BREAKING NEWS: 7.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Alaska, Tsunami Warning Issued

BREAKING NEWS: 7.1 earthquake strikes south west of Alaska, threatening devastating tsunami.

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit just south west of Alaska this morning,  close to the Aleutian Islands, 1,031 miles away from Anchorage. Widespread damage is feared across the West Coast - from British Columbia, Canada, to Washington - as towns brace themselves for the oncoming waves. A tsunami warning has been issued. (From Daily Mail)

UPDATE: Tsunami alert called off.

7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits in the Indian Ocean Near India's Andaman Islands

Breaking News: Tsunami watch issued after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake in the Indian Ocean near India's Andaman Islands, authorities say. The U.S. Geological Survey said a tsunami watch is in effect for India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh.

The USGS said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude 7.7, was 20.6 miles deep and was centered 160 miles north of Port Blair in the Andaman Islands. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami watch for the region.

Still developing. More to follow.....

Photo credit: Reuters

Seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani Predicted Deadly Earthquake Would Strike L'Aquila, Weeks Before Monday's Quake, Muzzled by Authorities

Resident Maria Francesco told AFP: "It was the apocalypse, our house collapsed. It's destroyed, and there's nothing left to recover." The devastation in the wake of an earthquake that struck L'Aquila, Italy, is heartbreaking and horrific. What I find interesting, however, is how easily warnings are shrugged off by the relevant authorities. There were dire warnings about terrorist attacks prior to September 11, 2001, but they were shrugged off. Then the same people are shocked beyond words when the warnings materialize.

Seismologist Gioacchino Giuliani had predicted that a deadly earthquake would strike L'Aquila, Italy, weeks before Monday's quake, but was muzzled by officials, Reuters reported. He was reportedly forced to take his findings off the Internet and was reported to police for "spreading alarm," according to Reuters. Last month, vans with loudspeakers reportedly drove around L'Aquila telling residents to evacuate their houses.

According to Reuters, Giuliani based his prediction on the levels of radon gas around seismically active areas. But the head of the National Geophysics Institute downplayed Giuliani's prediction. "Every time there is an earthquake there are people who claim to have predicted it," Enzo Boshci told Reuters. "As far as I know nobody predicted this earthquake with precision. It is not possible to predict earthquakes." Source: Reuters

I don't know if he could have prevented the devastation, but more lives could have quite possibly been saved if they had heeded his warnings, instead of muzzling him. We have seen this very mindset being played over in our society repeatedly. My thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and their families. I have experienced two tremors -- one in New York City in the late 1980s and one in Jamaica during the late 1970s and that was a scary thing. I can well imagine how these people must feel. I hope Silvio Berlusconi won't put his foot in his mouth during this tragedy. The last thing Italy needs is drama from him. Isn't it ironic that this 6.3-magnitude quake struck 60 miles north-east of Rome and during Holy Week?