Natural disasters happen much more often in the world than we see reported in the news.

According to the Latest Globe of Natural Hazards Report Released in August by Global Reinsurance Company Munich Re the UAE has the Potential to Produce Very Strong Earthquakes of up to 5. The earthquake locations and magnitudes cited in NOAA tsunami statements and bulletins are preliminary and are superseded by USGS locations and magnitudes computed using more extensive data sets.

One of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded shook the nation of Chile to its very core on Saturday February 27 as bridges collapsed homes were obliterated

There are no reports of any deaths but Bob Parker the mayor of Christchurch tells Al Jazeera there is widespread damage as well as power cuts.

Widespread damage reported in Christchurch and South Island.

Tsunami Information.

A strong earthquake rattled New Zealand at 435 am local time Saturday morning.

The September 3 2010 South Island New Zealand earthquake occurred as a result of strikeslip faulting within the crust of the Pacific plate near the eastern foothills of the Southern Alps at the western edge of the Canterbury Plains.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to our friends in New Zealand today as news comes of a very large earthquake in Christchurch.

The GeoNet Project Monitoring geological hazards in New Zealand. The USGS posted a magnitude of 7. Read More New Zealand earthquakeSignificant damage from Christchurch quake.