6.0 magnitude quake hits Sumatra, Indonesia, no casualty

Wang Guanqun
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english2010/

An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale rocked southern Philippines Saturday afternoon, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said.

The earthquake, whose epicenter was 135 kilometers southwest of Cotabato, Mindanao, occurred at 1:35 p.m. local time in Moro Gulf, with a depth of 555.3 kilometers, USGS reported on its website.

On Saturday morning, three undersea earthquakes of magnitudes of 7.3, 7.6 and 7.4 rocked southern Philippines successively. Some aftershocks occurred after the three strong earthquakes. 

A shallow strong quake measuring 6. 0 Richter scale rocked North Sumatra province of Sumatra island in Indonesia on Saturday, but there was no immediate report of damage or casualty, officials said here.

The quake struck at 09:11 a.m. Jakarta time (0211 GMT) with epicentre at 18 km northwest Panyambungan of the province and with the depth at 10 km under land, official of the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency Ali Imron told Xinhua by phone.

The intensity of the quake was felt at 3 to 4 MMI (Modified Mercally Intensity) at Sibolga of the province, 3 MMI at Riau province and Lubuk Sikaping of West Sumatra province, he said.

The police office in Sibolga, where intensity of the quake was felt the hardest, said that there was no building damaged or people injured.

"There is no house or building damaged so far," police officer in charge at the police office M. Ramli told Xinhua over phone from Sibolga.

The U.S. G.S. reported on its website that the quake was 5.4 magnitude.

Indonesia sits on a vulnerable quake-hit zone so called the " Pacific Ring of Fire."

This natural disaster should serve as a wakeup call to all citizens living in the lower mainland.  Although most of Canada experiences seismic activity, specialists suggest that the area immediately west of Vancouver is considered one of the most vulnerable in the country.

Global Consulting’s team is comprised of dynamic emergency planners. To help you prepare for the unpredictable, we have put together a few tools to get you started on your emergency plan.

1. Grab and Go Kit – This checklist outlines the emergency supplies you will need in the event you are forced to evacuate your home or workplace.
2. Home Kit – This is a checklist outlines the emergency supplies you will need at home in the event you are stranded for a long period of time and must be self sufficient for an extended period of time.
3. Home Hazard Hunt – To rid your home of potential hazards that could harm you or your family during an earthquake, follow this guide.