7.1 EARTHQUAKE IN HONDURAS DEATH TOLL on the rise

A MAGNITUDE 7.1 EARTHQUAKE SHOOK HONDURAS this morning. At this point, reports from the EARTHQUAKE RAVAGED HONDURAS are understandably sketchy at best. Currently it is reported that four children have died as a result of the 7.1 EARTHQUAKE IN HONDURAS and many more are expected as rescuers search through the rubble that was left by this devastating EARTHQUAKE IN HONDURAS.

Randolfo Funes, a top official at Honduras' civil protection agency said "We have confirmed four dead, there will be many more dead."

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6.4 Magnitude Earthquake hits southern Mexico today

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.4 shook southwestern Mexico on Tuesday, the latest in a series of temblors in recent days, but there were no reports of casualties or serious damage.

The earthquake hit at 6:50 a.m. local time (7:50 a.m. EST) and was centered about 23 miles northwest of Arriaga, in the state of Chiapas, at a depth of 72 miles, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The quake briefly cut off power in the Chiapas state capital, Tuxtla Gutierrez, but officials said checks of dozens of small towns across the state found no damage.

"We have no material or human damage," said civil protection official Zaydi Garcia in Tuxtla Gutierrez, 65 miles from the quake's center.

A magnitude 6.4 quake is capable of inflicting severe damage, particularly in areas with poorly built structures.

Civil protection officials in neighboring Oaxaca state, home to many poor indigenous villages, reported no damage beyond cracks in older buildings like the Municipal Palace in the town of Juchitan. Two abandoned houses fell down in the nearby town of Matias Romero.

"It was felt in most of the state of Oaxaca, (but) we have no reports of loss of life, just some minor damage," said state civil protection chief Cesar Narvaez.

Buildings also held up in the state capital Oaxaca, a colonial city with cobblestone streets popular with tourists and roughly 160 miles from the quake's center, said local civil protection official Jose Basan.

The earthquake, which the USGS revised down from a preliminary reading of 6.6, was barely felt in the capital Mexico City, although some buildings were evacuated.

Emergency teams scoured 16 city districts in the capital but found no casualties and no damage to buildings or infrastructure, the capital city's government said in a statement.

Since Saturday, four moderate quakes have rattled the country, three near the northwestern city of Mexicali, and one on Monday near the Chiapas town of Cintalapa, just some 25 miles north of the latest quake.

Mexico is prone to earthquakes, especially along its Pacific coast. Those above magnitude 6.0 are the most dangerous.

30 reported dead (And growing) in devastating Rwanda Great lakes Earthquake

At least 30 people have been killed and more than 300 hurt in a series of quakes in Africa's Great Lakes region.
The two most powerful occurred hours apart in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighbouring Rwanda, with magnitudes of 6.0 and 5.0 respectively.

At least 10 people died as a church collapsed in western Rwanda, while the eastern DR Congo city of Bukavu suffered widespread damage.

Police say the death toll could rise, as there are many people trapped.

A powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake rocked the region in December 2005.

But while it is prone to seismic activity it has mostly escaped major quakes in recent years.
Panic

The first earthquake hit at about 0935 (0735 GMT), 20km (12 miles from Bukavu).

The second quake came just under three-and-a-half hours later, slightly closer to the town but in Rwandan territory. It was followed by two lesser tremors.

It was not clear how many casualties had been caused by each quake, but they combined to cause panic in both the Bukavu area and in Rwanda.

Rwandan radio said 10 people died when a church collapsed in Rusizi district.

Another 15 were killed in other parts of Rusizi and Nyamesheke district.

DR Congo officials said five people died in Bukavu.

An official from the country's UN peacekeeping mission said damage in the city was extensive.

"There is lots of damage. Many buildings have been hit. Lots of houses have completely collapsed," Jacqueline Chenard said.

The quakes were also felt in neighbouring Burundi, disrupting hydroelectric power and causing a half-hour electricity cut.