Three Russian villages disappear after quake

MOSCOW -- One of three earthquakes that hit Russia’s remote northeastern Kamchatka peninsula almost completely destroyed three small villages, local authorities were quoted as saying yesterday by Interfax news agency.

Inhabitants called the Koryakiya region’s administration on a satellite phone to report that “the villages are practically entirely destroyed, even brick stoves fell apart,” officials said, adding that rescuers flown in by helicopter were assessing the situation.

Up to 180 people were evacuated yesterday from the villages of Korf and Tilichiki, including more than 70 children and seven pregnant women, the region’s chief federal inspector, Vladimir Ilyukhin, said as quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency.
A total of some 300 people asked for a chance to leave their villages, mostly children, the sick, invalids and the elderly, Ilyukhin said, while ruling out a total evacuation of the villages’ 4,000-strong population.

(snip)

The Kamchatka peninsula, which is roughly the same size as Japan, is one of Russia’s wildest regions, known for hot springs, 29 active volcanos and a large population of brown bears.

...And the Kura testing range, but I haven't heard that mentioned. - R

the last few days...

http://www.iris.edu/seismon/zoom/events/?lon=167.3747&lat=61.3455

I wonder, is this area considered part of the ring of fire??

...and note that the only areas not having any recent quake activity is along the Pacific coast of the U. S. and Mexico:

<http://www.iris.edu/seismon/>

just nothing big lately...

http://quake.wr.usgs.gov/recenteqs/

the area around the geysers in Nor Cal is particularly active...