Japan hit by 8.9 Earthquake.

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**dogma**

This won't end well.

**Drk_Oblitr8r**

For those unable to read it otherwise..

A massive earthquake has hit the north-east of Japan, triggering a tsunami that has caused extensive damage.

Japanese television showed cars, ships and even buildings being swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9 magnitude earthquake.

The quake has sparked fires in several areas including Tokyo, and numerous casualties are feared.

It struck about 250 miles (400km) from the capital at a depth of 20 miles. There have been powerful aftershocks.

The tremor at 1446 local time (0546 GMT). Seismologists say it is one of the largest earthquakes to hit Japan for many years.

The tsunami warning was extended to the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Pacific coast of Russia and Hawaii.
Map of Japan

Tsunami waves hit Japan's Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, officials said.

Japan's NHK television showed a massive surge of debris-filled water sweeping away buildings, cars and ships and reaching far inland.

The earthquake also triggered a number of fires, including one at an oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo.

There were reports of about 20 people injured in Tokyo after the roof of a hall collapsed onto a graduation ceremony.

Bullet train service to northern Japan was halted, rapid transit in Tokyo was suspended and some nuclear power plants automatically shut down.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said there had been no radiation leaks.

**Bakerofish**

yikes thanks for the heads up

tsunami warnings are up on our side

**Mansta**

Thoughts go out to our fellow Wargaming brothers and their families, indeed all those affected by this tragedy.

**SilverMK2**

At least a lot of Japan is built to withstand this kind of stuff.

Just hope that everywhere else under threat has enough time to prepare.

**reds8n**

Best wishes and thoughts to all concerned or affected.

Terrible few months in the Southern hempishere for things like this.

**GazzyG**

Been watching BBC news.

Absolutely awful, I bet the total loss of life is gonna be pretty huge.

**Emperors Faithful**

I'm surprised TBH, from the sort of damage I'm seeing and the magnitude of the volcano a loss of 15 people seems very fortunate. Hopefully the count won't get larger, and that no Dakkanaughts or their family are affected.

**lord_blackfang**

This better count for Craig's prediction, I'd rather not see anything even worse happen this year.

**Albatross**

Woah, hope Kid_Kyoto is OK + any people who Kilkrazy may know...

Bad times.

**Morathi's Darkest Sin**

Watching Sky News earlier, and that wave of water they where following was almost surreal. Seeing folks cars stop just before getting dragged away, there's no way they could have got out. Really shocking stuff to see.

I have to say my thoughts and hopes go out to those in the region, I will be thinking of them today.

**Ahtman**

Albatross wrote:Woah, hope Kid_Kyoto is OK + any people who Kilkrazy may know...

Bad times.

+1

I found out about it becuase I was talking to a friend in Hawaii and he had to cut the conversation short as they were getting a tsunami warning.

**Khornholio**

1000s will be dead. More missing. People are freaking out. This is the largest recorded Earthquake in Japanese history. I just saw a ship get sucked into a whirlpool on TV. A ship with who knows how many guys on it. There have been multiple Earthquakes since this afternoon. The first one of this series was actually on Wednesday before lunch. There is a gas plant fire raging about 50 km from here. Power is out on the other side of Chiba. A lot of sh!t has been put into perspective today.

**Albatross**

Well, stay safe man.

**AvatarForm**

Indeed. Best wishes and hopes to all those affected, in Japan and surrounding localities.

**Kilkrazy**

I've been ringing the relatives in Tokyo, who are all fine.

The city seems to be more or less closed down. No trains running, roads all blocked with traffic. It's hard to get a connection by phone.

Young Miss Kilkrazy had to be collected from school by her aunt and will spend the night with her.

The epicentre of the quake was 250 miles away to the north-east so I can only image things are much worse along the cost north of Tokyo.

**Chibi Bodge-Battle**

Only just heard the terrible news.
Glad your family are safe KK
Just hope the same for all our Dakkafriends in Japan and thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
From what you guys are describing am glad I don't have a telly. Just awful.

**Viktor von Domm**

just saw a footage on webtv.... this looks terrible and since japan is more crowded this will wreck lots of havoc there...
i hope that the world will have soon the time to get to the needed for help...

**MeanGreenStompa**

Thoughts and hopes are with the people there and with people with people there.

**Frazzled**

Condolences and stay safe.

**dogma**

Khornholio wrote:This is the largest recorded Earthquake in Japanese history.

Its also the 7th largest earthquake in recorded history at magnitude 8.9.

As a matter of reference, the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake that caused the infamous tsunami of that year was of magnitude 9.1.

**Chowderhead**

Just to give people an idea of what Japan is going through right now, this is a video from an airport 200 miles outside of Tokyo:

My prayers are with all of you.

**AesSedai**

Hey guys,

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers. Tokyo was lucky. Official death toll at 44 currently. Miyagi prefecture is expecting further tsunamis. It was a humbling experience.

**biccat**

SilverMK2 wrote:At least a lot of Japan is built to withstand this kind of stuff.

Just hope that everywhere else under threat has enough time to prepare.

If they can withstand the monster attacks every 3-4 months, they certainly can survive this.

Definately keeping the people of Japan in my prayers, fortunately it looks like the death toll isn't going to be too high (contra India). Thank goodness for early warning systems.

**AesSedai**

The early warning systems gave those in Miyagi about 30 seconds to prepare. Personally, I'm saving my thanks for the engineers. My house was sliding back and forth intensely but no real damage.

**WARBOSS TZOO**

...feth.

Are there more and more natural disasters as time goes on or are the ones we have now just better publicised?

**AvatarForm**

biccat wrote:
SilverMK2 wrote:At least a lot of Japan is built to withstand this kind of stuff.

Just hope that everywhere else under threat has enough time to prepare.

If they can withstand the monster attacks every 3-4 months, they certainly can survive this.

Definately keeping the people of Japan in my prayers, fortunately it looks like the death toll isn't going to be too high (contra India). Thank goodness for early warning systems.

Poor taste mate.

**Stormrider**

Wow, 8.9, the Red Cross is going to be getting a check from me soon.

**Khornholio**

It is now snowing in the worst affected area. The TV was stuck on some poor sod sitting in his car flashing his headlights on his car and turning his wipers on and off in somekind of last minute gasp of communication with mankind before being sucked into Davey Jones' locker. There was also the expensive new home disintegrating in mere seconds as it hit a ship that had been thrown inland. There will be no swimming in the ocean this summer. Too many souls will be there trying to grasp the legs of the living <-- bit of a weird japanese custom there.

There are still 5.5 quakes raging now. Fortifying my Iron Hippy resolve with red wine from the hardware store and some grated cabbage and carrots.

**Stormrider**

If there's anything positive that can be gleaned from this, it's that it was 20 miles down. Had it been like Haiti's Earthquake we could be talking about much more damage and severe tsunami waves