Johanna

Friday, March 11

6.6 in Niigata

Powerful Quakes Hit Japan's Nagano Prefecture

Two powerful earthquakes hit an inland area northwest of Tokyo early Saturday, each measuring 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in Nagano Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. The agency did not issue a tsunami warning. The 3:59 a.m. and 4:32 a.m. quakes, with preliminary magnitudes of 6.6 and 5.8 respectively, hit areas including Niigata Prefecture on the Sea of Japan coast, which is far from the Pacific coastal area jolted by a magnitude 8.8 quake the previous day. The focus of both predawn quakes was in central Niigata at a depth of 10 kilometers, the agency said. The first quake measured lower 6 in Niigata but Tokyo Electric Power Co. said it was continuing to operate its Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant in the prefecture. Niigata police said they have received a report of mudslide in Tokamachi city as well as avalanches in Tokamachi and Tsunan town, following the early morning quakes.

Magnitude 8.9 Offshore Quake

The quake was the largest ever to hit Japan, the fifth strongest tremor worldwide since 1900 and the seventh strongest in history, according to the US Geological Survey and Japanese seismologists.

The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast, triggering a 33-foot tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, cars and farm buildings. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter. Luckily my friends seem to be doing okay since no one was hurt, but homes are another factor right now. Until better communication open ups and the chaos of it all begins to settle, we'll have to wait a bit to get a clearer image of this tragic disaster.

My heart goes out to Japan!!!