Massive earthquake out of the East Coast Of Honshu, Japan - Tsunami Advisories have been canceled

October 25, 2013 By

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Tsunami message for the Pacific Ocean - NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.
–

Update 22:00 UTC : We are happy to report that 0.4 m (40 cm or 1.3 ft) was the maximum sea level rise measured on the coast.
- According to Tohoku Electric Power, the tide gauge of the Onagawa Nuclear Power plant observed the tsunami of 55cm. The power plant was stopped as a precautionary measure.
- An evacuation order was issued in some municipalities in Iwate Prefecture and Miyagi Prefectures :
Iwate Prefecture
Kamaishi: coastal areas (5917 households)
Rikuzentakata: coastal
Ofunato : coastal district
Iwaizumi town: coastal area (281 households)
Miyagi Prefecture
Higashi-Matsushima City: coastal (668 households 1854 people)
- TEPCO, the operator of the Fukushima Nuclear Power plant did order only the evacuation (they had to seek higher ground) of the laborers working at the seawall.

All Tsunami Advisories have been canceled

Update 21:18 UTC : The first strong aftershocks are being triggered in the epicenter area, but as they are occurring too far out of the coast, nobody well feel them on Honshu

Update 19:03 UTC : New readings are coming in, we will only mentions those with most level increase :
Kuji-ko    
Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    #03:18 JST 26 Oct    Rise
Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    #03:23 JST 26 Oct    0.4 m
Soma    
Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    #03:30 JST 26 Oct    Fall
Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    #03:38 JST 26 Oct    0.4 m

Update 18:57 UTC : Rumors are starting to circulate that this earthquake would be a precursor quake of a far bigger one to come as the Tohoku M9 earthquake had also a M7+ earthquake a couple of days before the big one. This is however highly speculative and there is no reason at all to predict a same scenario today.

Update 18:49 UTC : JMA Japan has increased the initial Magnitude from M6.8 to 7.1. They decreased at the same time the number of prefectures who may have sustained a JMA4 shaking (Wakuya-cho Shimmachi-ura, Iwanuma-shi Sakura*, Ishinomaki-shi Monoucho* and Matsushima-machi Takagi )
- Some coastal areas have been evacuated as a precaution  and other people have been advised to stay away from beaches (both should be automatic moves after an advisory)
- The Fukushima Nuclear Plant was evacuated at some point, but no damage at all

Update 18:43 UTC : Once again we reiterate that we do not expect any damage from this earthquake.

Update 18:36 UTC :
Ofunato
Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    #02:54 JST 26 Oct    Rise
Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    #03:01 JST 26 Oct    0.2 m
Kamaishi
Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    #02:55 JST 26 Oct    Fall
Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    #03:02 JST 26 Oct    Slight
Ishinomaki-shi Ayukawa
Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    03:01 JST 26 Oct    Fall
Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    03:07 JST 26 Oct    0.3 m

Update 18:26 UTC : Ishinomaki-shi Ayukawa - Initial Tsunami Arrival Time    03:01 JST 26 Oct    Fall - Current Maximum Tsunami Observation    03:07 JST 26 Oct    0.3 m
JMA Japan mentions now : Although there may be slight sea-level changes in some coastal regions, no tsunami damage is expected.

Update 18:20 UTC : NO damage reported so far by FDMA (ER does not expect damage from this earthquake on land - too weak shaking intensity values). We will have to wait for the real Tsunami levels to find out whether there will be some risk on the coastline.

Update 18:13 UTC : NO Tsunami waves landing information as yet. 3 buoys  are currently activated (see map below). The detailed change is limited to 10 cm (in the open sea - this isn't telling us how high the waves on the shore will be).

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 20.09.43

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 20.14.54

Image courtesy NOAA - Differences behind the point are cm. the lower image is the zoomed detail of the upper one. - This buoy is the middle one of the map above. - The green line is the tide

Update 17:51 UTC : JMA Japan has extended the reach of the Tsunami waves along almost the full North Eastern Honshu shoreline. NO tsunami higher than 1 meter is expected though

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 19.59.10

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 19.55.41

Update 17:51 UTC : More information about the expected tsunami (max. wave 1 meter) -  IWATE PREF.  1 m, MIYAGI PREF. #1 m, FUKUSHIMA PREF.  1 m, IBARAKI PREF. 1 m and UJUKURI AND SOTOBO AREA, CHIBA PREF. 1 m.
What means a Tsunami height of 1 meter ? : 1 m   People will be caught in a strong current in the sea. Fish farming facilities will be washed away and small vessels will capsize.

Update 17:49 UTC : Some stronger waves (tsunami advisory) are still expected (18:00 UTC and 18:20 UTC) :

Screen Shot 2013-10-25 at 19.47.14

Update 17:39 UTC : Tsunami message for the Pacific Ocean (many people are waiting for this ) - NO DESTRUCTIVE WIDESPREAD TSUNAMI THREAT EXISTS BASED ON HISTORICAL EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI DATA.

