Japan is hit by another earthquake with an 8.9 magnitude; it is the second time within a one week-period. At 2:46 pm local time, March 11, 2011, another powerful quake hit the northern parts of Japan. According to Japan Meteorological Agency, the quake has a depth of 10 kilometers around 80 miles off the east coast. Initially, the magnitude was measured at 7.9 but quickly upgraded to 8.9.
Following the powerful earthquake, a Tsunami alert was released by the authorities. But few minutes after the warning was released, Japanese television has already reported a major tsunami striking in Onahama City in Fukushima prefecture causing cars to float in the Iwate prefecture harbor.
Japanese authorities are still assessing the extent of damage of the quake and the tsunami. But according to initial reports, the several minutes of shaking of buildings have put at least one on fire. A local broadcaster showed videos of black smoke coming from a building in Odaiba, Tokyo.
Just two days ago, Wednesday, the same region had been hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. Japan is one of the countries in the world running through the fault line. It experienced about 20% of the world’s earthquake with a magnitude of 6 or higher.
Update:
Japan‘s earthquake’s has been upgraded to 8.9 and the Japan tsunami, which is about 10 to 15 meters high, had washed away cars, small houses and things blocking its way. Tsunami warnings are issued to almost 20 countries all over the world including the US and Canada. The other countries include
Countries included in the Japan tsunami alert are are Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Russia and Taiwan.
This is a video of the Japan tsunami, uploaded by andriesradu at YouTube.
