Quake hits NMI—again

Panicked residents scrambled out of homes and buildings across the CNMI yesterday afternoon after a strong earthquake hit the islands—the third earthquake jolting the islands within four days.

In a preliminary report, the U.S. Geological Survey National Earthquake Center recorded the quake at magnitude 6.3 on the Richter scale.

Emergency Management Office director Rudolfo M. Pua, however, disclosed that the USGS on Guam reported a magnitude of 7.0, while Alaska reported a magnitude of 6.5. EMO later upgraded this to 6.5 as of 4:30pm. All reports on the quake’s strength, however, remain preliminary and are subject to change.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or major damage on all three islands. No tsunami warning was also issued.

According to NEC, the quake occurred at about 1:34pm and was located just 55 miles north of Saipan, 25 miles south of Anatahan, 135 north of Rota, and 190 miles of Guam.

The epicenter was located about 87.8 miles below the seabed. The quake reportedly lasted some 10-20 seconds.

This came on the heels of two earthquakes that shook the islands Wednesday, with the first reported by NEC to have a magnitude of 6.3 and the second, 4.7.

‘ONLY 6.5?’

Saipan residents were surprised to learn that yesterday’s quake registered “only” at 6.3, saying that “it felt a lot stronger” than the 6.3 temblor that happened on Wednesday. Many households reported of items that were thrown off shelves as well as broken glasses and ceramics.

Even Gov. Juan N. Babauta himself said that yesterday’s earthquake was “way stronger” than last week’s temblor, although both had almost the same magnitude.

“It’s strong. I was having lunch and I felt the place. People were of course shocked. It’s really bad. To tell you honestly, I was a little scared but I gathered myself and called the EMO immediately,” said Babauta.

He said he managed to settle down after getting the information that “the CNMI is safe.”

“The Commonwealth was shaken but is safe,” he said.

Stores and shops around the island incurred some losses as the earthquake shook product counters, leaving items scattered on the floor. Mostly affected were the bottled items and other products made of glasses.

At the 99 Cents Supermarket, employee J.R. Barrios said he and his co-employees ran out from the store when they felt the ground shake.

It took them about five to seven minutes before they were finally convinced to return inside because they feared aftershocks.

Barrios also said that the store’s displays of canned goods, instant noodles, and other products fell from the shelves because of the strength of the earthquake.

At the Dolphin Wholesale in San Jose, customers and staff all rushed out of the supermarket when they felt the ground begin to shake. When they finally returned inside, they were confronted with scenes of chaos: shampoo and bath products scattered all over and ceramic figurines and glass products smashed on the floor.

Over at Carmen Safeway Mart in Chalan Kanoa, general manager Eli E. Maravilla clarified reports that the store was forced to shutdown because of cracks on its walls.

He said the supermarket is business as usual after the quake but admitted they did have to close the premises for about 10 minutes to clean up the mess brought about by the shaker, which like at 99 cents, displaced canned goods and other products from their shelves.

Joeten Garapan staff Pedro Iguel said, “We were shocked but I stood beside the door to open it and allow our tourists go out safely.”

“I just saw our items shaking and I got so frightened. I ran outside,” said X Colors staff Weng Yalong.

In several homes, fish aquariums, flower bases, mirrors, and picture frames made of glasses fell and broke.

Residents also complained of cracks in the wall of their concrete houses and buildings.

At the Gilbert C. Ada Gymnasium, basketball referee Noel Delos Santos said he rushed outside the venue to the relative safety of open space after he felt the earth move. J.D. Dikito, who had a game that afternoon, said he was roused from his nap by the temblor.

Major hotels on Saipan reported no damage in their premises.

In a call to Hotel Nikko Saipan, it said that it temporarily stopped its elevators for safety purposes but has since resumed operating them.

“Our customers are safe,” said sales and marketing assistant director Jun Kitaoka.

Pua said the intensity of the quake may have seemed a lot stronger because of its proximity, citing that Wednesday’s quake occurred some 100 miles southwest of Saipan. That quake was just 35 miles west of Rota.

Pua said the quakes were a result of tectonic movements of plates and were not connected to the ongoing volcanic eruption at Anatahan.

EMO personnel had also communicated with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii, which informed them through its Aerial Nautical Fixed Telecommunication Network no tsunami watch or alert was to be issued as a result of the quake. The report was issued at about 1:53pm.

Pua earlier indicated that the threshold for a tsunami watch to be issued is if a quake registers at a magnitude of 7.0 or above.

In case of a disaster, Pua reminds the public that cooperation would be key in providing safety to everyone. Pua indicated that other agencies are on standby to assist EMO should their services be in need.

“They have people on standby,” he said. “We have their contact numbers.”

Pua said information is first gathered and analyzed to determine if there is a need to activate the Emergency Operations Center.

NO INJURIES REPORTED

Department of Public Safety spokesman Eric F. David disclosed that a power line connected to a pole in Dandan snapped as a result of the quake. No injuries were reported.

David indicated that the matter was immediately attended to by DPS Fire as well as Commonwealth Utilities Corp. crewmen.

Department of Public Health Secretary James Hofschneider indicated that as of 2:30pm yesterday, there were no reports of injuries related to the quake.

“Everything is okay,” he said. “There were no earthquake-related injuries reported to the [Emergency Room] and no major damage to the infrastructure of the hospital.”

Governor Babauta said, though, that the Commonwealth Health Center received more patients complaining of respiratory illnesses.

“Dr. Hofschneider said that haze resulted in increased number of respiratory illnesses but there’s no respiratory failure,” he said, adding that the hospital also sustained no damage.

EMO also echoed that preliminary reports indicate no major damage from Tinian and Rota.

EMO earlier indicated that USGS personnel Dr. James Quick, a volcano hazards coordinator, and Dr. Chris Waythomas, a tsunami expert, are scheduled to arrive tomorrow for presentations on tsunami and the activities at Anatahan.

Shortly after the earthquake, Pua phoned Dr. Quick, informed him of the situation, and advised him to be prepared for the many questions that would stem from the activities currently being experienced.

The two are set to make presentations at the Office of the Governor on Feb. 8 for government agencies and Feb. 9 for private sector agencies.

The next two days will be focused on presentations at Rota and Tinian.

An overflight of Anatahan is also possible, depending on time availability.