As if our world needs any more disasters after the Haiti earthquake, it seems that there was a massive earthquake in Okinawa, Japan today. The epicenter is the Ryukyu Islands, about 50 miles off Naha, in Okinawa. Check out the USGS information.
February 26, 2010: Massive Earthquake Strikes Near Okinawa, Japan
Here’s the story from CNN:
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan’s Ryukyu Islands early Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
The quake was centered about 6 miles (10 km) deep and struck at 5:31 a.m. about 53 miles (85 km) from Okinawa.
From @BreakingNews on Twitter:
First tsunami waves expected on Okinawa Island about 4:05 p.m. ET – NHK
From Breitbart:
TOKYO, Feb. 27 (AP) – (Kyodo)—A strong earthquake jolted Okinawa Prefecture early Saturday morning, the Japan weather agency said.The 5:33 a.m. quake registered lower 5 on the Japanese intensify scale of 7.
The Meteorological Agency issued tsunami warning off the main Okinawa island.
From the BBC:
A tsunami alert has been issued in Japan after a powerful earthquake struck near the Okinawan coast.
The Japan Meteorological Agency gave the strength as 6.9 while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.3.
It struck at 0531 (2031 GMT), 84km (52 miles) east of Naha, on the island of Okinawa, 29km (18 miles) below the seabed, Reuters news agency reports.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage in the country, which is often hit by earthquakes.
In 1995, a magnitude-7.2 quake in the port city of Kobe killed 6,400 people.
Mag-7.3 Earthquake Hits Near Okinawa, Japan
From MSNBC:
A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck off southern Japan early Saturday, and Okinawa’s seashore was evacuated after Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami warning.The Japanese agency predicted 3-foot waves following the quake, which hit just east of Okinawa and Ryukyu, south of Japan’s main islands. Tsunami waves also were expected on the islands of Amami and Tokaro.
There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties, and the Tsunami Warning Center in Oahu said waves generated by the earthquake were not expected to be destructive.
Update: @BreakingNews First tsunami waves minor; warnings lifted for all but Okinawa; advisory in effect for several islands
February 26, 2010 at 3:25 pm
This isn’t a natural disaster. I’m in Okinawa. No buildings collapsed. No one was hurt. Save your analysis until the facts are reported. Just because there was a 7.0 centered 50 miles away doesn’t mean its a big story.
February 26, 2010 at 7:04 pm
Yeah I agree with Nate. I’m stationed on Oki too, and there is no reported damage. It was pretty crazy waking up at 5 am though and everything was shaking like mad around us.
February 26, 2010 at 8:12 pm
Sensationalism at its finest…My daughter even slept through it.
February 26, 2010 at 11:46 pm
i totally agree. i would’ve slept through it, but the wife woke me up freakin out lol. it was my first earthquake experience though. it wasn’t that bad. would’ve been worse if it the actual island though
February 28, 2010 at 2:51 am
HELLO TO YOU IN OKINAWA, I WAS HAPPY TO READ ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE (FIRST HAND) HAPPENINGS! MY KIDS WERE EVACUATED FROM THEIR HOUSE ON CAMP LESTER TO THE NAVAL HOSP ON LESTER, BECAUSE OF THE TSUNAMI WARNINGS. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE TSUNAMI IS HAPPENING. I AM WORRIED ABOUT MY KIDS SAFETY. DO YOU THINK THEY ARE OKAY? I DON’T THINK THEY TOOK THEIR COMPUTER AND THERE’S NO PHONE SERVICE AND THE RED CROSS 800 NUMBERS ARE ALL BUSY. WOULD YOU DROP ME A LINE. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE.
IN APPRECIATION, JANICE
February 28, 2010 at 2:49 pm
my son is station in Okinawa. hope he is OK. i just want to know if everything is ok and nothing big happen like no death or anything.
September 28, 2010 at 4:27 am
i hope every1 was ok throo the happenings
March 11, 2011 at 7:26 am
Can anyone report about damage at Kadena AB?
March 13, 2011 at 11:54 am
I lived in Oki when it happened. I lived on Kadena. It wasn’t that big. I woke up at my friends house and she woke up too. Her mom came in saying to get in the hallway. Her mom was calling her son to come out. When he finally came out he said he thought his mom was shaking his bed. It wasn’t bad at all.
March 18, 2011 at 9:54 pm
gOD HAD MERCY ON OKINAWA. MY COUSIN AND HER MARINE HUBBY THEWERE W THREE GIRLS. I’M THNKFUL THEY ARE FINE.jOHN3:16
April 7, 2011 at 12:03 pm
many are seeking to serve their fellow humans. but he who serves themself first will be served last if at all.God’s mercy above mine be as He sees fit.
July 15, 2011 at 11:25 pm
im from the us. but i keep close contacts on earthquakes. from my info nothing bad really happen. so those people thats wondering about their love ones. i believe no one was hurt and no real flood. hope this helped. im always on top of these things for all of us. god bless.