Massive earthquake hits northeast Japan

A massive earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Friday, generating massive tsunami along broad areas of the Pacific coast. 23 deaths have been reported.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the quake struck at 2:46 PM Friday local time, off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. The quake's estimated magnitude has been upgraded to 8.8 -- the strongest on record to hit Japan.

Major tsunami alerts for waves of up to 10 meters were issued from Hokkaido in the north, to Tokushima in the west.

In Miyagi Prefecture, the quake caused tremors with an intensity of 7 -- the maximum level on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7.
Strong tremors were also felt in many parts of the country, including Tokyo, where buildings shook for several minutes.

Three more quakes -- of magnitude 7.0 or higher -- struck in succession within 40 minutes of the initial temblor, all of them focused offshore in the Pacific near northeastern and central Japan.

At 3:50 PM, a tsunami surging higher than 7.3 meters struck Soma Port in Fukushima Prefecture, sweeping away houses. Police have ordered a mass evacuation.

A 4.2-meter tsunami hit Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture at 4:52 PM, while tsunami more than 4 meters high struck Kamaishi and Miyako in Iwate Prefecture at 3:21 PM.

It is difficult to grasp the extent of the damage caused by the series of quakes and tsunami. But deaths and injuries are reported in several prefectures.
In Miyagi Prefecture, one person has been confirmed dead, although there are unconfirmed reports of more fatalities.

The Miyagi authorities say about 20 people are stranded on a breakwater, while several others were washed away by the tsunami.

NHK cameras in quake-hit prefectures show tsunami swamping roads and sweeping away cars and houses.

At least 44 fires have been reported in 6 prefectures.
In Chiba Prefecture, a Cosmo Oil refinery caught fire following a gas leak caused by the earthquake.

Shinkansen bullet trains remain out of operation across most of the country. Although there are no reports of railway accidents, trains are halted in most Pacific coastal areas, including Tokyo.

Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture has shut down as its control tower has been evacuated. All expressways are closed to traffic in Miyagi Prefecture.

The earthquake has also caused power blackouts in wide areas, affecting millions of households.
Friday, March 11, 2011 18:16 +0900 (JST)

source: NHK WORLD



Tsunami washes away vehicles

The Meteorological Agency says a tsunami more than 7.3 meters high hit Soma Port in Fukushima Prefecture at 3:50 PM on Friday.

Thirty minutes earlier, tsunami more than 4 meters high hit the ports of Kamaishi and Miyako in Iwate Prefecture.

Tsunami over 3 meters high were observed at Oarai Port in Ibaraki Prefecture, Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, and Ofunato Port in Iwate Prefecture.

NHK helicopter footage on live TV has shown a large number of houses being washed away in Miyagi Prefecture and elsewhere.

In Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, many oceanside houses are under water.

An NHK camera installed at the Hachinohe Port in Aomori Prefecture has shown seawaters flooding parked cars.

The tsunami aftermath was also captured by another NHK camera in Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture, where ships and containers have been swept away from the port, before the wave hit a seaside road.

A large number of buildings and oil facilities can be seen burning in wide areas of the Pacific coast.
Friday, March 11, 2011 17:09 +0900 (JST)

source: NHK WORLD







NOTE: These are some pictures I saw on Yahoo News!

Let's all pray for the safety of the people in Japan.. especially the most affected areas there. Hope it won't continue to other countries nearby..Please GOD have mercy on us.

Labels: Earthquake and Tsunami hits Japan 2011, Thoughts and Opinions

Massive earthquake hits northeast Japan

A massive earthquake struck northeastern Japan on Friday, generating massive tsunami along broad areas of the Pacific coast. 23 deaths have been reported.

Japan's Meteorological Agency says the quake struck at 2:46 PM Friday local time, off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture. The quake's estimated magnitude has been upgraded to 8.8 -- the strongest on record to hit Japan.

Major tsunami alerts for waves of up to 10 meters were issued from Hokkaido in the north, to Tokushima in the west.

In Miyagi Prefecture, the quake caused tremors with an intensity of 7 -- the maximum level on the Japanese scale of 0 to 7.
Strong tremors were also felt in many parts of the country, including Tokyo, where buildings shook for several minutes.

Three more quakes -- of magnitude 7.0 or higher -- struck in succession within 40 minutes of the initial temblor, all of them focused offshore in the Pacific near northeastern and central Japan.

At 3:50 PM, a tsunami surging higher than 7.3 meters struck Soma Port in Fukushima Prefecture, sweeping away houses. Police have ordered a mass evacuation.

A 4.2-meter tsunami hit Oarai in Ibaraki Prefecture at 4:52 PM, while tsunami more than 4 meters high struck Kamaishi and Miyako in Iwate Prefecture at 3:21 PM.

It is difficult to grasp the extent of the damage caused by the series of quakes and tsunami. But deaths and injuries are reported in several prefectures.
In Miyagi Prefecture, one person has been confirmed dead, although there are unconfirmed reports of more fatalities.

The Miyagi authorities say about 20 people are stranded on a breakwater, while several others were washed away by the tsunami.

NHK cameras in quake-hit prefectures show tsunami swamping roads and sweeping away cars and houses.

At least 44 fires have been reported in 6 prefectures.
In Chiba Prefecture, a Cosmo Oil refinery caught fire following a gas leak caused by the earthquake.

Shinkansen bullet trains remain out of operation across most of the country. Although there are no reports of railway accidents, trains are halted in most Pacific coastal areas, including Tokyo.

Narita Airport in Chiba Prefecture has shut down as its control tower has been evacuated. All expressways are closed to traffic in Miyagi Prefecture.

The earthquake has also caused power blackouts in wide areas, affecting millions of households.
Friday, March 11, 2011 18:16 +0900 (JST)

source: NHK WORLD



Tsunami washes away vehicles

The Meteorological Agency says a tsunami more than 7.3 meters high hit Soma Port in Fukushima Prefecture at 3:50 PM on Friday.

Thirty minutes earlier, tsunami more than 4 meters high hit the ports of Kamaishi and Miyako in Iwate Prefecture.

Tsunami over 3 meters high were observed at Oarai Port in Ibaraki Prefecture, Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture, and Ofunato Port in Iwate Prefecture.

NHK helicopter footage on live TV has shown a large number of houses being washed away in Miyagi Prefecture and elsewhere.

In Soma City in Fukushima Prefecture, many oceanside houses are under water.

An NHK camera installed at the Hachinohe Port in Aomori Prefecture has shown seawaters flooding parked cars.

The tsunami aftermath was also captured by another NHK camera in Iwaki City in Fukushima Prefecture, where ships and containers have been swept away from the port, before the wave hit a seaside road.

A large number of buildings and oil facilities can be seen burning in wide areas of the Pacific coast.
Friday, March 11, 2011 17:09 +0900 (JST)

source: NHK WORLD







NOTE: These are some pictures I saw on Yahoo News!

Let's all pray for the safety of the people in Japan.. especially the most affected areas there. Hope it won't continue to other countries nearby..Please GOD have mercy on us.

Labels: Earthquake and Tsunami hits Japan 2011, Thoughts and Opinions