Recent Natural Disasters

Which country suffered an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011?

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 05:25:00 +0000

Q: Which country suffered an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011?

A: Japan suffered an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami in March 2011.

The 2011 Japan earthquake was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in Japan. It is the fourth most powerful earthquake in the world.

Japanese officials confirmed 15,899 deaths and 6,157 people being injured.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) initially reported as 7.9 Mw earthquake. It was revised to 8.9, then 9.0 and finally 9.1.

Ofunato, Japan earthquake today measures 6.1 in magnitude: JMA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 10:45:00 +0000

April 19, 2020: An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 has been recorded 25 km SE of Ofunato, The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

According to the JMA, the earthquake occurred at 50 km depth.

The tremor was felt in Kamaishi, Yahaba, Furukawa, Sendai, Misawa, Koriyama, and as far as Japan's capital Tokyo.

JMA confirmed that the earthquake today near Ofunato poses no tsunami risk.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) put the quake at a magnitude of 6.3 and a depth of 38 km.

Recent Natural Disasters in Japan 2020

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 31 Dec 2019 14:28:00 +0000

This list contains all major natural disasters in Japan in 2020 with detail report.

Click for most recent natural disasters in Japan

Floods, mudslides in Japan kill 10

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 13:52:00 +0000

October 26, 2019: Floods and mudslides caused by heavy rainfall have claimed lives of at least 10 people in Japan.

Nine people died in Chiba and one dies in Fukushima.

Few weeks earlier, Typhoon Hagbis in Japan left almost 80 dead and caused widespread damage. Typhoon Hagibis is the most devastating typhoon to hit the Kantō region of Japan since Typhoon Ida in 1958.

Main Post: Recent Natural Disasters List October 26, 2019

JAPAN: Magnitude 3.6 earthquake felt in Kyoto today

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 26 Oct 2019 13:29:00 +0000

October 26, 2019: Magnitude 3.6 light earthquake has been recorded in Kyoto today, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

According to the JMA, the earthquake occurred at 09:35 pm JST with epicenter in Kyoto-fu Nambu region.

The earthquake occurred at 10 km depth.

JMA seismicity 2 has been felt in Kyoto Nakagyo-ku and Kameoka-shi. The tremor was felt in Kyoto, Shiga, Osaka and Hyogo prefecture.

Original Post: Recent Natural Disasters List October 26, 2019

Typhoon Hagibis kills 72, leaves 14 others missing

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 15:22:00 +0000

October 15, 2019: Landslides and floods caused by a powerful typhoon Hagibis has claimed lives of 72 people and left 14 others missing in Japan.

On 12 October, Hagibis made landfall at Izu Peninsula as a Category 2–equivalent typhoon. Hagibis caused widespread damage across Japan, particularly in the Kantō region.

According to The Guardian, the evacuation orders have been issued to more than 800,000 households across 11 prefectures in Japan.

The typhoon touched down southwest of Tokyo on Saturday. An earthquake of magnitude 5.7 shook the area shortly before the same time as the typhoon was making landfall. The earthquake was felt across Tokyo and Chiba.

Also for the first time in the history of the Rugby World Cup, the match has been cancelled. Two matches of the 2019 Rugby World Cup have been cancelled i.e. the Pool B match between New Zealand and Italy, and the Pool C match between England and France.

The sky turned in deep purple colour in Japan surprising the locals, just before the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis.

US President Donald Trump approved an emergency declaration for Guam and the Mariana Islands ahead of Hagibis.

Typhoon Hagibis is the most devastating typhoon to hit the Kantō region of Japan since Typhoon Ida in 1958.

Main Post: Recent Natural Disasters List October 15, 2019

Typhoon Hagibis causes purple sky in Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 07:21:00 +0000

Just before Typhoon Hagibis hit Japan, the sky turned a deep purple (@newscomauHQ/Twitter)

October 13, 2019: The sky turned in deep purple colour in Japan surprising the locals, just before the arrival of Typhoon Hagibis.

The social medias have been flooded with the images of the bright purple and pink sky mentioning it as a "strange phenomenon.".

However the purple sky isn't uncommon. It has occurred several times in the U.S. following major hurricanes.

