HUGE 7.0 magnitude earthquake hits RING OF FIRE
SOURCE
Mysterious booms being heard too...
AN earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale has ripped through the Ring of Fire sparking a tsunami warning for the region.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake hit at a shallow depth of 9.4 miles (15 km).
Initially the USGS said the quake was 7.2, before downgrading the size to 7.0 magnitude.
People in the region were warned to stay alert as the quake triggered a tsunami warning, athough the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre (PTWC) have since claimed there is no longer a risk.
A statement from the centre said: “There is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake...remain observant and exercise normal caution near the sea.”
“Based on preliminary earthquake parameters hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located with 300km (186miles) of the earthquake epicentre.
“Government agencies responsible for threatened coastal areas should take action to inform and instruct any coastal populations at risk in accordance with their own evaluation.
“Persons located in threatened coastal areas should stay alert for information and follow instructions from national and local authorities.”
It comes days after a huge earthquake struck 100 miles off the coast of Papua New Guinea sparking a tsunami warning for the region as tsunami waves hit the Solomon Islands.
The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck 97.5miles east of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea on December 17 causing tsunami waves to hit the Solomon Islands.
Quakes are common in the region which sits on the Pacific's Ring of Fire, a hotspot for seismic activity due to friction between tectonic plates.
The exposed fault on the sea floor, which is some 60,000 square kilometres in size, was found north of Australia.
The Ring of Fire is the largest and most active fault line in the world, stretching from New Zealand, all around the east coast of Asia, over to Canada and the USA and all the way down to the southern tip of South America.
A sudden slip of a tectonic plate now could lead to one of the largest earthquakes in history and spark mega-tsunamis.
UPDATE Powerful 7 2 Earthquake Off Fiji Triggers Tsunami Warning Within 300km Radius
Mysterious ‘Boom’ shakes homes in Connecticut
responded to investigate the calls, but found nothing out of the ordinary. Police said they did not receive any reports of power outages, damage, or smoke. Southington officials also consulted with surrounding departments, which also received calls, but turned up nothing. Energy companies also checked in and reported nothing amiss. READ MORE