20 April 2013 (02:02 UTC-07 Tango)/09 Jumada t-Tania 1434/31 Farvardin 1391/11 Bing-Chen (3rd month) 4711
There has been several magnitude 7 earthquakes around the world in just the past three weeks.
The USGS uses a modified type of richter scale magnitude system. They tried to clear up confusion a few years ago with a press release, but I think it just made things more confusing.
Most western media are using USGS magnitude readings when they report earthquakes, but, several countries have created their own magnitudes that do not match USGS magnitude reports. I am presenting USGS magnitudes.
The following are the 6 to 7+ magnitude quakes for April, so far:
On 20 April 2013 Sichuan, China, was hit by a 6.6 quake, followed by four 5 quakes. Reports say at least 152 killed, more than 3000 injured! The Chinese are calling the initial quake a 7+ magnitude.
Russian Kuril Islands (on the Pacific Ring of Fire) were hit with a 6.1 magnitude quake, followed by a 5.3 quake.
On 19 April 2013, again the Russian Kuril Islands, hit with a 7.2, then a 5.7. The Kuril Islands have been experiencing many magnitude 5 and 6+ quakes since the beginning of this Gregorian year.
For more example of how different quake reports are used by different countries, on 18 April 2013, Japanese officials reported a 7 magnitude quake off the coast of northern Japan. However, the USGS did not report such a quake. It is possible that the Kuril Islands 7.2 quake reported on early 19 April by USGS is the same quake that Japan claimed on the 18th. Japan and Russia both have claims to some of the Kuril Islands.
On 16 April 2013, a 7.8 quake hit along the Iran-Pakistan border. At least 40 people killed, mainly on the Pakistani side.
Papua New Guinea (on the Pacific Ring of Fire) 6.6 quake.
On 14 April 2013, again Papua New Guinea hit with 6.6 quake. The island country has also been experiencing many magnitude 5+ quakes.
06 April 2013, Indonesia (Pacific Ring of Fire) a 7 quake.
From 01 April to 20 April 2013 there have been at least seven magnitude 6+ quakes. For all of April 2012 there were ten magnitude 6+ quakes (which included two 8+ quakes near Sumatra on the Pacific Ring of Fire). We have a little under a week and a half left for April 2013, will mother Earth break last years April numbers?
By the way, officials in San Francisco, California, just passed new earthquake safety rules. The new law forces owners of wooden framed multi-story buildings to reinforce the lower walls and to help distribute the weight of the building more evenly on the frame. It’s estimated it will cost property owners $60000 to $130000 USD per building. The law comes after years of study by seismologists.