"The light was scattered around the moisture in the air, causing the magical purple color," CBS News reported quoting meteorologist Lauren Rautenkranz.

Typhoon Hagibis has brought heavy rain and strong winds to the region and is expected to be Japan's worst typhoon in six decades.

The level five warnings has been issued with the possibility that Typhoon Hagibis could bring unprecedented rainfall causing major disaster, including flooding and landslides.

Magnitude 4.5 earthquake in Hakuba today: JMA

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 14:22:00 +0000

February 19, 2019: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 has been recorded in Hakuba, just outside the city of Nagano today, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

The earthquake occurred at 21:04 JST with epicenter located 10km below the surface.

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has measured seismic intensity of 3 in Nagano-ken Hokubu region. According to JMA, seismic activity of 3 would have been felt in Nagano-shi, Omachi-shi, Matsukawa-mura and Ogawa-mura area.

This earthquake poses no tsunami risk.

Original Post: Recent Natural Disasters List February 19, 2019

Avalanche in Japan kills 8, injures 40 others

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 29 Mar 2017 14:00:00 +0000

March 28, 2017: An avalanche in ski slopes in Japan has claimed lives of at least seven high school students and a teacher.

The avalanche occurred early on Monday near Nasu in Tochigi prefecture, 120km (75 miles) north of Tokyo.

The victims were part of a 70-strong group from several schools who were taking part in a three-day mountaineering expedition near the Nasu Onsen resort.

The region had received heavy snow over the past two days and avalanche warnings had been in effect, BBC reported.

M7.3 Japan earthquake strikes off Fukushima, triggers tsunami

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 03:21:00 +0000

November 22, 2016: A tsunami has been detected after magnitude 7.3 hit off the coast of Fukushima Prefecture at a depth of about 10 kilometers.

According to the Japan Meteorological Service (JMA), the earthquake struck on Tuesday morning at about 06:00 local time (21:00 GMT Monday).

The earthquake triggered a tsunami of up to 1.4 meters around Sendai, about 70 kilometers north of Fukushima, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The earthquake even briefly disrupted the cooling functions at a nuclear plant, the same region devastated by a massive quake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in 2011.

According to the Kyodo News, one woman suffered cut to her head from falling dishes.

JAPAN: Massive sinkhole near Fukuoka's Hakata Station swallows five-lane street

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 11 Nov 2016 04:21:00 +0000

Sinkhole near Fukuoka's Hakata Station, Japan (The Japan Today)

November 8, 2016: A massive sinkhole swallowed a five-lane street near Fukuoka's Hakata Station on Tuesday morning.

The sinkhole occurred around 05:00 local time near Hakata Station, the busiest in Fukuoka city in the southern island of Kyushu.

The sinkhole an intersection near JR Hakata Station measured around 30 meters long, 27 meters wide and 15 meters deep.

The sink didn't cause serious injuries but disrupted power, water, gas and transport links in the area.

Related Post: Camera catches giant sinkhole in China

The online systems of the Bank of Fukuoka was disrupted by the accident. Similarly, Fukuoka airport also temporarily experienced blackouts, forcing ticket machines to stop working briefly.

"The sinkhole was likely caused by water flowing into tunnels at the site," The Japan Today has written quoting City officials as saying.

M6.6 earthquake today in Tottori, Japan injures 17

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Oct 2016 17:18:00 +0000

This aerial photo taken by Kyodo News helicopter shows broken grave markers
and collapsed walls at a cemetery in Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture

October 21, 2016: A very strong earthquake of magnitude 6.6 rattled Kurayoshi, Tottori Prefecture of western Japan at 2:07 p.m. Friday afternoon.

At least seventeen people have been injured. Injuries have been reported from Tottori Prefecture, Okayama, Hyogo and neighboring prefectures, Kyodo News reported quoting the Fire and Disaster Management Agency and prefectural governments.

The tremor was well felt in Yonago, Tsuyama, Izumo, Toyooka, Hiroshima-shi, Osaka-shi, Kobe-shi and Kyoto.

Around 77,000 households in Tottori and Okayama prefectures were temporarily left without power.

West Japan Railway Company also temporarily suspended all services on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line between Shin-Osaka and Hakata stations.

