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Massive earthquake & tsunami hit Japan

11 March 2011

Japan has been rocked today by a massive 8·9 magnitude earthquake, the biggest in the region for many years. It struck off the north east coast, around 375km from Tokyo, at 14:46 hrs local time (05:46 GMT).

Several large aftershocks have occurred as a result, the largest measuring 6·8 magnitude. People in Tokyo have reported that buildings "shook violently".

Shortly afterwards the same region was hit by a series of tsunami waves, reported as being up to 10m high.

Latest reports indicate that there have been many casualties and large amounts of damage to buildings. Much of this is due to the sheer power of the waves crashing into buildings, bridges and other structures, carrying away huge volumes of mud and debris. At least 19 people are dead as a result and the death toll is likely to rise rapidly.

Seismologist Dr Brian Baptie from the British Geological Survey said, "Japan is no stranger to earthquakes but this is certainly the largest to strike this part of Japan for many years. The quake was fairly shallow - it occurred at the boundary plate between the Pacific and the Eurasian plate, which is on the north east coast of Japan - and as the earth moved during the quake it generated a huge amount of vertical uplift that caused the tsunami wave.

"Tsunamis from earthquakes this size can propagate right across the Pacific so it may get as far as Hawaii or even the west coast of the United States. What is interesting about this earthquake is that it was actually preceded by a large, magnitude 7.2 earthquake a couple of days ago on 9 March, which seems to have been a foreshock for this one."

A tsunami warning has been given for all countries in the Pacific Rim.

Further information

British Geological Survey website

BGS Press Office
Tel: 01316 500230

NERC Press Office
Tel: 01793 411727

Press release: 08/11