March 11th, 2011 -- Posted in Earthquakes, Tsunami |
by Victoria M. Johnson
At 2:46 pm a magnitude 8.9 earthquake rocked Japan. This is Japan’s largest quake on record, and one of the largest ever recorded in the world. The epicenter was 231 miles northeast of Tokyo. The quake triggered a 32-foot tsunami that pummeled Japan’s eastern coast, killing hundreds of people as it swept away everything in its path. In the cities closest to the epicenter, Sendai and Honshu, hundreds of bodies were found with over 500 people reported missing and 627 people injured.
Aftermath of Earthquake and Tsunami
More than 50 aftershocks have been recorded, with tremors reaching as far as Tokyo. The photos of the region show catastrophic devastation. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, a tsunami warning has been issued for parts of the U.S. West Coast in addition to the earlier warning for Hawaii and the western Pacific islands. A 7-foot tsunami reached Hawaii at 9:00 am but did not cause major damage. Officials warned that the waves could get larger. A magnitude 7.3 struck this area of Japan two days ago, causing no damage.
February 18th, 2011 -- Posted in Natural Disasters, Tsunami |
The devastating 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami claimed over 200,000 lives. It struck without warning to the victims caught in the disaster zone. But tsunamis actually give many warning signals to those monitoring the oceans. Sadly, the Indian Ocean did not have such monitoring systems.
A Child in Front of the Rubble That Was Her Home
1. Earthquakes, eruptions, and other major disturbances (such as a meteor impact) beneath the sea can cause tsunamis.
2. Tsunamis travel across oceans and build into enormous walls of water as they approach coastal lands.
3. Tsunami wavelengths in the deep ocean travel about 500 miles per hour.
4. Tsunamis generally pass unnoticed on the ocean surface.
5. Sometimes, the first part of a tsunami is a “drawback” where the sea drastically recedes from the shore. This is a deadly warning to get to higher ground.
6. The first wave may not be the largest wave to come.
7. A large tsunami may trigger numerous waves arriving over a period of hours, with considerable time between wave crests.
8. Tsunamis as high as 100 feet crashed into the surrounding islands after the cataclysmic eruption of Krakatoa, Indonesia, killing 36,000 people. But according to National Geographic News, the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami is the deadliest tsunami in history.
9. It is not possible to prevent a tsunami.
May 2nd, 2010 -- Posted in Earthquakes |
Why has the Chilean earthquake disappeared from our radar? Is everything fine and well? Have things returned to normal in Chile? Strong aftershocks struck after the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that occurred on February 27, 2010, lasting 90 seconds and leaving hundreds dead. Since then, more than 1.5 million people have been displaced. According to those who experienced the quake, “cars lay mangled and upended on streets littered with telephone wires and power cables. A new 14-story apartment building fell.” With more than two-dozen significant aftershocks, Chile has to be in turmoil.
Did you know the ensuing tsunamis killed 500 people and caused $30 billion in damage? The earthquake triggered a tsunami which devastated several coastal towns in south-central Chile and damaged the port at Talcahuano. Tsunami warnings were issued in 53 countries, causing minor damage in San Diego and Japan.
Just hours ago, on May 2nd, USGS reported earthquakes in Chile and elsewhere in South America. And Reuters reported a 5.8 magnitude earthquake hitting central Chile. That quake was felt in Santiago but there were no reports of damage.
Sadly, it seems it will be a quite a while before things return to normal in Chile.