No tsunami warning was issued.

Landslides, floods in Japan kill 3

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 02:05:00 +0000

Landslides and floods in southern Japan have claimed lives of three people and left three others missing.

A 92-year-old man died after a landslide hit his house in Kamiamakusa city, Yahoo News reported quoting a local disaster management official. Another 79-year-old man drowned in a flooded ditch in the town of Kosa.

Third person died in a landslide in Uto city.

Nearly 2,000 residents have also been evacuated from their homes in the southern prefecture of Kumamoto, the area recently battered by two major earthquakes.

The weather agency has issued more heavy rain and thunderstorm warnings for Kumamoto and surrounding areas on Kyushu island.

Kumamoto, Japan Earthquakes 2016: At least 44 killed, 3,000 injured

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 20 Apr 2016 15:15:00 +0000

A series of earthquakes in Kumamoto city of Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu region of Japan have claimed lives of at least 44 people and injured about 3,000 people.

On April 14, 2016, magnitude 6.2 foreshock rattled the region. Two days later, magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck the Kumamoto City.

At 01:25 JST on April 16, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake under Higashi Ward of Kumamoto City in the Kyushu Region in southwest Japan.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred as the result of strike-slip faulting at shallow depth.

Snowstorm in Hokkaido kills one, dozens injured

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 14:07:00 +0000

Recent snowstorm has claimed life of a person in Obihiro city in Hokkaido region of Japan.

On Tuesday, at least 19 people were injured in traffic accidents in Hokkaido caused by low visibility amid the heavy snowfall.

Hokkaido is expected to brace for its worst blizzard in years on Tuesday, and airlines and railways halted some operations, The Japan Times reported quoting The Meteorological Agency.

All trains between Wakkanai and Horonobe were halted throughout the day on Monday.

Sakurajima volcano eruption in Japan prompts orange warning

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 13:52:00 +0000

Sakurajima volcano in southern Japan erupted Friday evening prompting officials to issue an orange warning.

According to Japanese medias, an orange burst spread out of the side of the volcano, near the summit, accompanied by lightning-like flashes around 7 pm Friday evening.

Volcanic smoke and ashes rose 2 kilometers into the air and rockfalls spewing out of the crater are expected within the 2-kilometer zone from the crater, Japan Today reported.

There were no immediate reports of injuries. Sakurajima volcanic eruption in 2013 saw it's tallest ash plume since records began in 1955.

Historical snowstorm in Japan kills 5, injures more than 100

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 Jan 2016 05:33:00 +0000

Historical snowfall in western and central areas of the Japan has claimed lives of at least five people and injured more than 100 people.

Fatalities are from Aomori, Tochigi and Niigata Prefectures.

Severe weather caused cancellation of many flights and West Japan Railway Co to reduce the speed of bullet trains on sections of the Sanyo Shinkansen lines, Japan Today reported.

Amami Island, located some 380 kilometers southwest of Kagoshima City, received snowfall for the first time in 115 years.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA), snow fell as far southwest as Nagasaki and Kagoshima Prefecture

The weather agency has forecast severe weather to continue through Monday morning in western Japan and the Hokuriku region on the Sea of Japan coast.

Mount Aso volcano erupts in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 07 Dec 2015 09:13:00 +0000

Mount Aso volcano erupted in Japan`s Kumamoto prefecture on Monday, Japan's Meteorological Agency (JMA) said.

According to JMA, the latest eruption at Mount Aso send plumes of smoke about 700 meters above the No. 1 crater of Mt. Nakadake.

The eruption was small, JMA added.

Tropical storm Nangka kills 2, injures 38 in Japan — 550,000 told to flee

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 11:06:00 +0000

Weather Warnings/Advisories issued by Japan Meteorological Agency at 19:51 JST

A powerful tropical storm Nangka has claimed lives of at least two people and injured 38 in Japan. Evacuation orders and recommendations issued to some 555,000 people, The Japan Times reported.

A 71-year-old man was found dead on Thursday in Awaji island, Hyogo Prefecture. Another 85-year-old man was also found dead Thursday night in Shiso, in Hyogo Prefecture.

