Big Earthquake in Japan causes Tsunami

Grim · Mar 11, 2011

[video=youtube;xDNIb1vRQqM]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDNIb1vRQqM[/video]

TOKYO -- A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan's northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.

At least one person was killed and there were reports of several injuries in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers (miles) away, where buildings shook violently through the main quake and the wave of massive aftershocks that followed.

TV footage showed waves of muddy waters sweeping over farmland near the city of Sendai, carrying buildings, some on fire, inland as cars attempted to drive away.
"This is a rare major quake, and damages could quickly rise by the minute," said Junichi Sawada, an official with Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths but had no immediate details. Police said at least one person was killed in a house collapse in Ibaraki prefecture, just northeast of Tokyo.

A large fire erupted at the Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo and was burning out of control.

Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of a large ship being swept away by the tsunami and ramming directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture. Similar destruction was seen in dozens of communities along the coast.

In various locations along the coast, footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters.
The quake struck at 2:46 p.m. and was followed by five powerful aftershocks within about an hour, the strongest measuring 7.1. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 8.4.

The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan. NHK was warning those near the coast to get to safer ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the U.S. state of Hawaii.

The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said. The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. TV footage showed a large building on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo.

In central Tokyo, trains were stopped and passengers walked along the tracks to platforms. NHK said more than 4 million buildings without power in Tokyo and its suburbs.

The ceiling in Kudan Kaikan, a large hall in Tokyo, collapsed, injuring an unknown number of people, NHK said.

Osamu Akiya, 46, was working in Tokyo at his office in a trading company when the quake hit.

It sent bookshelves and computers crashing to the floor, and cracks appeared in the walls.

"I've been through many earthquakes, but I've never felt anything like this," he said. "I don't know if we'll be able to get home tonight."

Footage on NHK from their Sendai office showed employees stumbling around and books and papers crashing from desks. It also showed a glass shelter at a bus stop in Tokyo completely smashed by the quake and a weeping woman nearby being comforted by another woman.

Several quakes had hit the same region in recent days, including a 7.3 magnitude one on Wednesday.

Thirty minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working. Japan's Coast Guard has set up a task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast Guard official Yosuke Oi said.

"I'm afraid we'll soon find out about damages, since the quake was so strong," he said.
The tsunami roared over embankments in Sendai city, washing cars, houses and farm equipment inland before reversing directions and carrying them out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas pipes.

In Tokyo, hundreds of people were evacuated from Shinjuku station, the world's busiest, to a nearby park. Trains were halted.

Tokyo's main airport was closed. A large section of the ceiling at the 1-year-old airport at Ibaraki, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo, fell to the floor with a powerful crash.

TV announcers urged viewers near the shore to move to strong concrete buildings and stay above the third floor .

Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency said they were still assessing damage but had not confirmed any deaths.

One person was injured at a baseball stadium in Sendai, but his condition was not immediately known.

Dozens of fires were reported in northern prefectures of Fukushima, Sendai, Iwate and Ibaraki.

Houses collapsing and landslides were also reported in Miyagi.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/03/11/massive-7-magnitude-earthquake-strikes-japan/#ixzz1GHboyUSb
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Grim · Mar 11, 2011

[video=youtube;0cxJfe_w9LQ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cxJfe_w9LQ[/video]

[video=youtube;-DSSssHxm4Y]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-DSSssHxm4Y[/video]

Grim · Mar 11, 2011

I think it was big.

NSFW due to language.

[video=youtube;WM3RAn1-4rs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM3RAn1-4rs[/video]

Dihm · Mar 11, 2011

Woah... the imminent release of Shogun 2 is sure causing a SPLASH in Japan.

Gruknor · Mar 11, 2011

Dihm said: ↑

Woah... the imminent release of Shogun 2 is sure causing a SPLASH in Japan.
Click to expand...

Shogun 2 clearly has an earth shattering affect.

ChillerCooler · Mar 11, 2011

Really tasteless. Both of you.

ScrewCityChris · Mar 12, 2011

ChillerCooler said: ↑

Really tasteless. Both of you.
Click to expand...

I think I have a solution to get their taste back:

...I wonder why they didn't contuinue their theme and put a K in for the C in cupcakes... thoughts?

click · Mar 12, 2011

3 was just right...

ScrewCityChris · Mar 12, 2011

Also: Yes, we all realize this is a horrible tragedy and it is sad that so much destruction and loss of life has occurred.

Also: This place is sarcastic troll central. Enter at your own risk.

ChillerCooler · Mar 12, 2011

ScrewCityChris said: ↑

Also: Yes, we all realize this is a horrible tragedy and it is sad that so much destruction and loss of life has occurred.

Also: This place is sarcastic troll central. Enter at your own risk.
Click to expand...

Timing is the difference between getting shot in the head or shooting him in the head. <-- THINK ABOUT THOSE

Dihm · Mar 12, 2011

If it makes you feel better, the tragedy and news made me watch a couple Kurosawa films tonight.

Gruknor · Mar 12, 2011

Dihm said: ↑

If it makes you feel better, the tragedy and news made me watch a couple Kurosawa films tonight.
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It makes me feel better. Kurosawa films are the best. Which ones did you watch?

RandomH3r0 · Mar 12, 2011

A good friend of mine had the following link up in record time after the first waves hit:

Gruknor · Mar 12, 2011

RandomH3r0 said: ↑

A good friend of mine had the following link up in record time after the first waves hit:

Click to expand...

Your friend is a redditor, how does that make you feel?

Gruknor · Mar 12, 2011

click said: ↑

3 was just right...
Click to expand...

The KKK took my baby away.

Dihm · Mar 14, 2011

Gruknor said: ↑

It makes me feel better. Kurosawa films are the best. Which ones did you watch?
Click to expand...

Rashomon and Sanjuro. Waiting on Ran to get shipped. I almost rewatched Seven Samurai but I forgot it was 3.5 hours long, haha. Hidden Fortress and Kagemusha are on my instant queue too.

Dihm · Mar 14, 2011

I'm abusing my company's donation matching and gave to the Red Cross. Suck it corporate America, redistribute that wealth.

Gruknor · Mar 14, 2011

Dihm said: ↑

Rashomon and Sanjuro. Waiting on Ran to get shipped. I almost rewatched Seven Samurai but I forgot it was 3.5 hours long, haha. Hidden Fortress and Kagemusha are on my instant queue too.
Click to expand...

Rashomon, Sanjuro and soon Ran? Man, you are living the life. Seven Samurai is quite long but it is worth it. At first, you think it might be painful but you find that your body will adapt nicely.

Dihm · Mar 15, 2011

Yeah, but I'd seen it before and not these others, and I didn't have 3.5 hours in a block.

Did I mention I'm reading Shogun too?

Gruknor · Mar 15, 2011

Dihm said: ↑

Yeah, but I'd seen it before and not these others, and I didn't have 3.5 hours in a block.

Did I mention I'm reading Shogun too?
Click to expand...

No, how is it so far?

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Big Earthquake in Japan causes Tsunami

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Big Earthquake in Japan causes Tsunami

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Dihm Speaker of the Word Staff Member Gothi SC Thane

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click Professional Troll Thrall

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