Update 17:36 UTC : The epicenter of this earthquake is in the vicinity of Joban Seamount Chain (underwater volcano).

Update 17:34 UTC : We are convinced that the shaking will NOT be damaging. The maximum shaking value as reported by the Japanese agency JMA is JMA4 (Miyagi-ken Hokubu, Miyagi-ken Nambu, Miyagi-ken Chubu, Fukushima-ken Nakadori, Ibaraki-ken Hokubu, Tochigi-ken Hokubu and Tochigi-ken Nambu)
JMA4 : * Most people are startled.
* Hanging objects such as lamps swing significantly.
* Unstable ornaments may fall.

Update 17:27 UTC : JMA Japan reports now a Magntude of 6.8, a lot weaker than the initially reported 7.3 (by other agencies)

Update 17:17 UTC  : Max. intensity 4JMA, thats not damaging (preliminary report)
Update 17:20 UTC  : Tsunami advisory for FUKUSHIMA
Update 17:23 UTC : The epicenter is luckily hundreds of kms out of the coast

Image courtesy JMA Japan

Image courtesy JMA Japan

325km (202mi) ESE of Ishinomaki, Japan
326km (203mi) E of Namie, Japan
331km (206mi) SE of Ofunato, Japan
333km (207mi) ESE of Yamoto, Japan
475km (295mi) ENE of Tokyo, Japan

Most important Earthquake Data:

Magnitude : 7.1

Local Time (conversion only below land) : Unknown

GMT/UTC Time : 2013-10-25 17:10:17

Depth (Hypocenter)  : 10 km

Depth and Magnitude updates in the list below.

Share your earthquake experience (I Have Felt It) with our readers.
Click on the "I Felt It" button behind the corresponding earthquake. Your earthquake experience is not only important for science, but also for people in the area as well as our global readership.

SRC Location UTC Date/time M D INFO
GEOFON Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 21:27 5.3 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 21:27 5.3 10 MAP I Felt It INFO
USGS Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 21:27 5.5 9 MAP I Felt It
USGS Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 19:02 4.8 16 MAP I Felt It INFO
GEOFON Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 19:02 4.9 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 19:02 4.8 10 MAP I Felt It INFO
USGS Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:57 5.1 36 MAP I Felt It INFO
EMSC Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:57 5.1 20 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:57 5.1 10 MAP I Felt It INFO
PTWC Off The East Coast Of Honshu Japan Oct 25 17:20 7.5 10 MAP I Felt It
GEOFON Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:10 7.1 10 MAP I Felt It
USGS Off The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:10 7.3 10 MAP I Felt It
EMSC Off East Coast Of Honshu, Japan Oct 25 17:10 7.1 10 MAP I Felt It INFO
  • Misawa - I could see all the furniture in my house shaking, even the walls and the ceiling were shaking.
  • Kawasaki Japan - No damage
  • Ota-ku, Tokyo - Really long but mellow earthquake. Felt like I was on a boat. It kept going for what seemed to be at least a minute.
  • Tokyo - Legere secousse tokyo
  • Yokosuka City,Japan - 1-2,minutes of shaking
  • Wako, Saitama - Our house shook for a long time.
  • Fussa - No property damage, Flat screen TV shaking..
  • Tokyo - No damage
  • Tsukuba - First it started out as many of the smaller earthquakes we had the past month but then it became quite intense for a couple seconds and things were rattling and shifting. I could hear and see people waking up but none went out because it's heavily raining because of the typhoon. (via emsc)
  • Shinjuku - Started with a swaying effect that then grew and caused the hotel to rattle. My partner was sound asleep whilst I immediately felt it, but she soon woke up. Felt like it lasted for a minute. (via emsc)
  • Saitama-Shi - Started slowly but grew more intense. Lasted about a minute. Hanging guitars, clothes, even curtains visibly shook.
  • Tokyo - I was staying in hotel, Grand Pacific in Diaba on 19th floor. My bed started shaking and the hotel swayed and the walls creaked. I tried walking but felt like i was on a ship and actually felt a bit sea sick. i live in UK so not use to this kind of thing so it was a bit dramatic for me!
  • Yokohama - Shaking was enough to wake me up at 2:12 am local time. No damage, nothing fell in my hotel room on the 59th floor of the Yokohama Royal Park Hotel in the Landmark tower.
  • Wako-Shi - durato almeno pi 30 secondi. Al primo piano e sentivo dei rumori provenienti dall'esterno.
    		•
    WCATWC Off East Coast Of Honshu Japan Oct 25 17:10 7.5 9 MAP I Felt It
  • Tokyo - J'ai été réveillée par un balancement de gauche à droite, exactement comme le roulis d'un bateau ou un bercement. On pouvait aussi entendre des craquements dans toute la pièce qui ont continué un certain temps.
    		•

