MidnightWatcher – Prophecy in Motion

Update: Tsunami warning has been lifted …

Richter Magnitude 7.3 – OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA
Time: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 12:37:01 AM at epicenter
Location: 2.396°N, 93.175°E
Depth: 29.1 km (18.1 miles)

Associated Press – “A powerful earthquake has hit waters of western Indonesia, prompting local officials to issue a tsunami warning.

The U.S. Geological survey said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3 and struck 260 miles (420 kilometers) off the coast of Aceh province.

It was centered 18 miles (30 kilometers) beneath the ocean floor.

Arief Akhir, an official with Indonesia’s geological agency, said a tsunami warning has been issued.

Indonesia is prone to seismic upheaval due to its location on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire,’ an arc of volcanos and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin.

A giant quake off the country on Dec. 26, 2004, triggered a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, half of them in Aceh.” Read more.

“TOKYO — The Meteorological Agency said Thursday that 6,757 aftershocks were felt in Japan after the March 11 disaster through Dec 31.

Of those, there were 14 with a magnitude over 5, 30 with a magnitude of 5, 174 with a magnitude of 4, 707 (magnitude 3), 1,904 (magnitude 2) and 3,928 (magnitude 1), the agency said on its website.

For the whole year, the agency said there were 9,723 earthquakes and aftershocks, seven times the number in 2010.

An agency official said that although the number of aftershocks has been decreasing, it will be many years before seismic activity returns to pre-March 11 levels.” Source – Japan Today.

Japan, NZ quakes set insurance record – “The devastating earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand made 2011 the costliest year yet for the insurance industry in terms of natural disaster losses, a leading reinsurance company says. Munich Re said in an annual report that insured losses last year totalled US$105 billion ($133 billion), exceeding the previous 2005 record of US$101 billion, when losses were swollen by claims from Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. The company said the total economic cost last year from natural disasters – including uninsured losses – totalled about US$380 billion. That was far above the 2005 record of US$220 billion.” Read more.

Luke 21:8-11, “He replied: ‘Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and, ‘The time is near.’ Do not follow them. When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first … Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven …”

(Reuters) – “Insurance industry damage claims from natural disasters like the earthquakes in Japan and New Zealand reached a record $105 billion (67.3 billion pounds) in 2011, Munich Re (MUVGn.DE), the world’s biggest reinsurer, said on Wednesday.

The cost to insurers from the earthquake and tsunami in Japan in March, which caused nearly 16,000 deaths, was estimated at $35 billion to $40 billion, the company said in its annual review of the prior year’s natural disasters.

That equalled the insured cost of all the natural disasters to strike the United States during the year, it said.

An earthquake in New Zealand in February added a further $13 billion to insurers’ claims payout for the year, Munich Re said.

The earthquakes together made up about half of last year’s total insured losses from natural catastrophes, which topped the previous record of $101 billion set in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. Munich Re compares losses in original dollars, and not adjusted for inflation.

‘Normally, it is the weather-related natural catastrophes that are the dominant loss drivers,’ Munich Re said.” Read more.

“PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — There were 11 earthquakes in eastern Ohio in 2011.

Most of them were not very powerful and caused little damage, but some people are asking about emergency plans if a major quake hits the area.

The new phenomenon of earthquakes in eastern Ohio is puzzling many people.

Some geologists say that discarded brine used while drilling for natural gas is being injected near fault lines. It acts as a lubricant, inducing the earthquakees.

Emergency management officials in and near Youngstown say they have a general plan that covers any and all emergencies.

‘Specific to that, earthquakes are so broad in category that we don’t have a one-on-one say do this, do this, do this. It falls under that emergency operations plan,’ said Clark Jones, of the Mahoning County EMA.

Jones says officials near Youngstown worked together to create a checklist for earthquake preparedness.

‘It gives a general outline of what to do prior to earthquakes to be prepared for them if you’re in an area that’s prone to earthquakes, which we seem to be all of a sudden,’ he said.

Officials say they have dealt with many different kinds of natural disasters, but never expected an earthquake like the one on New Year’s Eve. Their goal now is to better prepare in the future.” Read more.

Associated Press – “The latest in a series of minor earthquakes in northeast Ohio hit on Saturday, this time reaching a magnitude of 4.0 on the Richter scale.

The tremor sent some stunned residents running for cover as bookshelves shook and pictures and lamps fell from tables.

The quake struck Saturday afternoon in McDonald, outside of Youngstown, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

Area residents said a loud boom accompanied the shaking, but sheriff’s dispatchers from several counties in the area said there were no immediate reports of damage.

A few miles from the epicenter, Charles Kihm said he was preparing food in his kitchen when he heard a noise and thought a vehicle had hit his Austintown home.

‘It really shook, and it rumbled, like there was a sound,’ said Mr Kihm, 82.

