of 10 km.
* Earthquake-report.com calls an area of max. 20 km around the epicenter at moderate risk, especially because of potential landslides
* Based on data of USGS the earthquakes intensity is very high with approx. 5,000 people exposed at a VII MMI very strong shaking. 50,000 people will have felt a strong shaking.
* We expect that it will take several hours before we expect to hear some news from the epicenter area.
Please read our in-depth report about this earthquake – Click here

Label info : M = magnitude, D = depth (km), Time = UTC – Click here for conversion in your local time.

SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFORMATION
GEOFON Mid Indian Ridge Apr 16 23:53 PM 4.9 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Mid-indian Ridge Apr 16 23:53 PM 4.9 9 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Mid-indian Ridge Apr 16 23:53 PM 4.9 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Mid Indian Ridge Apr 16 23:42 PM 4.7 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Vanuatu Apr 16 20:16 PM 4.8 100 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Vanuatu Islands Apr 16 20:16 PM 4.9 51 MAP I Felt It
GEONET Taupo Apr 16 18:36 PM 5.0 150 MAP I Felt It
USGS Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 18:01 PM 5.3 44 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 18:01 PM 5.2 40 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 18:01 PM 5.3 31 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Komandorskiye Ostrova Region Apr 16 17:02 PM 4.6 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Off W Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 16:05 PM 5.1 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Off The West Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 16:05 PM 5.2 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Off West Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 16:05 PM 5.0 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Southern Greece Apr 16 15:06 PM 4.7 30 MAP I Felt It
USGS Southern Greece Apr 16 15:06 PM 4.8 40 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Off West Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 12:57 PM 4.6 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Southern Greece Apr 16 12:02 PM 4.6 60 MAP I Felt It
USGS Southern Greece Apr 16 12:02 PM 4.7 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Southern Greece Apr 16 11:23 AM 5.5 40 MAP I Felt It
USGS Southern Greece Apr 16 11:23 AM 5.5 36 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Southern Greece Apr 16 11:23 AM 5.6 31 MAP I Felt It
  • Petalidi - Quelques secondes que l'on a du mal à évaluer, mais a a bien bougé !
  • Messini - Είχε μια αξιοσημείωτη διάρκεια και ακολούθηε σχεδόν αμέσως ένας μετασεισμός πολύ πιο μικρός (source EMSC)
  • Vounaria,Peloponnesos - Weak shaking indicated
  • Koroni - I was sitting on the terrace reading when I felt a wobbling or swaying, then a short, distant rumbling as the wobbling continued. I got up and went out on the lawn and the wobbling continued quite long, perhaps for a total of 20 sec (source EMSC)
  • Petalidi - A rumbling noise heard first, then a fairly gentle swaying/rolling motion for quite a long time (Longer than usual, maybe 10 secs?), felt a bit like seasickness afterwards. (source EMSC)
  • Kamalai - It was one of the strongest and longest felt here in 6 years that we've lived here (source EMSC)
    		•
    EMSC Western Turkey Apr 16 10:10 AM 4.7 5 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Off The West Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 09:46 AM 5.3 14 MAP I Felt It
    GEOFON Off West Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 09:46 AM 5.2 10 MAP I Felt It
  • Phuket - Short and sharp, ground shaking...
  • Phuket Thailand - Light shaking indicated
  • Phuket - Massive shake...no more than 10 seconds...bigger than last week. Could be more local
  • Phuket - Only for a few seconds but a shake none the less.
  • Phuket, Thailand - Very strong shaking.....only few second though.....around 4:50pm local time....
  • Phuket, Thailand - Light shaking, very brief....Locals all heading to higher ground.
  • Patong Beach Thailand - Windows, doors, dishes shaking in house for 8-10 seconds.
  • Phuket Thailand - Light shaking indicated
  • Phuket - At about 16:50 local time. Short but strong shaking.
  • Phuket - Ground shaking short period of a few seconds around 16.45
  • Phuket - Felt much stronger than the tremor a few days ago. Shook the house. Rumbling sound.
  • Phuket - Roll then a crack. Guessing 6.0. Windows shake.
  • Phuket Kamala - Mes bais vitrés ont tremblé durant 2 ou 3 secondes
  • Phuket - Starkes schuetteln im hotel bei Patong beach
  • Patong, Phuket Thailand - Moderate shaking indicated
  • Patong Thailand - Light shaking indicated
  • Phuket, Thailand - A quick but strong earthquake felt here in the South of Phuket USGS reports as 5.3 off of Sumatra
  • Rawai Phuket - Strong shaking...much stronger than last week
  • Phuket - Was inside lying down, felt building move and ground shake. Short strong sharp shaking lasted no more than 10seconds
  • Phuket, Surin - I felt it at 4.40-45 pm in Surin, Phuket
  • Karoon, Phuket - Short shaking .
  • Phuket - 3-5 second vibration at Cape Panwa in Phuket at about 4:45ish
  • Phuket Kathu - Secousses plus ressenties que la semaine derniére/ murs ont tremblé
  • Phuket - Maybe 3-4 seconds Sound like a massive dull explosion
