Tsunami Heads for Japan

[krys]

I just heard on the news that there was a major earthquake (about 6.9) in the Pacific and a tsunami was headed to Japan. hoping and praying....

[Digitalis]

Absolutely hope and pray.

I have seen pictures of what the two Tsunamis that hit Alaska back in 1964 the destruction and devistation from that was probably worse than what the quake did.

How bad is the damage from the quake? does anyone know? I have been in a 6.4 up here and it was really scary.

Praying, we have friends in Japan,

Digi

[krys]

here is more....

I hear the radio say "major", this account says "very strong" I don't know what the difference is.

read about it here

Edited November 14, 2005 by krysilis

[Jim]

CNN is saying a surge of 12" to 20". That's right, inches. Doesn't look to be a big problem

[krys]

I guess my spring was coiled up a bit too tightly; that's how it often is in jersey.

[HAPe4me]

awww now Krys, the proper way to look at this is that your prayers saved all of japan from the debils evil plan. all hail the power of Krys's prayers

[LG]

Tsumini?

[dmiller]

By HIROKO TABUCHI, Associated Press Writer

1 hour, 6 minutes ago

TOKYO - A powerful earthquake shook northern Japan early Tuesday, and small tsunami waves struck coastal towns about 200 miles from the epicenter. There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries.

The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 7.1, hit at 6:39 a.m. (4:39 p.m. Monday EST) and was centered just below the ocean bottom off the east coast of Japan's main island of Honshu, Japan's Meteorological Agency said.

Small tsunami waves measuring 12 and 20 inches hit the coastal city of Ofunato and smaller waves hit at least four other towns. Tsunami waves — generated by earthquakes — are often barely noticeable in the ocean but can rise to great heights once they arrive at shore.

Ross Stein, a geophysicist with the USGS in Menlo Park, Calif., said the swell amounted to "a surfable tsunami."

The quake hit at a depth of about 18 miles and was centered off the coast of Sanriku in northern Japan, 330 miles east of Tokyo, the U.S. Geological Survey said. It shook buildings across a wide area across northern and eastern Honshu, including Tokyo, and Hokkaido.

Japan is one of the world's most earthquake-prone countries because it sits atop four tectonic plates. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake shook northeastern Japan in August, injuring at least 59 people, triggering landslides, damaging buildings and causing widespread power outages.

There was no destructive Pacific Ocean-wide tsunami threat following Tuesday's earthquake, based on historical quake and tsunami data, according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii.

However, earthquakes as large as Tuesday's can generate a local tsunami capable of causing destruction along coastlines within 60 miles of the epicenter, according to the center.

___

Associated Press writer Andrew Bridges contributed to this report from Washington.

Edited November 15, 2005 by dmiller

[Digitalis]

Thanks DM for the report ...... really appreciate it.

Called our friends who are in state now ...... there parents property is in the mountains at about 3000ft above sea level. But my girlfriends sister is in Tokyo ... her condo is on the 9th story. All there family is well.

Thank Krys for posting this, when I called our friends they hadn't even known about the quake or tsunamis and were thankful for the news to call home.

Digi