A couple of gurias!
by admin on Apr.14, 2010, under Uncategorized
After a couple of months of no volcano action and very few earthquakes, we have had several gurias (earthquakes) in the last week or so.We were quite surprised on Sunday night when the house started to shake just as we were about to have dinner. Seemed quite strong but only lasted about 20 seconds – long enough to make a photo frame topple off some shelving and smash on the floor!- was a ceramic frame so both glass and frame smashed! The USGS site only registered it at 5.5 – although it felt quite strong! Had another 5.4 one yesterday which lasted longer but seemed a lot gentler.
Around this time last year we had one just over 7.0 and the house shook vigorously from side to side making a LOT of loud creaking noises. I ran downstairs and out onto the road calling to Stephanie to get out – I was quite frightened. The locals just sat under the houses and laughed at me. They told me I don’t need to worry until the house starts jumping up and down! Shaking side to side is apparently OK!
The volcano remains quiet with only steam coming out. It has been like this since the New Year and it is incredible what a difference it makes not living with ash all the time! Some of the locals say that it was like this before it erupted in 2006 so they are expecting a big blow to be on the way.