  • Phuket - Weak shaking of my house. No damage (that I am aware of right now). Mobile networks congested. Lasted for 5-10 seconds. I am based in Chalong in Phuket.
  • Phuket - Loud rumbling, house shaking and rattling quite violently
  • Phuket-Town - We felt a light shaking and heard it rumbling. It was stronger than 11. April. The staff of Central Festival Mall (Phuket-Town) left the building.
  • Kathu Phuket - Short severe shaking of house. Felt deep underground crack as finale' .Minor wall cracks. Much more intense than last weeks 8.6 reading.
  • Patong beach, Phuket - Short sharp strong shaking of ground and building
  • Phuket - Just felt an Earthquake here in Patong! Everyone's gone to high ground and shops have been closed, after sitting on a hill for hours getting bitten by mosquitos last week, I've found a nice hilltop bar/restaurant this time..
  • Pa Khlok - Water spilling out of the pool
  • Phuket - Sitting in cafe in Phuket, chairs started shaking and later discovered from authorities it was an earthquake
  • Phuket - Short but reasonably strong jolt. Just a few seconds long.
  • Phuket - Short but violent shake with loud noise. Have 3 story house and shook badly,
  • Phuket, Siray Bay - Solid strong grind for between 3 and 10 seconds. Thought it was a major wreck or house explosion but then realized it was probably an earthquake
  • Kamala Phuket - 12 minutes to 5 local time a strong shaking with quite a loud boom making it seem like something blowing up. About 10 seconds and stronger than last weeks shakes. Everyone (!!) fled up to the hills from the beach and village within minutes shouting on the way
  • Phuket Thailand - Felt like an explosion and quite loud
  • Nai Yang - Working out at the Gymnasium near to Nai Yang....wooden floor vibrating violently for 20 seconds...on excercise bicycle..programme stopped twice...had to restart..during violent shaking...16.50 exactly...
  • Phuket - Thai TV just announced that today's quake of 4.3 had epicenter in Thalang, Phuket. Why did it take over 3 hours for this to be announced?? And since when has Phuket been on a fault line ??? Conspiracy theories will abound since it sounded and felt much more like an explosion than a quake
  • Patong at Phuket - 16.45 ca. 5 sec. lang leichtes Schuetteln
  • Phuket - Lo he sentido estando en un primer piso al norte de phuket. Muchas mas personas también lo han sentido.
  • Thanyapura Centre, Phuket - We heard an explosion followed by a shaking which lasted for a few seconds.
  • Koh Maphrao - Was grabbing a beer when the ground moved
  • Phuket Rawai - Les vitres ont tremblé, j'ai cru que ma femme fermait trop fort la porte 2/3 seconde
  • Phuket - I thought the shaking was caused by a large truck which was passing my house, but then realized it was a quake
  • Phuket, Koh Maphrao - Tables moving
  • Phuket Boat Lagoon - We were sitting on the deck outside one of the shops on the waterfront. The whole deck shook like a boat had severely impacted it, however was nothing that hit the deck and at the time were left wondering what the event was.
  • North Phuket - It was really good to compare with a sonic boom from an airplane. One big boom and the windows were shaking it lasted 1 second not more then that. you could see ripples in the pond and swimming pool. I experienced the same in Oakland one day. That was a 3,2 and we were at that moment 5 km from the epic center of the quake. But it was the same sound and experience.
  • Thailand - Strong earthquake now..
  • Phuket, Thailand - Heard the thunder sound. Would be great to know what caused it.
  • Kamala Phuket, Thanks - 12:22 pm. Just felt a shake. Felt like someone ran into the house.
  • Thailand - Felt strong shake and loud sound like something big dropping.
    		•
    EMSC Off W Coast Of Northern Sumatra Apr 16 09:46 AM 5.3 10 MAP I Felt It
    GEOFON Java, Indonesia Apr 16 07:37 AM 4.6 60 MAP I Felt It
    EMSC Sunda Strait, Indonesia Apr 16 07:37 AM 4.6 60 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Sunda Strait, Indonesia Apr 16 07:37 AM 4.8 36 MAP I Felt It
    EMSC Gulf Of California Apr 16 03:27 AM 5.0 40 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Gulf Of California Apr 16 03:27 AM 5.0 10 MAP I Felt It
    GEOFON Gulf Of California Apr 16 03:27 AM 5.0 10 MAP I Felt It
    EMSC Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 02:17 AM 5.7 30 MAP I Felt It
    GEOFON Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 02:17 AM 5.8 22 MAP I Felt It
    USGS Sulawesi, Indonesia Apr 16 02:17 AM 5.8 9 MAP I Felt It

    Data sources courtesy : USGS – EMSC – GFZ – GEONET

    Earthquakes occurred yesterday (UTC time), but today local time

    Aftershocks after the Mw8.6 to the West of Sumatra are getting less powerful and the number is also decreasing

    seismograph - recordingUseful information to read this daily earthquake list
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    orange color = MODERATE risk for damage or injuries
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    I have felt it – Ik heb het gevoeld – Το έκανα αισθάνεται – Yo lo he sentido – 我的确感到了 – 私はそれを感じていました- Ich habe es gefühlt – Bunu hissediyorum yaptı – لم أشعر أنه

    SHARE YOUR EARTHQUAKE EXPERIENCE WITH US

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    City/Village where you felt the earthquake
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
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