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Lister100 · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 106

Earthquake just happened anyone know how big it was?

Lister100 · Joined: 26 Aug 2004 Posts: 106

For anyone thats interested I heard the earthquake at its core was a 7 and the city felt it as a 6 on the rictor scale.

It was pretty crazy. I live close sort of to an airport and I thought at first a plane had crashed or something until it kept on going and the vibrations got stronger. Teach me to ignore my alarm clock in the morning that got me out of bed in a hurry.

Also downtown there's broken glass everywhere and the streets are all cracked up. However, I know this information mostly from news reports.

Celeste · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 4:32 am Post subject:

I'm okay. Spectacular floor bucking. I was putting the kettle on and talking to my mom on the phone when it happened. I stepeed into the Genkan and avoided the falling crap in my kitchen. My husband had a private student over and she was pretty freaked out. (As I glanced into the living room, she was grabbing on to my husband's shirt and screaming) We got out of the building after the shaking stoopped and there are a few cracks in the walls but it wuld appear there is no structural damage. Someone is currently trapped in the elevator of my building and the fire department is here trying to get them out, but other than that things are fine. I have a mess to clean up in my kitchen, but that I can live with. (My fridge and cupboards opened and emptied some of their contents onto the floor). I have experienced small earthquakes before, but this was stunning.

wintersweet · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 7:25 am Post subject:

begin quote:
-----
2005/03/20 01:53 M 6.4 KYUSHU, JAPAN Z= 10km 33.85N 129.98E

This information is provided by the USGS
National Earthquake Information Center.
(Address problems to: [email protected])

These parameters are preliminary and subject to revision.

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake IN KYUSHU, JAPAN has occurred at:
33.85N 129.98E Depth 10km Sun Mar 20 01:53:42 2005 UTC

Time: Universal Time (UTC) Sun Mar 20 01:53:42 2005
Time Near Epicenter Sun Mar 20 10:53:42 2005

Location with respect to nearby cities:
40 km (25 miles) WNW of Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan (pop 1,284,000)
115 km (70 miles) N of Nagasaki, Kyushu, Japan (pop 438,000)
130 km (80 miles) NNW of Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan (pop 650,000)
915 km (570 miles) W of TOKYO, Japan

For maps, additional information, and subsequent updates,
please consult: http://earthquake.usgs.gov/

Flinn-Engdahl Region Number = 235

For the most significant earthquakes, information may also be
available from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program home page at
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ and the USGS home page at
http://www.usgs.gov/ .
----
end quote

(If, like me, you are slightly obsessed, you can also sign up to get e-mail every time there is a significant earthquake anywhere on the planet--and yes, this qualified.)

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

From the TV shots of those houses crushed on the island, it seemed to have done a bit of damage...

...amazing no one was killed, if my tv is correct that is.

Synne · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Posts: 269 Location: Tohoku

Oh, EDIT*

*one dead now confirmed by my TV.

Celeste · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 9:40 am Post subject:

The school on that island is one that my husband goes to regularly. It was pretty stunning to see that footage of the homes there.

QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

Be really careful! With a quake that size, the possibility of large aftershocks is very high.

Good luck with the cleaning and stay safe!

QS42

worlddiva · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:47 pm Post subject:

so I was in Kochi when the earthquake hit, while I was having my morning coffee...around 11:15am

The entire building shifted to the left and to the right and kept going for what seemed like 10 minutes but was maybe only 4-5 minutes, apparently it was only 2 on the scale but it was strong enough for me. The odd thing was that I didn't expect it to be in slow motion....

The coffee in my mug waved to the rim of the cup but didn't spill outward...

This was a totally new experience for me...a little scary, I can only imagine what it must have felt like in Fukuoka...

Is everyone ok?

worlddiva · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 5:51 pm Post subject:

what are you supposed to do in the event of an earthquake anyways?

(I wish they would have discussed that with us in training)

DoctorPayne · Posted: Sun Mar 20, 2005 8:01 pm Post subject:

Were there two earthquakes? First I heard about the one in Fukuoka, now I'm hearing of one offshore near Tokyo....

Albright · Joined: 01 Nov 2004 Posts: 39

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I'm glad you folks are OK. Anyone else down in that area?

I've lived through quite a few--several in California and then most recently the Niigata quake. As long as they're not serious, I don't mind them--it's kinda neat to experience the natural world in action. The problem is there's no way to know how serious they are until they're over!

As to what to do--during the Niigata quake I just went outside and waited. Not a good idea in a crowded area full of highrises, trees, etc. but in my little town it was fine.

d

QueenSerenity42 · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 35

Actually, running outside is a BAD idea unless you're somewhat in the middle of nowhere or surrounded by only one-story buildings. If you're outside, you can (and often will) be hit by debris being shaken from buildings, particularly walls and broken glass.

This broken glass problem is ESPECIALLY dangerous if you're in an area with high-rises. All it takes is one falling chunk of plate glass and you're bloody history.

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish