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2 dead, over 160 injured after M7.4 quake hits northeastern Japan

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7.4 is still scary. I would love to have one of those cup noodles right now. Sorry, its lunchtime here and I'm starving!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Deepest condolences.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

I don't understand why someone would down vote my comment that I will repost below. Can someone explain their thoughts about this.

I've been to Japan 9 time's and thankfully only felt one earthquake. It was a small one but it scared the ____ out of me. My wife whose Japanese slept through it. I hope everyone will recover soon from this one and my sympathy goes out the the man that passed.

2( +11 / -9 )

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Here you are @cleo 9pm: NHK just reported another JMA intensity (shindo) 3, or 4.6 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Miyagi Prefecture at 9:30pm JST this evening.

“So far, no reported chance of tsunami at this time.”

Still, everyone please stay safe tonight and off the coasts for a while yet.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I think my point that the intensity measurement is a better indicator of the effect than the magnitude still stands.

The shindo is a good indicator of the effect in any particular location. I think it's the magnitude+depth that determines how widespread the effects are.

Yesterday was 7.4, 2011 was a 9. That's a HUGE difference.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

Looks like the alarm bell went off at Fukushima, there was a power cut, and there was a drop in the supply pool cooling water level. Could have been worse, on the face of it.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Thanks Cleo,

You're right. Looking at the intensity maps, it seems the high intensity of the 2011 quake was far more widespread. However, I think my point that the intensity measurement is a better indicator of the effect than the magnitude still stands.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Lived and worked in Japan for more than 15 years and I'm pretty sure that guy is not contemplating whether to continue working or not. He clearly wasn't sure what to do, then he noticed the helmet and put that on.

You're meant to get under a desk without a second thought not wander around lost or taking videos. That's how you get injured or killed.

Oh so you are a mind reader now, 15 years here I guess if 15 years makes one a mind reader of the Japanese mind through a video I guess after my over 30 I should be able to levitate people!

If you jump under a table every time theres an earthquake perhaps strapping one to your back would be quicker considering the number of earthquake we get.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

It seems this was just as bad as the 2011 quake. The big difference in 2011 was the tsunami.

It may have been bad in Tohoku, where the strongest shaking last night was shindo 6+. But the overall scale is much more limited. Here in south Tochigi we got a 4 yesterday; in 2011 it was 6-. They are not to be compared. Last night a couple of photo frames and other ornaments fell over; in 2011 virtually everything was on the floor, the fish tanks slopped out half their water and the piano jumped two feet away from the wall. The phones were down, the Internet was out and it took Mr Cleo two days to get home because neither trains nor buses were running. Liquefaction way down in Chiba made a mess of city pavements and the Disneyland car park. There was none of that this time, at least that I've seen reported.

And as you say, the lack of a sizeable tsunami makes all the difference.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Seeing that last night‘s earthquake happened in roughly the same area as 2011, according to an online magnitude calculator, you can imagine what 2011 felt like if you take yesterday’s quake and multiply it by 39.8.

I think that's a little misleading. It's the intensity measurement that indicates what it "feels like" at any location. It seems this was just as bad as the 2011 quake. The big difference in 2011 was the tsunami.

I hope all readers are OK. One thing I don't miss about Japan is the earthquakes.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

Those poor cup noodles...what a mess!

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

You'd think that with all the earthquakes they have in Japan people would know what to do but if you look at the videos they look a bit confused, forget to get under their desks and take videos on their phones instead!

You are mistaking confused for " now let's see is this one worth getting worried about or do I just keep going about my business".

30 years here my only move is to make sure my antique clock and a few other important things don't fall down.

After earthquake number (I don't know how many but way to many) in my first few years, I just go " oh " "is it big enough to worry? No" ok next.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Still, those were laudable efforts @MatthewHopkins 1:07pm. - Few fail to realize some so-called ‘foreigners’ here do feel we are also part of the community and do want to help all others whenever possible. Reads like you did get some practical experience that will help if and when such a situation arise again. - Best Wishes to All here. -

@Matthew Hopkins 1:07pm: “A fews ago now I was a volunteer for … and I would want to help any-one who needed it and I could not do that if I was volunteerin under the banner of the British Embassy. However it was a good set up because I got a few days training with table-top and role-play experience.” -

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Roger thatbold point you emphasized @oyatoi 12:53pm, hence the reason it was stated as such:

