A Summer of Seismic Devastation
From the Philippines to Venezuela, Japan to Mexico, Colombia to Indonesia, major earthquakes have caused widespread damage and loss of life this summer. A 7.7 magnitude quake struck the Philippines in June, triggering a tsunami. Twin quakes of magnitude 7.0 or greater hit Venezuela back-to-back that same month, killing thousands. In July, a 6.8-magnitude tremor rattled Japan, and a 7.3 struck off the coast of southern Mexico. Earlier this month, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia — one of the largest there in years — and a 7.7 displaced some 40,000 people in Indonesia. This week, a 4.9 magnitude quake led to evacuations of hundreds in Spain.
Experts: This Is Par for the Course
The clustering of these events in a short span may seem alarming, but seismologists say it is not unusual. "There's nothing I'm seeing here that is unusual, this is all within the typical variations in earthquake rates that we see," Zachary Ross, a professor of geophysics at Caltech, told The Independent.
Earthquakes occur when tectonic plates — pieces of the Earth's crust — grind against each other, releasing energy that causes the shaking felt on the surface. These quakes help release heat from the planet's core. A magnitude of 7.0 or higher is considered "major" on the Richter scale and can cause serious damage over large areas.
Counting the recent events, there have been 11 major earthquakes this year — a number that is actually just below the annual average of 15 to 18, according to Maureen Long, the Bruce D. Alexander professor and chair of Yale University's Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences.
Why It Feels Like a Pattern
The perception of a surge is driven by where the quakes struck, not their frequency. "It feels like a pattern because unfortunately, several of these events have occurred in populated areas and caused significant damage, so we have all seen a lot of headlines," Long told The Independent.
Dr. Allen Husker, a research professor of geophysics at Caltech, noted that this year is expected to see 17 or 18 major quakes, based on the track for a typical active year, which sees 20. "If we reach that number, it would be a little high, but not unusual," he said.
No Connection Between Quakes
There is no indication that these earthquakes are connected. Each event is part of the normal, ongoing movement of tectonic plates, and the recent spate is "almost certainly a coincidence," experts said. While large earthquakes can trigger smaller ones in distant locations, there is no evidence that one major quake triggered another across the globe.
Preparedness, Not Prediction
Earthquakes cannot be predicted, so the focus remains on preparedness. Experts recommend that people in seismically active regions have emergency plans and supplies ready. Early warning apps like ShakeAlert and MyShake can provide valuable seconds of notice. The American Red Cross and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) offer safety guidance for before, during, and after a quake.
The recent devastation serves as a somber reminder of the power of these natural events and the importance of being ready wherever the ground may shake.