Source: York Forum

Breaking News! This morning, an earthquake shook the west coast of North America, with the earth being torn apart and a potential for a larger earthquake! A tsunami warning has also been issued!

According to the latest information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS), at 5:35 AM today, an earthquake occurred suddenly in Nevada, with a magnitude of 4.0, and the epicenter was located in the Valmy area.

This is a sparsely populated town in the western United States, located amidst several active fault zones, including the famous Fairview Peak-Dixie Valley Fault and the Central Nevada Seismic Zone.

Moreover, this epicenter is close to the Pleasant Valley Fault, which has the potential to generate a strong earthquake of up to 7.7 magnitude. Whether it will trigger a strong earthquake is uncertain.

This area is all above the famous "Basin and Range Province" in the western United States, where the crust is slowly but continuously stretching and splitting, making it one of the most seismically active regions in the country.

Before the main earthquake occurred, two small earthquakes with magnitudes around 3 had already happened here.

The USGS updated its prediction model, indicating that there is a 31% probability of an earthquake of magnitude 3 or higher occurring within the next week, and a 6% probability of an earthquake of magnitude 4.0 or higher occurring.

Although this earthquake was strongly felt and capable of shaking buildings, due to the sparse population in the Valmy area, it did not cause significant casualties or damage.

According to seismic data from the Michigan Technological University, earthquakes below 2.5 magnitude are rarely felt by people, while earthquakes between 2.5 and 5.4 magnitude can usually be perceived but only cause minor damage.

Although this 4-magnitude earthquake is not considered a major earthquake, it is still a typical moderate-scale earthquake in this region.

In fact, a series of earthquakes occurred here in March this year, recording four earthquakes, with the largest magnitude being 4.

This earthquake also reminded people of the 5.7-magnitude earthquake in Nevada on December 9, 2024, which was the strongest earthquake since the 6.5-magnitude earthquake in the Monte Cristo Mountains on May 15, 2020.

Nevada experiences thousands of microearthquakes each year, with activity levels second only to California and Alaska, ranking third nationwide.

"Earthquakes in western Nevada are mainly caused by crustal stretching, influenced by the interaction between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, causing the Nevada block to be dragged northward, resulting in a series of complex geological movements."

Not only Nevada but also Alaska experienced a 2.6-magnitude earthquake, and Oregon experienced a 3-magnitude earthquake today along the west coast. Small earthquakes keep happening one after another, and everyone is worried about the "legendary great earthquake" striking anytime.

Some may think it's exaggerated to say that a 4-magnitude earthquake could tear the earth apart, but Nevada itself is located in a fault zone, and the ground is indeed splitting. There is also potential for a 7.7-magnitude strong earthquake here.

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In addition, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake occurred in the Greek resort island of Crete, with a focal depth of 62.5 kilometers, and noticeable tremors were felt throughout Crete, Rhodes, Kos, and the southeastern part of the Aegean Sea.

When Greece experienced an earthquake, five countries were all affected. People in multiple locations in Israel felt the impact of the seismic waves, and Egypt, Turkey, and other areas were also affected.

At 1:36 AM local time today, the Greek authorities issued a tsunami warning!

Residents of Rhodes, Karpathos, and Kasos islands were notified: "There may be a tsunami risk in your area. Evacuate from the coast immediately! Follow the instructions of local authorities!"

As one of the most popular tourist destinations in Greece, Crete has a permanent population of over 624,000, with about one-third concentrated in the capital, Heraklion.

Now it's the peak summer tourist season, and more than 8 million tourists visit every year during this time.

Original Article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7504843629937033763/

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