“…the U.S., and presumedly the other members of AUKUS presently in the area, will most likely offer and render aid

*IF ACCEPTED**.” -*

@oyatoi 12:53pm: “Sans a willingness to accept said assistance, all the offered aid in the world is meaningless.” -

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Similar situation with worried family abroad @zichi 7:27am. - When ‘Breaking News’ with specific details in the first hours were sparse overnight, family was able to read the threads here with information as it was broadcast and provided locally. - Thanks again for your continuous efforts. -

@zichi 7:27am: “Whenever there's a powerful earthquake it's broadcast by the world's media it means my relatives across the world start sending emails and text messages which need immediate responses.” -

5 ( +7 / -2 )

As with “Operation Tomadachi“ in 2011, the U.S., and presumedly the other members of AUKUS presently in the area, will most likely offer and render aid IF ACCEPTED.

Sans a willingness to accept said assistance, all the offered aid in the world is meaningless.

A United States Air Force navigator stationed at Yokota Air Base published an account in 1995 that stated that the U.S. military had monitored the distress calls (of JAL flight 123) and prepared a search-and-rescue operation that was aborted at the call of Japanese authorities. A U.S. Air Force C-130 crew was the first to spot the crash site 20 minutes after impact, while it was still daylight, and radioed the location to the Japanese and Yokota Air Base, where an Iroquois helicopter was dispatched. An article in the Pacific Stars and Stripes from 1985 stated that personnel at Yokota were on standby to help with rescue operations, but were never called by the Japanese government.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

Knew we were both cycling enthusiasts @Boaty_McB 12:33pm and had our share of ‘hit & run’s last year but, for some reason, worried you lived along the coast somewhere here. -(Must have been the username ; ) -

“Best Wishes” Everyone, stay safe, …

and ever-vigilant for ‘the other guy’.

*- @Boaty_McBoatyface 12:33pm: “Here in 恵比寿 central Tokyo it felt like the bloody house was going to fall apart. Fortunately no damage.” - *

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Back on topic please.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

@Mathew

i would get the door and unlock it just in case the house is damaged and door gets stuck. Yes, we are to stay safe throughout the quake, which is common sense. Our alarm system for quakes like the one last night would give us 10s of seconds or so to decide to stay put or make some prep to stay safer.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

Here in 恵比寿 central Tokyo it felt like the bloody house was going to fall apart. Fortunately no damage.

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Felt the first wave of vib and decided not to be out of bed... then the second wave, which was right after... and the intensity increased so i told my wife jishin and we were out of bed... still shaking and when i got the door, peeking out to the street, I could see and hear the sound of earthquake rattling things and the trees... Then it was over and we were back to sleep. That was my experience in a western ku of Tokyo.

4 ( +4 / -0 )

Several news sites report that the electricity supply for one (all?) of the cooling pools (for spent fuel rods) at Fukushima cut out and was lost for a while until it was subsequently restored in some way.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Earthquake near Fukushima sparks tsunami warning :

A latest report says a few died and scores injured after the quake.

No major destruction in lives and properties known so far this time..

Wish all will be well..

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Can’t account for another user’s ages or household demographics (or even their personal accounts of their time incarcerated) but, according to the U.K. website: https://www.tvlicensing.co.uk/check-if-you-need-one/for-your-home/aged-74-and-over-aud3

“Some over 75 households are eligible for a free TV Licence. You can get a free licence if:

You, as the licence holder, are 75 years or older - AND - you, or your partner living at the same address, receive Pension Credit.” -

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Happy to pay the NHK as well as NHK was immediately on top of it last night. And for those with ‘TV devices’ skirting Japan’s domestic fee, there were Live links with both static and scrolling information at the time:

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20220317_05/

4 ( +8 / -4 )

I hope you are paying your BBC t.v. licence.

Monthly subscription on Amazon Prime gets me BBC World. I would gladly pay the licence if it were available here.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

the mobile phone alert remained silent

The TV gave a few weird bleeps, not like the usual alerts. I was watching BBC news about Ukraine, and thought it was some kind of alert there, but then the shaking started. The phone alerts came in after that.

I switched to NHK, and the TV sent out the bleeps again for the second quake.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Currently I am waiting for update for Renesas, if they are facing any problems in there factories. That is all I care about. Please God there be no damage.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I noticed that the mobile phone alert remained silent.

