I think we can all agree that 2024 has already been a strange year, but this April has came with an uproar of confusion and chaos that has brought it to a whole new level. Besides our concerningly bipolar weather and the recent astronomical event of a lifetime, this first week of April has also came with unpredictable destruction world wide.
Following the beginning of April, a series of earthquakes have demolished and terrified numerous cities around the world.
“The April 2, 2024, M 7.4 earthquake on the eastern coast of Taiwan occurred as the result of reverse faulting near the boundary between the Eurasia and Philippine Sea plates. The earthquake was followed by a M 6.5 aftershock 13 minutes later" (USGS Earthquake Hazard Program).
Since the start of April, Indonesia has been hit with a series of disastrous earthquakes. Taiwan experienced its largest earthquake in the last 25 years. There were 9 people killed and over 1,000 injured. These areas have not experienced these types of shocks in many years.
“There was really strong shaking… We quickly turned off the gas and electricity and opened the door. It was really strong. It felt like the house would fall down,” Taipei resident Chang Yu-lin said on CNN affiliate Taiwan Plus.
Many different areas have been hit by unexpected quakes, but on Friday April 5th, a 4.8 magnitude earthquake horrified the citizens of New York. This was the third-largest earthquake in the past 50 years for the Northeast of the U.S. Although random quakes are a part of our daily life in California, It was very shocking for the East Coast.
In 2002, the largest earthquake over the past 50 years rippled throughout Au Sable Forks, New York. Right next to Vermont, this 5.3 magnitude earthquake damaged structures and roads throughout the mountains but thankfully there were no injuries. These areas are not the typical places for these types of events, so the citizens of New York were not used to this type of geological event.
Overall, natural disasters are even more unpredictable than the weather in Northern California. Unexpected disasters can happen at any time, anywhere, so be prepared.
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