‘It was loud. It didn’t last long. But it really scared me.’

The area has experienced at least 10 minor quakes in 2011, though Saturday’s temblor was stronger than others, which generally had a magnitude of 2.7 or lower.

This time, some residents reported feeling trembling farther south into Columbiana County and east into western Pennsylvania.” Read more.

“MOSCOW, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) — An earthquake measuring 6.6-magnitude on the Richter scale jolted Russia’s southeastern Siberian republic of Tuva on Tuesday, said local emergency center.

The Siberian regional center of the Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said information available showed there was no damage or casualties in the quake-hit region.

‘Everything is all right. Our dispatchers work round the clock and they did not receive any calls on any destruction,’ a spokesman for the regional center was quoted by RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

The spokesman also said local residents were warned about the possibility of aftershocks and were advised to leave their homes.

The geophysical service of the Russian Academy of Sciences said the quake, with its epicenter registered at a depth of 10 kilometers some 120 km to the east of Kyzyl, capital city of the Tuva republic, occurred at 19: 21 Moscow time (1521 GMT).

The Kremlin press service said Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu had reported to President Dmitry Medvedev about the quake and the situation in the region.” Read more.

Quake reaching 9.5 rocks southeastern Siberia – “MOSCOW – The intensity of a powerful earthquake that rocked the southeastern part of Siberia on Tuesday reached 9.5, Russian Emergency Situations Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a teleconference in the early hours of Wednesday. ‘The earthquake’s intensity in the epicenter has been estimated at 9.5. The main threat will come tomorrow morning. As soon as the people wake up, they will see cracks in the walls, stoves, and chimneys,’ he said. It was reported earlier that an earthquake reaching 8-9 in the epicenter had been recorded in the Kaa-Khemsky district of Tyva 100 kilometers east of Kyzyl at a depth of 10 kilometers at 7:22 p.m. Moscow time on Tuesday.” Read more.

“SAN SALVADOR Nov 25 (Reuters) – More than 700 slight to moderate earthquakes hit an area in eastern El Salvador in a 24-hour period, damaging dozens of homes but hurting no one.

The brief quakes, which started Thursday and ranged from 1.8 to 4.6 in magnitude, have occurred in the municipality of El Carmen, some 163 km (101 miles) east of the capital of San Salvador, the country’s National Territory agency said.

Jorge Melendez, in charge of civil protection, said on Friday that 80 homes were damaged by the tremors, known as an earthquake swarm. A hospital in the area showed cracks on the walls but no structural damage so far, he said.

Army troops were sent in to monitor the damaged areas. While authorities have not ordered evacuations yet, many residents of El Carmen chose to sleep in the open and the army was handing out tents.

El Salvador suffered two powerful earthquakes 10 any ten years ago: one of 7.6 magnitude in January 2001 and another of 6.6 magnitude a month later. The quakes killed more than 1,150 people and left about one million others homeless.” Source – Reuters.

Turkey’s population is 99% Muslim.  If history is any indicator, it’s only a matter of time before someone begins accusing Christians of ‘exploiting’ this tragedy to spread Christianity.  Even so, the Body must continue to reach out to help those in need …

“Turkey (MNN) ― Turkey was hit by another powerful 5.2-magnitude earthquake yesterday morning.

This is the nation’s third major quake in a matter of weeks, not including the dozens of tremors and aftershocks the people in the Van area have experienced.

This quake follows another 5.7-magnitude quake last week and a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed over 600 people at the end of October. The string of violent disasters littered by tremors and aftershocks has thrown the citizens of eastern Turkey into a frenzy of fear.

International Mission Board reports that most people don’t feel safe. Thousands are living in tents between damaged buildings. Many lost family and friends in the initial quake.

Survivors sleep in tents in sub-freezing weather without proper clothing. IMB notes these now-homeless people run the risk of developing bronchitis and other illnesses from the cold, as well as from the smoky fires lit inside the tents for warmth.

IMB associates met one woman who had only just fled Afghanistan as a refugee in Turkey when the first quake hit.

Buildings continue to crumble, and relief workers are doing all they can to tend to physical needs. The emotional scars of fear surrounding these disasters need a great deal of tending as well.

A local, evangelical congregation in Van is helping those sleeping in tents around their church. Other churches from across Turkey have also sent volunteers. The Van church is coordinating their efforts, which include food distribution and medical care.

Dozens of people gather at the church daily. Believers feed them and share Christ’s love.

‘There aren’t many of us, and we are tired,’ a member of the Van church told IMB, ‘but we are doing all we can. They see the love, and they are able to hear why we do this.’

Keep praying for Turkey. Pray for physical safety and spiritual healing. Turkey is a staunchly-Muslim nation, but as rampant fear spreads, people are looking for peace. Pray that believers would be a comfort to victims of the quake and would represent Christ in ways that make others want to learn more.” Source – OneNewsNow.