MSNBC : Earthquake rattles central Indonesia; casualties reported
JAKARTA, Indonesia – People fled their homes in panic after a powerful earthquake rocked Indonesia’s central Java province early Saturday, witnesses and media reports said. A witness told Reuters he had seen casualties and fatalities. The U.S. Geological Survey said the 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck at 5:54 a.m., 15 miles southwest of the city of Jogyakarta. No other details were available….
UPDATE 8 AM SATURDAY IN THE MIDWEST USA:
More than 2,700 people have been killed and thousands more injured by a strong earthquake that struck the Indonesian island of Java, officials have said.
UPDATE 4:30 PM SATURDAY IN THE MIDWEST USA:
According to the BBC, the death toll is now over 3000 people, another 3000 or so are seriously injured and 200,000 or more have fled their homes.
BBC ILLUSTRATED MAP OF THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE
Most Quakes & Volcanic Activity Occur on Pacific Ring of Fire –
WHY IS THIS?
– Located at borders of several tectonic plates
– 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur along it
– Also zone of frequent volcanic activity