Japan Hit by Biggest Earthquake In Country's Recorded History

The magnitude 8.9 earthquake rocked Japan at around 2:46pm on March 11 (JST) causing damage with blackouts, fire and tsunami. The magnitude of 8.9 earthquake was the biggest to hit the country since record-keeping began in the 1800s. According to U.S. Geologic Survey previous record was a 8.6-magnitude earthquake that struck near the Chubu Region near southwestern Honshu on October 28, 1707, that may have killed 5,000 people. This Friday's quake with the magnitude 8.9 became the fifth strongest in the world since 1900. The epicenter of the quake was 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo, Japan. The quake triggered a tsunami that swept away everything in its path killing at least 1,000 people. A tsunami warning extended across the Pacific to North and South America, where many other coastal regions were evacuated, but the alert was later lifted in most parts, including the Philippines, Australia and China.

According to The Telegraph, the earthquake was 1,000 times more powerful than the tremor that devastated Christchurch in New Zealand last month and the world’s seventh biggest since records began. The resulted a massive tsunami of 30-foot high that swept across rice fields, engulfed entire towns, dragged houses onto highways, and tossed cars and boats like toys. Some waves reached six miles (10 kilometers) inland in Miyagi Prefecture on Japan's east coast. A dam in Fukushima Prefecture failed, washing away homes, Kyodo reported. Defense Ministry spokeswoman said 1,800 homes were destroyed or ravaged.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan declared a nuclear emergency as his trade minister admitted that a radiation leak might occur at the Fukushima power plant. The reactor’s cooling system failed after the 8.9-magnitude tremor hit the area. Due to failed cooling system, pressure inside the boiling water reactor has risen and authorities are dealing with the problem. Japan’s nuclear safety agency said that a radioactive vapor would be released to ease the pressure in the reactor but that there would be no health risk. BBC News reported that around 45,000 people were being evacuated around the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where pressure inside a boiling water reactor was reportedly considerably higher than the normal level.

Figure: Areas affected by the earthquake (Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk). Click on figure to enlarge

Photo: Sendai Airport northeastern Japan (Source: Kyodo News/Associated Press)

Photo: Sendai Airport surrounded by water (Source: Kyodo News/Associated Press)



Photo: The tsunami slams into the shoreline along Iwanuma in northern Japan (Soruce: http://www.dailymail.co.uk)

Photo: Houses, cars and other debris are washed away by tsunami tidal waves in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan (Source: The Boston Globe)

Photo: Damaged road, Joban Motorway near Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture. Photo released by Nexco East Japan  (Source: The Boston Globe)

Video: MSNBC news report

Click here to watch raw footage of the Japan earthquake and tsunami


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