Today at around 9:45am, an earthquake measuring 7.1 on the Richter Scale hit just off the coast of Notto Peninsula. The quake was the first one in Ishikawa since 1933. This area is not known for earthquakes, and is generally disaster free. However today was not like any other. The vibration in Kanazawa city measured 6.0+ and rocked the whole region as far as the neighbouring prefectures. Here is BBC's article
My building shook for about 3 minutes! I was in bed at the time (9:40-ish on my day-off). All around me I could hear things falling. I distinctly heard the clanging of a pan falling off a rack in one of the neighbouring apartments. Then there was the cracking sound of my screen door, getting torn from side to side. Something fell right next to my head — my keys, accompanied my a bunch of papers and polaroids, and the gradual cresendo of anything within 4 inches of a table edge.
The shaking was accompanied by a forceful, wrenching sound, like a strong wind, tearing at a boarded-up shutter. Then it died away and the only sound left was that of the rain. A sound that would only be interrupted by 2 more small tremors and the sirens of a firetruck.
I immediately turned on the TV, but the wire had been ripped right from the wall. So after a few minutes of fiddling with it, I got sound and a fuzzy picture. The epicentre was just off the coast, where I aways go to make pottery. I remember only understanding "seven plus measurement" and "tsunami warning". Then it all settled into place...the tsunami warning was for 50cm only. Somehow, Kanazawa had survived a quake that could be felt all the way in Nagoya and Tokyo, more than 300km away. The same magnitude claimed more than 6,000 lives in Kobe about in 1995.
I think this place is blessed...or incredibly lucky. Either way, I'm glad there wasn't more destruction.
Anyways, I'm ok. And everyone I've talked to so far is also ok. But it was a crazy ordeal!
10 comments:
I was surprised at earthquake,too.
I couldn't move...There aren't big desk in my room.And I was thinking at
that moment.Finally,I was in the bed wearing a bedclothes.
This is the pattern the people will die.
Next time,I will jump to a garden from 2F.
Hi Graeme
I was checking to see if Adam and Blythe were ok, then I noticed you were closer to the epicentre than them so I'm glad to see you're ok too. I haven't heard from Adam yet about the earthquake to see if they felt anything in Kuwana.
Why don't you contact him...I'm sure he'd like to talk to you about your experiences. They arrived in Kuwana at the beginning of March.
deconstructivism@msn.com
Hi Graeme
I left of the 'f'
Hi Graeme
I left off another 'f'
Frank
In the hours following the quake, the city came alive over the WW2 emergency system — a series of megaphones, once used as air-raid sirens, attached to poles all over the city. Warning the people of Kanazawa to remain calm and to stay away from the shore.
It truly made the emergency seem so much more real.
Being one to never follow any news, i only learned of the quake by reading your blog. You are providing my news - i hope your reporting is responsible and unbiased. good to hear you're safe
fred
Y'know, same here Fred, and its not like I hide from the news or anything. Unlike you.
Graeme I'm really glad you're safe.
Supposedly a quake happened when I visited and stayed near Nagano in '99... my brother was like "you didnt feel it this morning?!"
...I slept through it!
Wow! an earthquake in Kanazawa! Glad to hear that you are OK. What a welcome for Erin. Oh well. Love your website and all the cool pictures.
Yeah, what a welcome indeed!
Erin doesn't speak a word of Japanese. So after the quake, when they used the emergency broadcast system, which is really the WW2 air-raid megaphones, to announce the warnings, all Erin could understand was 'tsunami,' 'tsunami'...'tsunami'.
The next day she signed up for Japanese lessons!
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