8.2 Mag. Earthquake Hits Kuril Islands; Tsunami Warning Issued

A powerful 8.2 Mag. earthquake shook the northwestern Pacific on Saturday at around 1:30 p.m. leading to tidal changes at Japan's northeast coast. At 4:56 p.m. a wave of some 40 centimeters was observed at Chichi island of the Ogasawara chain of islands in the Pacific, the NHK public television said. The subtropical island chain is around 1,000 Kilometers south of metropolitan Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of casualty or damages.

According to a renewed tsunami warning issued at 3:28 p.m., waves as high as two meters could hit the northeastern coast of Japan's northern island of Hokkaido later in the day. Besides, a wave of around 50 centimeters will likely hit a large part of Japan's Pacific coastal areas from central Hokkaido to Wakayama prefecture in western Japan. An evacuation advisory has been issued in 22 municipalities around the region, targeting a total of some 37,000 households, Kyodo News said.

-------------------

Being originally from California, I'm used to earthquakes. But an 8.2 Mag??

Scary indeed are the Tsunami's that follow such as these...

NOMW

[edit on 1/13/2007 by NotOnMyWatch]