Tropical storm Nangka made landfall near Cape Muroto on Shikoku island late Thursday with packing gusts up to 126 kilometers per hour. According to The Weather Channel, Nangka was the equivalent of a Category 1 tropical cyclone on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale at landfall.

About seven hours later, Nangka made a second landfall after crossing the Seto Inland Sea separating Shikoku from Japan's largest island, Honshu.

The Fire and Disaster Management Agency said that 11 houses were damaged and 55 were flooded.

Kansai International Airport has cancelled at least 48 domestic and international flights while All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines together have aborted 31 flights at Itami airport in Osaka.

The weather agency has issued warnings for floods, gale-force winds, landslides and high waves in southern Japan.

Recommended post: Typhoon Halong kills 10 in Japan

Japan earthquake today measuring 8.5 magnitude strikes near Ogasawara islands

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 May 2015 15:12:00 +0000

An earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 struck near the Ogasawara islands at 8:24 p.m. Saturday, Japan Meteorology Agency (JMA) reported.

The earthquake shook buildings in Tokyo and temporary closed both runways at Narita Airport. According to NHK, train service between Tokyo and Osaka was halted due to a power outage.

The U.S. Geological Survey downgraded the magnitude to 7.8 with epicenter located 189 km WNW of Chichi-shima.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Japan earthquake today occurred as the result of oblique-normal faulting at a depth of over 660 km beneath the Pacific Ocean. This earthquake occurred in response to stresses generated by the slow distortion of the Pacific plate at depth, rather than occurring on the interface between the Pacific plate and the overriding Philippine Sea plate.

The earthquake had maximum intensity of 5 in the Ogasawaras. A tsunami warning has not been issued. The earthquake was so deep, the aftermath may be limited, The Huffington Post mentioned.

There were no immediate reports of significant damage or injuries, though the Tokyo Fire Department had received calls of people suffering injuries through falls, The Japan Today reported quoting the NHK national television.

Magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the Pacific coast of Tohoku in 2011 had triggered powerful tsunami waves killing more than 15,000 people.

11:24 UTC (local time: 20:24; 2015-05-30 @ epicenter)

Epicenter Location

189 km (117mi) WNW of Chichi-shima, Japan

771 km (479mi) SSE of Shimoda, Japan

781 km (485mi) SSE of Oyama, Japan

783 km (487mi) SE of Shingu, Japan

874 km (543mi) S of Tokyo, Japan

Recommended post: Mount Shindake volcanic eruption prompts highest alert in Japan

Mount Shindake volcano eruption 2015: Japan issues highest alert

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 29 May 2015 03:50:00 +0000

The Japan Meteorological Agency has raised the volcanic alert level of Mount Shindake to Level 5 - the top of its five-point warning system, issuing an evacuation directive.

Around 80 residents have been taken refuge in a shelter on the island, Japan Today has written quoting the national broadcaster NHK.

NHK TV footage shows an explosive eruption on Mount Shindake (via The Japan News)

The Japan Meteorological Agency has captured the plume spewed into the air from Mount Shindake, on the far southern island of Kuchinoerabu.

According to The Guardian, Mount Shindake erupted about 10am (01:00 GMT) leading authorities to order residents to evacuate the island.

Mount Shindake volcano in Kagoshima Prefecture erupted for the first eruption in 34 years last August.

Saitama earthquake rattles Tokyo – Briefly closes subways, airport

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 25 May 2015 06:34:00 +0000

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.6 hit Saitama-ken Hokubu region, Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported.

According to JMA, the earthquake had an intensity of 4 in parts Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo and Kanagawa. Earthquake intensity of 3 was felt in parts of Fukushima, Yamanashi, Nagano and Shizuoka. It was 31.06 miles deep.

Buildings shook briefly in Tokyo and smartphone alerts could be heard going off in offices, Japan Today reported. According to USGS, Tokyo is located about 34 km far from the epicenter.

Earthquake briefly halted the subway trains and temporarily closed Narita Airport’s runways.

No damage or injuries have been reported.

