Japan earthquake is largest since 1900
Japan’s biggest earthquake since records began hit the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-metre tsunami that inundated everything in its path. Here is a factbox showing the 10 strongest earthquakes recorded since 1900, by order of magnitude.
How Tsunamis Happen
May 22, 1960 (Chile): An earthquake of magnitude 9.5 struck Santiago and Concepcion, triggering tidal waves and volcanic eruptions. Some 5,000 people were killed and 2 million made homeless.
March 28, 1964 (Alaska): An earthquake and ensuing tsunami killed 125 people and caused about $310 million in property loss. The magnitude 9.2 quake buffeted a large area of Alaska and parts of western Yukon Territory and British Columbia in Canada.
Dec. 26, 2004 (Indonesia): A magnitude 9.1 quake struck off the coast of Aceh province on the Indonesian island of Sumatra, setting off a tsunami that killed more than 226,000 people in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia, India and nine other countries.
Nov. 4, 1952 (Russia): An earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0 generated a tsunami that reached the Hawaiian islands. No lives were lost.
March 11, 2011 (Japan): An 8.9 magnitude quake struck Japan, causing many injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey verified the quake at a depth of 15.1 miles and located it at 81 miles east of Sendai, on the main island of Honshu.
– The Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia all issued tsunami alerts, reviving memories of the giant tsunami which struck Asia in 2004. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued alerts for countries as far away as Colombia and Peru.
Big tragedy. It’s hard to say anything. I don’t understand why while we have so much advanced technology we can’t predict such a situations?
It’s a greates misfortune in Japan. Earthquake, tsunami now troubles in nuclear plant and three patients at a hospital tested positive for radiation exposure… I can’t understand why we can’t predict and to resist such a tragedies? We are able to send man to the moon, we are able even to explore Mars, and we can’t protect ourselves on Earth? Japanese, I’m with you.
Just observing here, I don’t think people quite understand yet, the situation over in Japan is going to get much worse before it starts improving – dangerous nuclear power scenario, 20% permanent loss of electricity generation too as those stations most likely won’t be coming back online ever again… Japan’s going to very much feel these things and for a long time too.