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Earthquakes in 2013

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EARTHQUAKES IN 2013

Numerous earthquakes also rocked the world in 2013. Some of the most intense of these events include: a 7.7 magnitude temblor in Pakistan in September; a 7.1 magnitude quake in the Philippines in October; 6.4 and 7.7 magnitude events in Iran last April; and in China, a 6.6 magnitude quake in April and an M5.9 tremor in July.

The largest deep earthquake ever recorded struck in May under the Sea of Okhotsk in the northwest Pacific Ocean. It measured an 8.3 magnitude at 378 miles below the surface. No notable damage was caused but the vibrations were felt over a wide area, including Moscow, Russia, which was 5,000 miles west of the occurrence.

While some of the most potent temblors occurred over the rest of the world, the US also had its fair share of shaking. In January, a 7.5 magnitude earthquake was felt off the west coast of southeastern Alaska; in August, a 7.0 magnitude occurred in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska — several other quakes were felt around the world within the same time period as the Aleutians’ temblor; in March, a 4.7 magnitude quake rocked Arizona; and in May, a 5.7 magnitude event hit the Canyondam area.

Earthquakes weren’t the only things shaking the ground in 2013.
Other events detailed in the USGS report that rocked the earth include a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, in April. It generated a 2.1 magnitude tremor that was felt in 36 different zip codes. The Chelyabinsk meteor explosion in Russia in February caused a shockwave that damaged over 4,000 buildings and injuring more than 1,000 people. Also a quarry blast in Chicago was felt in the west suburban area.

Some earthquakes may have been attributed to man-made activities in 2013.
Activities, such as underground wastewater disposal, known as injection-induced seismicity, may be the cause of earthquakes that have been going on in Oklahoma since

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