Page 3 - Tsunami

13 yrs since massive tsunami, Fukushima nuclear plant still sparks fears

Japan on Monday marked 13 years since a massive earthquake and tsunami hit the country's northern coasts. Nearly 20,000 people died, whole towns were wiped out and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was destroyed, creating deep fears of radiation that linger today. As the nation observes the anniversary, AP explains what is happening now at the plant and in neighbouring areas. WHAT HAPPENED 13 YEARS AGO? A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck on March 11, 2011, causing a tsunami that battered northern coastal towns in Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. The tsunami, which topped 15 meters (50 feet) in some areas, also slammed into the nuclear plant, destroying its power supply and fuel cooling systems, and causing meltdowns at reactors No. 1, 2 and 3. Hydrogen explosions caused massive radiation leaks and contamination in the area. The operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, says that the tsunami couldn't have been anticipated. Government and independent investigati

Earthquake of magnitude 6.0 hits Japan days after New Year quake tragedy

Japan earthquake: The latest earthquake comes nearly a week after an earthquake 7.6 magnitude shook the country on New Year's Day, leaving at least 202 people dead

Rescuers race to find survivors after Japan earthquakes leave 78 dead

Rescuers braved the cold in a race against time as they searched for survivors along Japan's western coastline Thursday after a powerful earthquake earlier in the week smashed homes and left at least 78 people dead and 51 missing. A downpour and possible snow were expected, raising the risk of landslides. A list of those officially missing released overnight grew from 15 to 51 people in three cities, including a 13-year-old boy. Some earlier reported missing have been found but more names were coming in, officials said. Ishikawa prefecture and nearby areas were shaken by more aftershocks, adding to the dozens that followed Monday's magnitude 7.6 temblor centered near Noto, about 300 kilometers (185 miles) from Tokyo on the opposite coast. The quake set off tsunami warnings, followed by waves measuring more than 1 meter (3 feet) in some places. The first 72 hours are especially critical for rescues, experts say, because the prospects for survival greatly diminish after that. More th

Japan earthquake: Roads crack, poles topple; tsunami warning issued

Japan's series of earthquakes on Monday triggered a frantic evacuation from coastal areas. The Kishida government has set up a special emergency centre to overlook the crisis

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Tsunami hits Japan after 7.5 magnitude quake, India issues helpline numbers

Japan earthquake update: According to media reports, a tsunami of 1.2 metres was confirmed to have hit Wajima city in Ishikawa prefecture

Japan lowers tsunami warning, tells people not to go home after earthquakes

Japan dropped its highest-level tsunami alert, issued following a series of major earthquakes on Monday, but told residents of coastal areas not to return to their homes as deadly waves could still come. The quakes, the largest of which had a magnitude of 7.6, started a fire and collapsed buildings on the west coast of Japan's main island, Honshu. It was unclear how many people might have been killed or hurt. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported more than a dozen quakes in the Japan Sea off the coast of Ishikawa and nearby prefectures shortly after 4 p.m. At least six homes were damaged by the quakes, with people trapped inside, government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi said. A fire broke out in Wajima city, Ishikawa Prefecture, and electricity was out for more than 30,000 households, he said. The agency initially issued a major tsunami warning for Ishikawa and lower-level tsunami warnings or advisories for the rest of the western coast of the island of Honshu, as well as the ...

7.4 magnitude earthquake hits western Japan; tsunami warning issued

Japan issued tsunami alerts on Monday after a series of strong quakes shook western areas. The Japan Meterological Agency reported a quake hitting Ishikawa and nearby prefectures, one of them measuring a preliminary magnitude of 7.4. Japanese public broadcaster NHK TV warned torrents of water could reach as high as 5 metres (16.5 feet) and urged people to flee to high land or a top of a nearby building as quickly as possible. Reports of damage were not immediately available.

Tamil Nadu: Cuddalore remembers victims on 19th anniversary of 2004 Tsunami

The event began with a moment of silence, allowing everyone to reflect on the magnitude of the tragedy and the lives that were forever changed

From the islands

Chennai floods and the Tsunami before that remind us that in our pursuit of progress, we must not overlook the enduring lessons preserved by those who have harmonised with nature for millennia

7.1 magnitude quake hits South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, no tsunami threat

A powerful earthquake shook the South Pacific island nation of Vanuatu on Thursday evening, but countries in the region said there was no threat of a tsunami. The magnitude 7.1 earthquake was located 123 kilometers (76 miles) south of the town of Isangel on the island of Tanna, the US Geological Agency said. It said the quake was centred at a depth of 48 kilometers (30 miles). The chance of fatalities and large economic losses in the sparsely populated area was low, it said. Vanuatu has a population of about 337,000, with about 1,200 living in Isangel. The area is part of the Ring of Fire, an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where most of the world's earthquakes occur. A 7.7 magnitude earthquake in May created small tsunami waves in Vanuatu.