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    Shaking Strength *
    MMI II (Very weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt by persons at rest, on upper floors or favorably placed.
    MMI III (Weak shaking) ?
    People :
    Felt indoors; hanging objects may swing, vibration similar to passing of light trucks, duration may be estimated, may not be recognized as an earthquake.
    MMI IV (Light shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally noticed indoors but not outside. Light sleepers may be awakened. Vibration may be likened to the passing of heavy traffic, or to the jolt of a heavy object falling or striking the building.
    Fittings :
    Doors and windows rattle. Glassware and crockery rattle. Liquids in open vessels may be slightly disturbed. Standing motorcars may rock.
    Structures :
    Walls and frames of buildings, and partitions and suspended ceilings in commercial buildings, may be heard to creak.
    MMI V (Moderate shaking) ?
    People :
    Generally felt outside, and by almost everyone indoors. Most sleepers awakened. A few people alarmed.
    Fittings :
    Small unstable objects are displaced or upset. Some glassware and crockery may be broken. Hanging pictures knock against the wall. Open doors may swing. Cupboard doors secured by magnetic catches may open. Pendulum clocks stop, start, or change rate.
    Structures :
    Some large display windows cracked. A few earthenware toilet fixtures cracked.
    MMI VI (Strong shaking) ?
    People Felt by all. People and animals alarmed. Many run outside. Difficulty experienced in walking steadily.
    Fittings :
    Objects fall from shelves. Pictures fall from walls. Some furniture moved on smooth floors, some unsecured free-standing fireplaces moved. Glassware and crockery broken. Very unstable furniture overturned. Small church and school bells ring. Appliances move on bench or table tops. Filing cabinets or "easy glide" drawers may open (or shut).
    Structures :
    Slight damage to buildings with low standard. Some stucco or cement plaster falls. Large display windows broken. Damage to a few weak domestic chimneys, some may fall.
    Environment :
    Trees and bushes shake, or are heard to rustle. Loose material may be dislodged from sloping ground, e.g. existing slides, talus slopes, shingle slides.
    MMI VII (Very strong shaking) ?
    People
    General alarm. Difficulty experienced in standing. Noticed by motorcar drivers who may stop.
    Fittings :
    Large bells ring. Furniture moves on smooth floors, may move on carpeted floors. Substantial damage to fragile contents of buildings.
    Structures :
    Unreinforced stone and brick walls cracked. Low standard buildings cracked with some minor masonry falls. A few instances of damage to buildings of ordinary workmanship. Unbraced parapets, unbraced brick gables, and architectural ornaments fall. Roofing tiles, especially ridge tiles may be dislodged. Many unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, often falling from roof-line. Water tanks Type I burst. A few instances of damage to brick veneers and plaster or cement-based linings. Unrestrained water cylinders (hot-water cylinders) may move and leak. Some common windows cracked. Suspended ceilings damaged.
    Environment :
    Water made turbid by stirred up mud. Small slides such as falls of sand and gravel banks, and small rock-falls from steep slopes and cuttings. Instances of settlement of unconsolidated or wet, or weak soils. Some fine cracks appear in sloping ground. A few instances of liquefaction (i.e. small water and sand ejections).
    MMI VIII (Severe shaking) ?
    People Alarm may approach panic. Steering of motorcars greatly affected. Structures : Low standard buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. ordinary workmanship buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged in some cases. A few instances of damage to buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes. Monuments and pre-1976 elevated tanks and factory stacks twisted or brought down. Some pre-1965 infill masonry panels damaged. A few post-1980 brick veneers damaged. Decayed timber piles of houses damaged. Houses not secured to foundations may move. Most unreinforced domestic chimneys damaged, some below roof-line, many brought down. Environment : Cracks appear on steep slopes and in wet ground. Small to moderate slides in roadside cuttings and unsupported excavations. Small water and sand ejections and localized lateral spreading adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
    MMI IX (Violent shaking) ?
    Structures Many low standard buildings destroyed. Ordinary workmanship buildings heavily damaged, some collapse. Reinforced masonry or concrete buildings damaged, some with partial collapse. Buildings and bridges designed and built to resist earthquakes damaged in some cases, some with flexible frames seriously damaged. Damage or permanent distortion to some buildings and bridges, designed and built to normal use standards. Houses not secured to foundations shifted off. Brick veneers fall and expose frames. Environment : Cracking of ground conspicuous. Landsliding general on steep slopes. Liquefaction effects intensified and more widespread, with large lateral spreading and flow sliding adjacent to streams, canals, lakes, etc.
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