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Major Earthquake Hits Russian Far East



Created: 21.04.2006 11:02 MSK (GMT +3),
Updated: 12:19 MSK, 1 hour 15 minutes ago
MosNews





A major earthquake hit a distant region of Russia��s Far East on Friday. The U.S. Geological Survey and Japan��s Meteorological Agency estimated the quake��s magnitude at 7.7 on the Richter scale, The Associated Press reported. The quake struck at 12:25 p.m. local time in the Koryak region, nearly 4,350 miles east of Moscow and some 620 miles north of the largest city in the area, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, said Oleg Kotosanov, a duty officer with the regional emergency situations ministry.


The quake partly destroyed a local school and a kindergarten, damaged houses and an airport, and in some places disrupted heating and electricity supplies in the village of Tilichiki and three other villages, AFP reported. ��So far no fatalities have been reported, but dozens of people have received minor injuries,�� officials said, adding that repairmen were on their way to restore heat and electricity in the damaged villages.


The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906, which destroyed more than half of the city��s buildings and left between 3,000 and 6,000 people dead 100 years ago this week, was estimated at a magnitude of between 7.7 and 7.9.

http://www.mosnews.com/news/2006/04/21/koryakerdbeben.shtml

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Major Earthquake in Russia Injures 33

Saturday April 22, 2006 12:46 AM


By MIKE ECKEL

Associated Press Writer


MOSCOW (AP) - A major earthquake shook a sparsely populated region of Russia's Far East on Friday, damaging buildings and sending residents fearful their homes might collapse into subfreezing temperatures outside, where they gathered around bonfires. A total of 31 people were injured, officials said.


The area of the quake, Russia's north Pacific coast, is on a major tectonic plate and is frequently hit by earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The 7.7 magnitude quake struck at around 12:30 p.m. Friday in the Koryak region, nearly 4,350 miles east of Moscow and some 625 miles north of the largest city in the area, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, said Oleg Kotosanov, a duty officer with the regional Emergency Situations Ministry. It was followed by a series of smaller temblors, including one with a magnitude of 6.1, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.


The damage appeared to be minimal but subfreezing temperatures raised concerns for the homeless and residents without heat. Fourteen villages with a total population of more than 11,800 were affected, said Yulia Stadnikova, spokeswoman for the federal Emergency Situations Ministry.
More than 300 emergency response workers flew to the region with tents, radiators and other supplies. Planes carrying medicines, diesel generators, blankets, warm clothes and tents were heading out from near Moscow on Friday evening.


Russian news agencies said schools and a hospital in Tilichiki had been damaged, along with municipal electric and heating systems, and state television showed wrecked homes in the village, with walls, windows and facades collapsed. Apartment interiors and schools were littered with personal belongings, desks and collapsed furniture. The ITAR-Tass news agency said many residents of the region, where temperatures were 2 degrees below zero, were afraid to return home and made bonfires to warm themselves and to cook.


The USGS said the quake was the largest in the area since 1900. The agency said the initial quake occurred about 30 miles below the earth's surface.