7.2-magnitude quake hits 67 km WSW of Constitucion, Chile: USGS

08:50, September 30, 2019

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  Philippine 6.4-magnitude quake felt in central Indonesia, no tsunami alert issued

  JAKARTA/MANILA, Sept. 29 (Xinhua) -- A revised 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines on Sunday, and was felt in North Sulawesi province of central Indonesia, as its epicenter near the border of the two countries.Photo: USGSThere was not potential for tsunami, Indonesias meteorology and geophysics agency said."The quake centered in the Philippine territory but it is situated near the border of Indonesia and the Philippine. So, for the warning in Indonesia, we released the details of the quake," official in charge at the Indonesian meteorology and geophysics agency Widyatmoko told Xinhua via phone.The agency first unveiled that the quake was at 6.7 magnitude, he said.Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquakes as it lies on a quake-impacted zone called the "Pacific Ring of Fire." On Thursday, Indonesias eastern province of Ambon was hit by a 6.5-magnitude quake, leaving at least 30 people dead, 156 others wounded and a massive infrastructure damages, according to the national disaster management agency.According to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, the 6.4-magnitude offshore earthquake struck off Davao Occidental province in the southern Philippines at 10:02 a.m. (local time) on Sunday at a depth of 60 kilometers, about 130 km southeast of Jose Abad Santos town.There was no reported casualties or damage, but aftershocks are expected, said the institute.The quake, which was tectonic in origin, was also felt in the Philippine cities of Kidapawan, Davao, Sarangani, General Santos, Cagayan de Oro, Gingoog and Bislig on Mindanao island, the institute added.

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  6.8-magnitude quake jolts eastern Indonesia, no tsunami alert issued

  JAKARTA, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck off Indonesias eastern Maluku province early on Thursday, but there was no risk of a tsunami, the Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said.A damaged traditional market building is pictured following an earthquake in Ambon, Maluku province, September 26, 2019. (Photo: VCG)The tremor of the quake caused minor damages to infrastructure facilities, disaster agency officials said.The quake rocked at 6:46 a.m. Jakarta time Thursday (2346 GMT Wednesday) with the epicenter 40 km northeast Ambon, the capital city of the province, at a depth of 10 km, the agency said."This quake is not potential to trigger tsunami, so that no warning was issued," official at the agency Alfart Abubakar told Xinhua.An aftershock of 5.6 magnitude followed the main shock at 7:39 a.m. Jakarta time (0039 GMT), he said.The quake caused minor damages to a building of Patimura university and cracks on a bridge in the city, spokesman of the National Disaster Management Agency Agus Wibowo told Xinhua.Indonesia is vulnerable to earthquake as the country lies on a quake-prone zone of the "Pacific Ring of Fire."

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  Just 100 km northeast of Beijing is a Wonderful experience

  Predawn scene at Yanluo village, near Bulaotun, on the northern edge of the Miyun Reservoir, around 100 km northeast of Beijing. (Photo: China Daily)What you crave is sometimes right under your nose; only, you look elsewhere. Well, that saying is probably true.My friend and I decided to flee Beijing during Mid-Autumn Festival. Our ideal chill-out destination, we wished, should be tranquil, picturesque, homey, fun, accessible and affordable. Preferably, it should offer the best of both worlds - a bit of nature like mountains, waters, wildflowers, farms, plus digital-age creature comforts like broadband Wi-Fi and air conditioning.Our shortlist of places far and near got pruned pretty quickly: places didnt tick the boxes. And then, we chanced upon a farmstay option on a vacation rental app.The place met all of our criteria and then some if you include great hospitality, bucolic beauty, rural Chinese culture and a glimpse into the homestay business.For over three days, we got to savor all these just about 100 kilometers northeast of Beijing, on the northern edge of the Miyun Reservoir, near Bulaotuns Yunfeng scenic spot (home to a breathtaking lavender garden on a mountaintop).The farmhouse, called Wonderful, is run by Sun Yun, a retired schoolteacher, and her husband Fang Qibin, a farmer (and domestic help, facility manager, local guide, barbecue specialist, chef, and pet minder).Bigger than a regular lake, the reservoir is visible from the terrace. Surrounded by cornfields and a bit of wilderness dotted by a mesmerizing melange of fragrant plants, trees and wildflowers, you can see vast amounts of the sky (spirit-elevating on a cloudless, starry night). Ringed by mountains at the horizon, sunrise/sunset and moonrise/moonset are spectacular from this vantage spot.The eight-room Wonderful, complete with solar power and homegrown fresh vegetables, lives up to its name. The largehearted hosts allow free access to their well-stocked communal kitchen, and proactiv...