And I'm glad for it. Those screaming alarms increase the stress levels in an already stressful situation. Wish they'd make them a little quieter and shorter.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

We appreciate the support from the recognized independent nation of Taiwan!

谢谢

Oops! Not Mao's Simplified Chinese, but Traditional Chinese you want:

謝謝

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

I noticed that the mobile phone alert remained silent.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

I’m very lucky. I have a pantry full of supplies for at least three weeks. Food, water, clothes, radiation related materials, gas, solar battery charger, spare 4wD car with a full tank and also boxes of emergency supplies in the back.

be prepared.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Get everything you need ready to evacuate if more earthquakes are predicted.

Have a plan and exit strategy to keep the elderly and infants safe and cared for.

More earthquakes are predicted within the next week or so.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

Slept through the first and felt the second one about 2 minutes later.

Love and support for Japan from Taiwan!

Thank you! We appreciate the support from the recognized independent nation of Taiwan!

谢谢

5 ( +10 / -5 )

@diagonalslipToday 06:53 am JST

"one dead".... sad enough, so why do 'they' feel they have to make the headline "at least...."

Well because - obviously - it takes time to establish a precise casualty count just a few hours after an event affecting millions of people.

You will note that since your post, the count has been updated to 2. Turns out the headline writer was absolutely correct to use "at least".

0 ( +3 / -3 )

The country's nuclear regulator said data shows no abnormalities with reactors and facilities at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima, though a fire alarm went off in the turbine building of the No. 5 reactor.

I'm delighted and reassured that TEPCO are reporting everything is fine.

I remember when they reported that the explosion we all saw on TV was "Steam escaping".

I'm sure we have every reason to believe them this time, when there are tens of thousands of leaking containers full of contaminated water waiting for the official sign-off to be released into the fishing waters.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

Love and support for Japan from Taiwan!

7 ( +11 / -4 )

I came from a place with the occasional earthquake, nothing major.

But I learned a few things observing family, friends and my country.

In our area growing up it was the massive River and the flood plains that were the big disaster zones for much of my more eastern family living on the east coast (most previously making a living off the sea ) it was nor'eastern's and hurricanes. That regularly wiped out their homes.

So a long time ago I decided, I cannot avoid all risks but 3 things to be safer, a well built house for the local environment, far enough in land to avoid tsunamis and the worse parts of a typhoon/ hurricanes and not built in a estuary flood zone.

I got 2 out of 3 in northern Tokyo, well built for earthquakes, far enough from the coast unfortunately just barely on the edge of a flood zone ( but there hasn't been a flood to reach this area in over 70 year and since then new water management have been built.

The thing in Tohoku responsible for most death was the tsunami in hanshin a large part was due to collapsed building that then caught fire and fires that spread without water to fight them.

If your home is in an urban area and is not clad in cement fiberboard and artificial slate roof tiles as a minimum fire resistant then time to look at upgrading.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

Very lucky that there were no injuries from the Shinkansen derailment

Not luck!

This is Japan, someone far smarter than we thought " hey earthquake and high speed trains may not end well" so the Shinkansen are designed to detail and remain upright.

I am no engineer but was told in certain cases they will deliberately derail to avoid a possibly worse situation.

0 ( +5 / -5 )

Very lucky that there were no injuries from the Shinkansen derailment!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Have they raised the tsunami wall at the Fukushima plant yet??!! A timely reminder that if it hasn't been done it should be! Don't want all that nuclear waste washing into the ocean again!

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Japan’s people wish for a peaceful world.

The world wishes peace for them in their turbulent land.

Peace to all here.

6 ( +9 / -3 )

I was relaxing with my computer and drinking my lemon tea and suddenly : ‘Ok here we go’.

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Seeing that last night‘s earthquake happened in roughly the same area as 2011, according to an online magnitude calculator, you can imagine what 2011 felt like if you take yesterday’s quake and multiply it by 39.8.

For those of you who weren’t here in 2011, you might wanna take time to think about what you would do in that situation, prepare what you would grab and where you would hide.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

That was the second biggest one I've felt, after 3/11 of course. Its earthquake season though. Lots of big quakes happen around this time, especially in Japan. People will say science doesn't back it up, but I know.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

Maybe not ‘yet’ needed @zichi, but it’s always comforting the U.S. (and Japan’s other AUKUS allies) are nearby and ready to respond to incidents in the region at a moment’s notice.

