8.8 earthquake hits Japan

[sleepyhead]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598

I'm in Osaka and I felt it. I have friends in the region and I can't contact them. Its pretty rough up there right now.

Sleepy in Japan

[danroyle]

looks pretty bad on the news.

Apparently only one person officially dead so far, Lets hope there's not too many more if any.

[roachcoach]

As I recall (from childhood..cut me some slack if I'm mistaken!) Japan is really well organised and prepared for quakes - hopefully that investment will save a lot of grief today and in the coming days.

[Zadock]

Hi Sleepy,

Popped on here when I got into work to see if there was word from you mate, couldn't remember which part of Japan you were in.

I saw bbc news this morning it looks awful; cars, boats, houses etc etc all been ripped up and sweep along! they were talking to a guy in tokyo and he said they'd had an hours notice on the tsunami so hopefully people managed to get out of there before it hit. There has been footage of people still on the top floor of their houses waving for help.

Hope you hear something from your friends soon.

[Disturbedguy]

Sleep, stay safe mate.

Hope you are well.

[GheeTsar]

It looks horrendous. The footage of the tsunami washing away buildings was terrifying.

Hope your friends are ok Sleepy.

[tiggerai]

Glad you're safe hun...

[j.o.s.h.1408]

in 18hours it could affect USA!!! my family is in philippines so its not good either as philippines is close to japan!

[neonplanet40]

It seems that the earthquake isnt causing many deaths but rather, its the tital waves following it. The footage of it washing away buildings was scary indeed.

However this past few years in that region for earthquakes has been very intense. Several huge earthquakes. Im just wondering if something more major is happening? Im no tectonic expert but it just seems that that area is a lot more active than usual.

An expert was on tv and said this Japanese earthquake was 10's (or 100's?) times bigger than the one Christchurch just had.

I was in Christchurch for the earthquake in September and I can tell you from experience, there is little more like it than can make you feel as helpless and humbled.

[abaxas]

BBC news - terror unhappiness and general sensationalism
Japan - already planning how they can rebuild and make it better than the last time.

Natural disaster is part of japanese life.

*Tigs Edit - we don't need insensitive comments right now thanks*

[MSIC]

Natural disaster is part of japanese life.

Not sure that's very appropriate at the moment, as people are losing their lives as we write.

[abaxas]

Not sure that's very appropriate at the moment, as people are losing their lives as we write.

It's part of japanese life. And nothing keeps them happier than being able to improve something.

We cannot use out western ideas to understand what it is to be japanese. They are well, japanese!

[roachcoach]

Unusually good quality media (video) images of this disaster as it happened, from what I'm watching it's almost unbelievable that the casualty count is so low.

I'm not being callous - speaks volumes of the warning systems and the infrastructure put in place...this could have been so very much worse. I imagine the time of day helped too. Hope no-one takes this the wrong way, /ducks.

[MSIC]

It's part of japanese life. And nothing keeps them happier than being able to improve something.

We cannot use out western ideas to understand what it is to be japanese. They are well, japanese!

I'm sorry i'm not having that. I do not know of any culture that enjoys mass suffering and death.
Please don't write stuff that can be offensive, there may well be people reading this who know of (or indeed dont yet know of) people dying.
I'm not trying to have a go at you, or create an argument, but please just be sensitive.

[Zak33]

BBC news - terror unhappiness and general sensationalism
Japan - already planning how they can rebuild and make it better than the last time.

Natural disaster is part of japanese life.

rude, unhelpful, wrong on many levels and bang out of order.

one more like that and you'll get a ban

really suprised at yuo.... very

*Edited by Tigs as part of cleanup*

[happyguy]

this looks baddd