9 Killed And More Than 800 People Injured In The 6.2 Magnitude Earthquake In Japan
No tsunami warning has been issued following the quake.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 15 Apr 2016, 10:09 AM
A 6.2 magnitude earthquake struck east of Kumamoto, Japan at 9:26pm (12:26 GMT). The strong quake was centered about 11 kilometers away from the Mashiki town with a preliminary magnitude of 6.4.
Residents looking at their collapsed houses following the earthquake in Mashiki, Japan
Image via The Asahi Shimbun via Getty ImagesThe quake was followed about 30 minutes later by a smaller one with a magnitude of 5.7, the agency said.
The stronger quake was measured at 6.2 by the US Geological Survey, which put the second quake at 5.4. Another smaller aftershock followed.
indianexpress.com
The horrific incident has killed at least nine people and injured more than 800.
According to the Kumamoto Prefecture Disaster Management Office, one died while being rescued from under the rubble and another was killed in a fire that broke out in the town of Mashiki.
Watch the video recording that details the incident here:
Nearly 800 people were injured, 50 severely. The prefecture office said 44,449 people had evacuated.
cnn.comJapanese Red Cross Kumamoto Hospital said it has admitted or treated 45 people, including five with serious injuries, according to the Associated Press.
Japanese television is showing video of scores of people at emergency shelters and collection points in the affected areas. Police received nearly 500 emergency calls in the first hours following the quake
wtsp.com
Twitter posts of locals depicting the aftermath of the quake:
熊本県のスーパーがヤバイ pic.twitter.com/AcGXqSiNZQ
— アリエッティ@EARTH.福岡3日5日 (@m_s_k_h) April 14, 2016
震度7の地震があった熊本市内のブックオフの様子 pic.twitter.com/OtkJfCfkE1
— かいざー (@MECCYAEEYA) April 14, 2016
American news agency, CNN, reported that about 19 houses had collapsed and roads have buckled following the violent earthquake
In addition to destroying 19 houses, the quake hurled items off store shelves and littered streets with rubble.
While the magnitude might not seem extreme, the shallow depth of the quake -- just 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) -- probably means significant damage.
"When you have a shallow earthquake, you have the potential for more damage," said John Bellini of the U.S. Geological Survey.
"The shaking was so violent I couldn't stand still," said Hironobu Kosaki, a Kumamoto Prefectural Police night-duty official, as quoted by The New York Times.
A third person rescued from under a collapsed building is in a state of heart and lung failure.
Kumamoto prefecture disaster management official Takayuki Matsushita, said rescue operations were repeatedly disrupted by aftershocks.
"There was a ka-boom and the whole house shook violently sideways. Furniture and bookshelves fell down, and books were all over the floor," Takahiko Morita, a Mashiki resident said in a telephone interview with Japanese broadcaster NHK.
foxnews.com
As of now, Shinkasen - Japanese bullet train services have been halted on the island and hundreds of houses are cut off from electricity and water supply
A shopkeeper cleaning the remnants of broken wine bottles following the earthquake
Image via Jiji Press/AFP/Getty Images
In Tokyo, Prime Minister Abe immediately set up an emergency headquarters and instructed relevant authorities to gather information.
At a hastily arranged news conference, Chief Cabinet Secretary Suga said the government was doing its utmost to get a full picture of the situation, adding that its priority was the rescue operations.
Defense Minister Gen Nakatani said at a press conference that Self-Defense Forces airplanes and helicopters have been dispatched to the quake-hit area to ascertain the extent of damage. Currently more than 350 military personnel have been dispatched for rescue work.
japantimes.co.jp