Earthquake of magnitude 6.8 jolts Philippines, no casualties reported

An earthquake of magnitude 6.8 on the Richter Scale struck the Philippines on Monday, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported.The quake occurred on Sunday night at 01:19:42 IST at a depth of 82 km in Mindanao.The NCS posted from its official handle on X, "Earthquake of Magnitude:6.8, Occurred on 04-12-2023, 01:19:42 IST, Lat: 9.03 & Long: 126.70, Depth: 82 Km ,Location: Mindanao, Philippines."No casualties were reported in the incident till the filing of this report and more details are awaited.Earlier, on Saturday, a strong earthquake in the southern Philippines claimed at least one life as thousands were ordered to evacuate, including in Japan, after tsunami warnings that were later lifted, Al Jazeera reported.The earthquake, measuring a magnitude of 7.6 according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and 7.5 according to the European Mediterranean Seismological Centre, struck off the coast of Mindanao island at a depth of 32km. It was followed by four major aftershocks

Japan issues tsunami advisory after an earthquake near its outlying islands

Japan has issued a tsunami advisory after an earthquake near its outlying islands. Officials say a potential tsunami could reach one meter in height. The advisory, which appears to be the lowest level of warning, asks people on islands in the Izu chain, which stretches south from the center of the main Japanese island of Honshu, to stay away from coasts and river mouths, according to NHK TV. Japan is one of the most earthquake prone places on earth. A massive quake in 2011 caused a tsunami that destroyed huge swaths of northern Japan and caused a meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Morocco quake kills over 2K; here are the deadliest earthquakes in history

The epicentre of the quake was high in the Atlas Mountains, around 70 kilometres away from Marrakech

False tsunami alert triggers panic at Porvorim in Goa; probe ordered

A siren giving a warning about tsunami erroneously started playing from the Early Warning Dissemination System at Porvorim near here, triggering panic among the local residents, an official said on Thursday. The siren started sounding the alert after 9 pm on Wednesday and it continued for more than 20 minutes, local residents said. Whether the siren went off due to any technical error or any other reason is being probed, with a state minister saying that he has sought a report into it. The Early Warning Dissemination System (EWDS) is installed on a hillock at Porvorim in North Goa on the outskirts of state capital Panaji. Talking to reporters on Thursday, North Goa District Collector Mamu Hage said, "It was a false warning as there was no such intimation of tsunami from any of the authorities." "There was no mock drill or anything. I have personally checked and found out that there was no warning either from Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) or the Indian National Centre for

Japan to release Fukushima plant's treated water to sea as early as Thurs

The Japanese government announced Tuesday the treated and diluted radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant will be released into the ocean as early as Thursday. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida gave the final go-ahead at a meeting of Cabinet ministers involved in the plan and instructed the operator, Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, to be ready to start the release Thursday if weather permits. The water release begins nearly 12 and half years after the March 2011 nuclear meltdowns caused by a massive earthquake and tsunami. Japanese fisheries groups have opposed the plan out of worry of further damage to the reputation of their seafood. Groups in China and South Korea have also raised concern, making it a political and diplomatic issue. The government and TEPCO say the water must be released to make room for the plant's decommissioning and to prevent accidental leaks. They say the treatment and dilution will make the wastewater safer than internation

Japan PM Kishida to visit Fukushima before controversial water release

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said he will visit the tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant on Sunday before setting a release date for its treated radioactive wastewater, as his government continues working to promote understanding over the controversial plan at home and abroad. The government has reached the final stage where we should make a decision," Kishida told reporters in Washington on Friday after wrapping up his summit with US and South Korean leaders at the American presidential retreat of Camp David. Since the government announced the release plan two years ago, it has faced strong opposition from Japanese fishing organisations, which worry about further damage to the reputation of their seafood as they struggle to recover from the accident. Groups in South Korea and China have also raised concerns, turning it into a political and diplomatic issue. The government and the plant operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., say the water must be removed to make room for th

7.2-magnitude quake strikes Alaska Peninsula, tsunami warning issued: USGS

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck the Alaska Peninsula region early on Sunday, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). According to initial reports, a tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake. There were no immediate reports of damages. The offshore quake hit at a depth of 21 kilometres off the Alaskan peninsula, it added.

Rising global temperatures can trigger tsunamis from Antarctica: Research

Increasing global climate change - including warmer waters, rising sea levels and shrinking ice sheets - can give rise to deadly tsunamis from Antarctica, warns a new study

Earthquake of 6.2-magnitude jolts Indonesia, no threat of tsunami

A 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit Indonesia's eastern province of Maluku, but did not trigger a tsunami, the country's meteorology, climatology and geophysics agency said