05:28 UTC (local time: 14:28; 2015-05-25@ epicenter)

Epicenter Location
2 km (1mi) NNW of Hasuda, Japan
3 km (2mi) SW of Shiraoka, Japan
5 km (3mi) ENE of Ageo, Japan
7 km (4mi) NW of Iwatsuki, Japan
34 km (21mi) N of Tokyo, Japan

In collaboration with earthquake-report.com

Fear of volcanic eruption looms over Japan's Mount Zaosan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 18:53:00 +0000

The Japan Meteorological Agency fears of Mount Zaosan volcanic eruption following several volcanic activities observed recently.

An alert for a possible eruption of Mount Zaosan was issued on April 13. The climbers are urged not to enter a 1.2-kilometer area from the crater area due to the possibility of large rocks being ejected in an eruption, The Asahi Shimbun reported.

Since the start of this month, around 184 tremors have been recorded at the Mount Zaosan, the report mentioned quoting the agency's Sendai Regional Headquarters.

The epicenter of most of the volcanic tremors is believed to be located near Okama, a crater lake.

Mount Zaosan is a complex volcano on the border between Yamagata Prefecture and Miyagi Prefecture in Japan.

Tsunami observed as 2011 aftershock hits Japan

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:33:00 +0000

A tsunami has been observed as earthquakes with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 and 5.7 struck the Pacific off northeastern Japan on Tuesday.

"A 20-centimeter wave was observed at Kuji port in Iwate roughly an hour later and a 10-cm wave in Miyako," the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said as quoted by the Kyodo News Agency.

According to JMA, an earthquake with magnitude 6.9 struck at 8:06 am in the Pacific Ocean about 210 kilometers east of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, at a depth of around 10 km and registered 4 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of 7 in parts of Aomori, Iwate, Miyagi and Akita prefectures.

"Japan's public broadcaster NHK showed live video footage which showed strong shaking in Aomori prefecture, some 700 kilometers (430 miles) north of Tokyo," Reuters has written.

Evacuation orders were issued for residents in coastal districts of Kuji and the town of Otsuchi, and evacuation advisories for the cities of Ofunato and Rikuzentakata as well as Kamaishi.

Residents of Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, take shelter in the gymnasium of a primary school Tuesday
morning following the tremor. Sirens sounded and people fled low-lying areas (Reuters/KYODO)

"The quake was believed to be an aftershock of the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011," the meteorological agency said as quoted by The Japan Times.

According to the Japanese government, about 1.5 million tons of debris was floating in the ocean immediately after the Tsunami disaster. Japanese fishing boat washed by 2011 tsunami was confirmed as the first piece of debris to reach the coast of California.

A minor tsunami of 20 centimetres was observed in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, and Ofunato, Iwate prefecture of Japan after magnitude 6.8 earthquake in July 2014.

The same region was hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami on March 11th 2011. The earthquake claimed lives of 15,889 people and moved Honshu Island 2.4 m east. Japan accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

23:06 UTC (local time 2015-02-17 04:51 @ epicenter)

Epicenter Location (By USGS)
83 km (52mi) ENE of Miyako, Japan
90 km (56mi) ENE of Yamada, Japan
99 km (62mi) ENE of Otsuchi, Japan
106 km (66mi) NE of Kamaishi, Japan
538 km (334mi) NNE of Tokyo, Japan

In collaboration with earthquake-report.com

Japan avalanches claim four including 2 Argentine nationals

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 15:12:00 +0000

A series of avalanches over the weekend in Nagano and Niigata prefectures of Japan have claimed lives of four people.

An avalanche Sunday at Ryuoo Ski Park in Yamanouchi, Nagano Prefecture, killed two Argentine nationals. The 30-meter-wide, 200-meter-long avalanche started when the two Argentines skied off the prepared slope, The Japan Times has written quoting the Nagano Prefectural Police.

Yesterday, a body was found buried in snow near a ski slope at Akakura Kanko Resort Ski in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture.

On Saturday, two snowboarders were hit by an avalanche at Mount Awadachi. They were found by the police and airlifted to a hospital. But one of them from the city of Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, was confirmed dead.

At least three people have been still missing in the Northern Alps.

Photo via Japan Times: Rescue workers arrive Sunday at the site of the avalanche on Mount Awadachi in Myoko, Niigata Prefecture. | NAGANO PREFECTURAL AIR RESCUE TEAM/KYODO

Related Post: Japan Natural Disasters 2015