Earthquakes increasing in frequency and intensity

The U.S. Geological Survey has reported 23 aftershocks following
Friday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. What has gone largely
unnoticed in recent media reports, however, is the unusual number and
severity of those aftershocks.

According to the National Earthquake Information Center of the U.S.
Geological Survey, 13 earthquakes ranging between 5.5 and 6.3 in
magnitude on the Richter Scale have hit the already devastated and
overwhelmed nation of Pakistan since Friday's temblor.

Though aftershocks are a normal part of earthquake activity, the number
and severity following Friday's quake are unusual. WorldNetDaily
reviewed the NEIC's earthquake data since March of this year and
learned that only two remotely similar examples could be found.

Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 2, six quakes hit the New Britain region of
Papua New Guinea, ranging between 5.5 and 6.5 on the Richter Scale. And
on April 10, six quakes hit the Mentawai region of Indonesia, ranging
between 5.5 and 6.8 in magnitude.

According to the NEIC, earthquakes of 5.5 magnitude or larger are
generally considered a big earthquake.

The three largest-magnitude earthquakes recorded in recent history
include a 9.5-magnitude quake in Chile on May 22, 1960; a 9.2-magnitude
quake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, on March 27, 1964; and a
9.0-magnitude quake in Northern Sumatra on Dec. 26, 2004.

Additionally, the U.S. Geological Survey data indicates earthquake
occurrences are increasing. In 2000, there were 22,256 recorded
earthquakes worldwide. That number has steadily increased to 31,199
earthquakes in 2004.



Major World Earthquakes in Past 50 Years

Oct. 8, 2005: Pakistani Kashmir; magnitude 7.6; more than 20,000+
killed.

March 28, 2005: Sumatra, Indonesia; magnitude 8.7; up to 1,000 killed.

Dec. 26, 2004: Sumatra, Indonesia; magnitude 9.0; more than 176,000
people killed in 11 countries from earthquake and subsequent tsunami.

Dec. 26, 2003: Bam, Iran; magnitude 6.5; more than 26,000 killed.

May 21, 2003: Northern Algeria; magnitude 6.8; nearly 2,300 killed.

March 25, 2002: Northern Afghanistan; magnitude 5.8; up to 1,000
killed.

Jan. 26, 2001: India; magnitude 7.9; at least 2,500 killed. Estimates
put death toll as high as 13,000.

Sept. 21, 1999: Taiwan; magnitude 7.6; 2,400 killed.

Aug. 17, 1999: Western Turkey; magnitude 7.4; 17,000 killed.

Jan. 25, 1999: Western Colombia; magnitude 6; 1,171 killed.

May 30, 1998: Northern Afghanistan and Tajikistan; magnitude 6.9; as
many as 5,000 killed.

Jan. 17, 1995: Kobe, Japan; magnitude 7.2; more than 6,000 killed.

Sept. 30, 1993: Latur, India; magnitude 6.0; as many as 10,000 killed.

June 21, 1990: Northwest Iran; magnitude 7.3-7.7; 50,000 killed.

Dec. 7, 1988: Northwest Armenia; magnitude 6.9; 25,000 killed.

Sept. 19, 1985: Central Mexico; magnitude 8.1; more than 9,500 killed.

Sept. 16, 1978: Northeast Iran; magnitude 7.7; 25,000 killed.

July 28, 1976: Tangshan, China; magnitude 7.8-8.2; 240,000 killed.

Feb. 4, 1976: Guatemala; magnitude 7.5; 22,778 killed.

Feb. 29, 1960: Southwest Atlantic coast in Morocco; magnitude 5.7; some
12,000 killed, town of Agadir destroyed

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Earthquakes increasing in frequency and intensity

The U.S. Geological Survey has reported 23 aftershocks following
Friday's 7.6-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan. What has gone largely
unnoticed in recent media reports, however, is the unusual number and
severity of those aftershocks.

According to the National Earthquake Information Center of the U.S.
Geological Survey, 13 earthquakes ranging between 5.5 and 6.3 in
magnitude on the Richter Scale have hit the already devastated and
overwhelmed nation of Pakistan since Friday's temblor.

WorldNetDaily