Utah Prepares for Long Overdue Quake

Earthquake experts warn that Utah is long overdue for a major earthquake. 

On Monday, April 20, hospitals and disaster teams throughout Utah County prepared for the “big one.” Representatives from the Utah County Health Department wanted to simulate as much from a real earthquake as possible.  Medical teams and emergency crews throughout Utah County practiced how well they respond to mass casualties in a series of hazardous situations.

In recent months, state and federal geologists have claimed Utah is about 800 years overdue for a major earthquake. To make matters worse, according to the Utah County Health Department, 90% of Utah's population lives in seismically active zones, which are more prone to earthquakes. For example, if a 7.5 earthquake occurs along the Wasatch Front, it could leave 7,600 people dead, and cause $18 billion in damage. Earthquakes are possible anywhere in Utah, but they're most likely to happen in a 100 mile wide seismic belt from the Wasatch Front through Richfield in Central Utah, to Cedar City and Saint George in Southern Utah.

Source:  USGS

Earthquake Shakes Hawaii

An earthquake measuring 5.0 in magnitude struck the island of Hawaii. The quake was felt at 12:44 Tuesday afternoon.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that no tsunami is expected. No damages were reported.

The quake's epicenter was located 27 miles south of the city of Hilo and about 9 miles south of the town of Volcano. The epicenter was approimately six miles beneath the Hilina area of Kilauea volcano.

According to officials at the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, the earthquake caused no apparent change to the current eruption of Kîlauea.

The exact coordinates of the quake were 19.328°N, 155.210°W.

Source: KPUA