Argentina Earthquake Strikes On New Year's Day

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck a rural area of northern Argentina Saturday morning, but its epicenter was so deep that it gave only a light shake to towns nearby.

The U.S. Geological Survey said Saturday that the quake, initially registered at 6.9, hit at 6:56 a.m. about 150 kilometers (115 miles) northeast of Santiago del Estero at a depth of 563 kilometers (350 miles).

It was not immediately clear if there were any injuries or damage, but the earthquake was hardly felt in Santiago del Estero, the provincial capital, where Emilio Abdala, a receptionist at the 14-story Hotel Casino Carlos V, told The Associated Press that nobody felt a thing.

Comments

[2tango]

03:15 PM on 01/02/2011

It seems like the argentines are to busy with the "Dakar-race" in BA. because local newspapers aren't mentioning any earthquake.
But is true, it was a 7.0 NE accordingly with USGS.

[2tango]

12:43 PM on 01/02/2011

I don't know about this, Yesterday I was reading the Buenos Aires Herald, and there was NO mention of it.

[Ana4]

02:35 PM on 01/02/2011

USGS reports that it happened.

[Ana4]

03:22 PM on 01/02/2011

Odd, though sometimes papers report EQ's days later. I don't know what Argentine papers are like or why they wouldn't mention such a large event, unless the editors were on New Year's holiday. I'm not apologizing for them but also sometimes lack of reporting (in the usa) is due to reporters preparing a full in-depth story that requires time. Otherwise these initial blurbs are only AP briefs anyway.

Did you see the link to Spanish television news below? At least someone was on it.

[Halsey]

11:48 AM on 01/02/2011

Once again I'm tee'd off. The photos, I assume, Buenos Aires for EFFECT. The quake was hundreds of miles away and not even felt, in spite of its size, in nearby smaller towns.

Here in CA, there are quakes every day at various locations. So, would HP put a photo of Los Angeles, the next time there is a quake way out in Coachella Valley? The quake is news due to its magnitude, but the photo is sensationalism.

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

01:14 AM on 01/02/2011

There was an earthquake in Michigan two days ago. No one cared about that one either.

[naan]

11:04 AM on 01/02/2011

The epicentre of your quake, I think, was Buckingham QC, same spot where the 5.0 quake occurred in June 2010. Whereas that one was pronounced, this last one (around 3.?) was not felt at all.

[MISTERUNCONVENTIONAL]

10:53 PM on 01/01/2011

I'm not gonna cry for you.

[wolfiegirl]

10:47 PM on 01/01/2011

Unlike its neighbor, Chile, I did not think populated areas of Argentina were susceptible to an earthquake of this size.

[Ana4]

02:30 PM on 01/02/2011

There have been several smaller quakes in that area this year; not surprising really. The Nazca plate is actively pushing Eastward into the South American trench, continuing to push up the Andes and triggering 1000's of quakes along the Coast this year, mostly in Chile but also in the neighboring countries. Remember the 8.8 event Feb 27th 2010 offshore at Maule?

[wolfiegirl]

10:38 PM on 01/02/2011

I knew Argentina has seismic activity at its border with Chile (perhaps that's where this was). But I had never heard of a populated area of Argentina being affected. As for the 8.8 event, I knew that was a quake that occurred at a plate. I guess I assumed quakes in Argentina would be an intra plate quake. There was another one today, I have not read up on that one yet.

[Lucci]

08:16 PM on 01/01/2011

I have friends in Argentina and they haven't heard of such news. Where are you getting this news from??

[wolfiegirl]

10:46 PM on 01/01/2011

I heard it on a New York radio station this morning. If they go to the USGS website, they list all earthquakes in the world.

[canchita]

11:37 PM on 01/01/2011

http://www.sitiosargentina.com.ar/notas/septiembre_2004/terremoto.htm

[theantizombie]

06:33 PM on 01/01/2011

---used to be a good flood or minor earthquake got plenty of 24/7 mention of cable news -- but these occurrence­s are becoming a almost daily event -- here's one prolly didn't hear about right up the road: http://www­.wthr.com/­story/1376­0207/india­na-earthqu­ake-strike­s-in-rare-­location

Can't cause a panic now can we? All the "residenti­al" areas aren't completed yet and the money grab's running behind.

[theantizombie]

06:27 PM on 01/01/2011

Where just getting warmed up folks...

[myrtle1909]

06:17 PM on 01/01/2011

With movement deep inside the earth I wonder if the plates are moving. It could be that they just moved apart a little to relieve pressure.

[ashabot]

03:59 PM on 01/01/2011

Oh I am quite sure "nobody felt a thing" at the Hotel Casino Carlos V.

[Puller58]

03:32 PM on 01/01/2011

The world experienced lots of earthquakes last year.  A prelude to the ominous predictions about 2012?  ;)

[Ana4]

08:24 PM on 01/01/2011

There are dozens of earthquakes every day of every year. Check out the USGS website. Some have been happening in previously quiet locations, however.

[wolfiegirl]

10:44 PM on 01/01/2011

Exactly. There's one of this magnitude several times a year, at least. Most occur in oceans, fortunately.

[nfatt1]

10:35 AM on 01/02/2011

Only 363 more shopping days !

[MikeyJaii]

03:29 PM on 01/01/2011

What a way to start the new years!

[CANTHATBE]

01:57 PM on 01/01/2011

Climate Change?

[scrappydoodle]

07:32 PM on 01/01/2011

please I hope you are joking

[palainausa]

12:26 AM on 01/02/2011

The Bible

[Artos]

01:35 PM on 01/01/2011

I think that it's a sign that magma is rising to the surface. If I were them I'd be keeping an eye out for any activity in or about any of their Volcanoes. I think one of them is getting ready to blow.

[Ana4]

08:31 PM on 01/01/2011

There are no active volcanoes in Argentina. Magma is NOT rising to the surface there.
Lots of volcanoes ARE actively fuming right now, many in Alaska and Pacific Coastal Russia. Not a big deal at present. The ones you want to watch for are the Italian, Icelandic, and Indonesian ones, especially Mt Etna.

[signgrrl]

01:31 PM on 01/02/2011

AND the supervolcano underneath Yellowstone, already overdue to erupt.

[Artos]

03:38 PM on 01/02/2011

 Active that you know of. I've checked the listings of all Volcanoes in that part of the world and there are many that have blown in historical times. Therefore any and all could go up without notice.