Environment

The Ring of Fire is exploding. In the last 72 hours, two devastating earthquakes slammed Japan, causing many to ask if they were a precursor to a major event. Soon after the quakes, a nearby volcano in Japan began spewing smoke. Now, a massive 7.8 magnitude quake has struck Ecuador, with 28 people already confirmed dead. CNN reports: A tsunami threat warning for many nations in the Pacific that followed the quake has been canceled, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said. The forecast for some coastal areas of Ecuador still calls for the possibility of tsunami waves.

A new study has found that fast food contains an “alarming” amount of potentially toxic industrial chemicals like phthalates, which  are used in the manufacture of plastics and adhesives. According to researchers at George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, people who consume more fast food were exposed to higher levels of the hormone-disrupting chemicals that have been linked to infertility, particularly in males The findings were published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered "government's full capacity" for a search and rescue effort after a second powerful earthquake hit southern Japan.

As USA Today reports, at least 41 people were killed and some 1,500 injured in the two quakes that struck Kumamoto Prefecture late Thursday and early Saturday...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-L7U-Sjl1E

It is feared that dozens are trapped under rubble, as the death toll from two powerful Japanese earthquakes has risen to 29. As the search for survivors is in full swing, 70,000 people have been evacuated from their homes to safer locations. Landslide that destroyed bridge after Kumamoto earthquake https://t.co/Lct5ZLt4Xxpic.twitter.com/SgW8nAGQbg — Jascha Polet (@CPPGeophysics) April 16, 2016 Local media reported that rescue efforts were at risk as the quakes had triggered massive landslides, cutting off roads and destroying bridges.

Authorities in Japan are urging members of the public to keep calm after a large volcano erupted on Saturday morning.  The eruption follows Thursday’s 6.5. earthquake and Friday’s 7.0 – which many experts now believe to be a precursor to something much bigger. The government have decided to keep the alert level at a 2 out of 5, claiming they are not yet sure if the events are related. According to RT News: Plumes of smoke rose some 100 meters into the sky, according to local media and videos captured by witnesses. The eruption of Mt.