A magnitude 7.3 earthquake has struck the Fukushima region of Japan, U.S. officials say.
The quake is much smaller than the 9.0 monster that hit the region in 2011 – but it still poses grave danger to the east coast of Japan in the form of a possible tsunami.
It also threatens the already crippled Fukushima nuclear site – which experienced multiple meltdowns in the wake of the 2011 quake and subsequent tsunami that claimed the lives of 19,000 people.
The quake struck at 2:11 p.m. Its epicenter was 311 miles east-northeast of Tokyo at a depth of ten kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Developing …
UPDATE: Good news. The quake has since been downgraded to a 7.1 magnitude and tsunami warnings for the coast of Japan have been lifted by the Japan Meteorological Agency. Apparently none of the waves spawned by the earthquake topped three feet. Perhaps more importantly, the quake does not appear to have caused any additional damage at the Fukushima-Daichi nuclear power plant, the site of the massive 2011 meltdown.
12 comments
If it’s a godzilla type situation, we could send Lee Bright out there. He’s big enough. He can also shoot lasers from his crazy eyes.
http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2877/10458503846_31d703f78b_o.jpg
Japan can’t seem to catch a break.
Japan hell, they’re just getting us back. The difference is we are all going to die a slow, painful death at their hands. They’re probably thinking serves you right, motherfuckers.
How soon until California slides into the Pacific?
Actually, the prediction is that the eastern third of the “Big Island” of Hawaii (Kilauea is the split line) will slide into the ocean, and a 200 foot high tsunami will drown the entire left coast of US.
I’m going to go to Arizona, set up a lawn chair and wait.
You sly dog… you’re just trying to get some ocean front property.
Arizona Bay… Bill Hicks, anyone?
Anything we can do to get it moving?
There is a theory making the rounds among geologists that tsunamis are caused by landslides – either above or below the water. If that’s true, then it will take more than a 9.1 or another 10 years of silting before an earthquake can prompt a tsunami originating from the Fukushima region. Soooooooo… what are YOU wearing for Hallowe’en? I’m going as Greg Gutfeld.
Must be an increase in homosexual activity.
Where does this information and monitoring come from? Oh…I almost forgot from all those unnecessary government workers at the USGS and other agencies. Why did FITS not use this piece to call for them all to be fired?