Another major earthquake has struck Japan this morning, in what officials are describing as an “aftershock” to March 11’s 9.0 magnitude event. While authorities in Japan issued a tsunami warning for a wave surge of 3 to 6 feet (it was lifted at 9:01 AM PT), officials in the US say that they believe our coasts should not see any change,
Japan was struck by the 7.1 magnitude earthquake at at 7:32 PT today. Don Blakeman of the USGS says that “even though it’s an aftershock, an earthquake with (this magnitude) is very significant…there could definitely be some…wave activity.”
According to Blakeman, tsunami effects aren’t expected for the West Coast, but Bay Area residents “need to be aware that we live in a seismically active area.”
US officials out of Honolulu do say they do not expect any wave activity along our West Coast. As you might recall, the wave aftereffects of the March 11 quake caused significant damage to coastal areas like Santa Cruz.
The quake was centered off Japan’s eastern coast 60 miles from Sendai and 90 miles from Fukushima. It was about 215 miles from Tokyo. There were no immediate reports of damage in Japan.
Elsewhere:
Stocks fall after another earthquake hits Japan [AP via Chron]
Another strong quake rattles tsunami-ravaged Japan [AP]
7.1 Magnitude Quake Shuts Down 2 Japanese Nuclear Plants [ABC]
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