*- @zichi 7:36am: “None are required according to the lack of media reports on any severe damage. Not 2011.” -*

6 ( +10 / -4 )

First was a M6. and slightly rocked my house. 2 minutes later 7.4 and the whole house is slowly creaking and shaking and then more strongly and that really had the house swaying a lot. Goes to show you how much more of intensity the power goes up from from 6 to 7. I think I read somewhere that each point is 10 times stronger.. Flashbacks of 2011. As if there isn’t enough bad news these days…

2 ( +7 / -5 )

Fukushima really cannot get a break.

6 ( +12 / -6 )

woke up on the first smaller one, then immediately ducked when I started to hear that rumble come from a distance. I'm not used to getting earthquakes where I came from so these shakes always scare the life out of me. Hope everyone is safe!

3 ( +8 / -5 )

Warning of quakes of a similar scale for the next week or so.

I suggest you be prepared for the worst case scenario immediately.

Prepare for the worst and hope for the best .

-7 ( +8 / -15 )

There are many things I miss about living in Japan but constant earthquakes are not one of them. Glad there weren't too many injuries (this time).

6 ( +14 / -8 )

Give me quite a scare for a whole minute.Hope everyone is alright.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

"one dead".... sad enough, so why do 'they' feel they have to make the headline "at least...."

Because tragically more deaths are likely to be officially confirmed.

Stay safe and check on those emergency supplies, people!

3 ( +9 / -6 )

Yeah that was big. Where I am there was no sudden jolt like some, but a steady increase in shaking to the strongest point. Maybe not the biggest but I’d say the scariest I’ve been through.

Sad to hear of the loss of life. Take care out there today people.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

"one dead".... sad enough, so why do 'they' feel they have to make the headline "at least...."

because someone will be found crushed by furniture?

Our house felt like a bucking bronco. I shudder to think of the reawakened trauma for the Tohoku bereaved.

6 ( +15 / -9 )

I've been to Japan 9 time's and thankfully only felt one earthquake. It was a small one but it scared the ____ out of me. My wife whose Japanese slept through it. I hope everyone will recover soon from this one and my sympathy goes out the the man that passed.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

Watching the news will mean it’s difficult to sleep afterwords. Obviously. Since it’s beyond our control I suggest you avoid the news and head back to bed. Lack of good sleep will only leave you less well prepared for if/when a big one comes. Good luck.

-10 ( +11 / -21 )

The JSDF and JMSDF moved immediately.  As with “Operation Tomadachi“ in 2011, the U.S., and presumedly the other members of AUKUS presently in the area, will most likely offer and render aid if accepted..

According to the last USN update*: “the USS Ronald Reagan began a four-month selected restricted availability at Yokosuka, Japan, Jan. 13, 2022****” - 

https://www.navsea.navy.mil/Media/News/SavedNewsModule/Article/2904087/uss-reagan-begins-sra-following-5th-7th-fleet-deployments/

(*****Their present location may have changed given Russia’s current recent war on Ukraine.)

0 ( +11 / -11 )

"one dead".... sad enough, so why do 'they' feel they have to make the headline "at least...."

-25 ( +4 / -29 )

Godspeed” to the first responders we witnessed those putting themselves in harm’s way to maintain order, rescue others and restore essential services.

- “Fire departments received numerous calls requesting an emer. response, reports of many injured in the coastal city of Soma, Fukushima.

Injuries were reported in not just Miyagi & Fukushima but also Kanagawa, Ibaraki, Iwate, Akita & Yamagata prefectures,

*A Tohoku Shinkansen bullet train derailed in Miyagi, but no injuries.” -*

3 ( +16 / -13 )

Rest In Peace” for the one soul lost and “Condolences” offered to grieving family & friends.

Wishing a quick recovery for those injured and hoping some comfort can be found for the many in the region and across Japan continuing to suffer from PTSD.

- “A male resident in Soma died because of the quake, according to the municipal government.”

8 ( +19 / -11 )

May “God Bless” and keep safe the good people of Japan. - It was a fitful night with little sleep for many anxious people here watching NHK live and those monitoring from abroad as news trickled in.

2 ( +16 / -14 )

That might have been the second strongest I've ever felt.

6 ( +16 / -10 )

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