8.9 earthquake hit Japan

The American Institute of Geophysics (USGS) announced that a magnitude 8.9 earthquake hit off the northeastern coast of Japan, on Friday.

According to the Japanese Meteorological Agency, the quake triggered a tsunami that could reach a height of six metres.

In the capital of Tokyo, located 380 kilometers away, the quake was strongly felt for at least two minutes, and most people took the streets.

A maximum alert has been issued by the Japanese agency, which warned that a major tsunami, whose height could reach up to six meters, would hit off Japan.

According to the American Geological Institute, quoted by Reuters, the earthquake had a magnitude of 8.8 degrees.

Immediately after the earthquake, the Japanese public television showed several images with a thick cloud of black smoke hanging over a suburb.

Moreover, the rail traffic is affected as fast trains are stopped at stations.

Also, according to the news agency Kyodo, the airport activity in Tokyo has been stopped and the airport is now closed.


Translated by: Denisse-Meda Bucura
MA Student, MTTLC, Bucharest University