Monday, April 05, 2010

Hundreds of Aftershocks Continue After 7.2 Earthquake Strikes Mexico-California Border

By Douglas V. Gibbs

Since the earthquake yesterday that rocked over 20 million people in Northern Mexico and Southern California (of which we spent 45 minutes discussing on my radio program last night, one caller lives in San Diego and received the full brunt of the quake) over 350 aftershocks have rattled the region. The earthquake killed three people, and injured hundreds more.

The 7.2 magnitude earthquake is considered a major quake, and would have been devastating had it hit a major metropolitan area. It is also worth noting that the earthquake was a slightly stronger quake than the one that hit Haiti.

Considering the number of aftershocks experts are expecting a 6 or 7 magnitude earthquake to possibly strike the region in the near future. Area residents are concerned that it may be possible this earthquake was a fore shock of a much larger earthquake.

Damage from the earthquake includes cracking of the main aqueduct that provides water from the Colorado River in the Mexicali Valley to Tijuana, limiting the amount of water in the border cities.

Calexico was the U.S. city hardest hit by the earthquake, but there has been no reports of serious injuries in that city. Damages, however, are considered to be severe. About 80 percent of historic downtown Calexico is badly damaged, and twelve blocks of the area has been closed off until further notice. Roofs caved in, windows smashed, roadways were damaged, power lines were downed, the quake also caused gas leaks, and three large water tanks that hold the city’s water supply, are damaged. A couple dozen homes collapsed during the earthquake in Calexico as well.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary

Police patrol quake-damaged Calif. border town - Fox News

Additional news sources include KFI AM 640, KABC AM 790, and KTIE AM 570.

No comments: