8.8 Earthquake Near Japanese Coast

radioweather writes "USGS is reporting a 8.8 (was estimated first at 7.9) magnitude earthquake off of the east coast of Honshu, Japan. Details from USGS. Tsunami warning issued. Japan's Meteorological agency is saying 20-foot or higher waves are possible from a Tsunami near Miyagi prefecture."

Re:This is worst than in the movies

[Blymie]

I can't believe no one has commented on the guy in the car, turning around on the road, and trying to get away! Hope he made it. :(

A piece of forgotten history:

[ghostunit]

I hope they don't start slaughtering random foreigners like last time: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1923_Great_Kant%C5%8D_earthquake#Post-quake_massacre_against_ethnic_minorities [wikipedia.org]

Re:Not log10, 10^(11.8 + 1.5M)

[fremsley471]

The Richter scale records the amount of energy released and is obviously useful when comparing Mag 4 with Mag 8. But what it doesn't say is how it is released- long and rumbling (4 1/2 mins IIRC for this one) or shorted in a large, powerful, greater displacement.

Had this driven home in Picton, New Zealand when a Mag 4.5 gave myself and my son a headache, like a punch, but only set the lights swinging, loosening dust, in the library where we were sitting.