Earthquake moves Japan by 8 feet

12 March 2011 08:00 am - 25 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

The powerful earthquake that unleashed a devastating tsunami Friday appears to have moved the main island of Japan by 8 feet (2.4 meters) and shifted the Earth on its axis.

"At this point, we know that one GPS station moved (8 feet), and we have seen a map from GSI (Geospatial Information Authority) in Japan showing the pattern of shift over a large area is consistent with about that much shift of the land mass," said Kenneth Hudnut, a geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Reports from the National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology in Italy estimated the 8.9-magnitude quake shifted the planet on its axis by nearly 4 inches (10 centimeters).

The temblor, which struck Friday afternoon near the east coast of Japan, killed hundreds of people, caused the formation of 30-foot walls of water that swept across rice fields, engulfed entire towns, dragged houses onto highways, and tossed cars and boats like toys. Some waves reached six miles (10 kilometers) inland in Miyagi Prefecture on Japan's east coast.

he quake was the most powerful to hit the island nation in recorded history and the tsunami it unleashed traveled across the Pacific Ocean, triggering tsunami warnings and alerts for 50 countries and territories as far away as the western coasts of Canada, the U.S. and Chile. The quake triggered more than 160 aftershocks in the first 24 hours -- 141 measuring 5.0-magnitude or more.

The quake occurred as the Earth's crust ruptured along an area about 250 miles (400 kilometers) long by 100 miles (160 kilometers) wide, as tectonic plates slipped more than 18 meters, said Shengzao Chen, a USGS geophysicist.

Japan is located along the Pacific "ring of fire," an area of high seismic and volcanic activity stretching from New Zealand in the South Pacific up through Japan, across to Alaska and down the west coasts of North and South America. The quake was "hundreds of times larger" than the 2010 quake that ravaged Haiti, said Jim Gaherty of the LaMont-Doherty Earth Observatory at Columbia University.

The Japanese quake was of similar strength to the 2004 earthquake in Indonesia that triggered a tsunami that killed over 200,000 people in more than a dozen countries around the Indian Ocean. "The tsunami that it sent out was roughly comparable in terms of size," Gaherty said. "[The 2004 tsunami] happened to hit some regions that were not very prepared for tsunamis ... we didn't really have a very sophisticated tsunami warning system in the Indian Ocean basin at the time so the damage was significantly worse."

The Japanese quake comes just weeks after a 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck Christchurch on February 22, toppling historic buildings and killing more than 150 people. The timeframe of the two quakes have raised questions whether the two incidents are related, but experts say the distance between the two incidents makes that unlikely.

"I would think the connection is very slim," said Prof. Stephan Grilli, ocean engineering professor at the University of Rhode Island. (CNN)

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

Comments - 25

Tsuna Saturday, 12 March 2011 01:46 PM

What if Sri lanka move close to Iceland

earthquake rider Friday, 18 March 2011 01:36 AM

please leave your religion at the backdoor. no one wants to hear what a man says god told him would happen. you are the cruelest kind of human being out there wishing death and eternal pain on people. please, just stop it. we are all human beings. fairy tales dont equate to large disasters.

Japan Bonikka SL Sunday, 13 March 2011 12:03 PM

Like you eat Ambul tiyal which is also fish (Balaya) is your custom.
Try to appreciate others customs.

Matalan Sunday, 13 March 2011 08:43 AM

Have the 'GOD believing countries' ever escaped natural disasters? In fact the reverse (for no logical reason) has been the case since historical records began. Ignorance degenerates even common sense.

FMF Sunday, 13 March 2011 08:41 AM

Thank God. If it's Sri Lanka cost of living will go over the moon.

Asanka Sunday, 13 March 2011 07:06 AM

Lima, Can you tell me where is this god come from?

Puran appu Sunday, 13 March 2011 06:00 AM

are thora malu's a protected species my dear murali?

murali Sunday, 13 March 2011 05:30 AM

According to 'puran appu' the answer will be, It's because of In SL they are killing millions of innocent Thora Maalus to eat..

KD Saturday, 12 March 2011 09:03 PM

Which god? According to my grandma there are 330million gods.

lawtalks Saturday, 12 March 2011 05:43 PM

Did God give you a call and tell this to you?

uditha Saturday, 12 March 2011 04:09 PM

mouthful- reversed action. Dont kill for excessive greed and to live long. Living too long is hellish.

Gon Part Saturday, 12 March 2011 02:08 PM

Clearly you have a lot of hatred in your mind, so called 'Puran Appu'... how can you say such a thing? Have you not lost any relative from a disaster?

Puran Appu Saturday, 12 March 2011 09:24 AM

This is the Repercussion you get for killing protected innocent WHALES for Meat!

DE Saturday, 12 March 2011 01:45 PM

So anyone killed or injured by this was an atheist or an adulterer? So twisted...

ron Saturday, 12 March 2011 12:45 PM

Politicians move SriLanka in to the reverse direction

JUNIOR CITIZEN Saturday, 12 March 2011 12:37 PM

Yeah ur correct Puran Appu! Whale Meat is a delicacy in Tokyo!

Guru2 Saturday, 12 March 2011 11:22 AM

Why don't you start running down the street yelling that the sky is falling?

saman Saturday, 12 March 2011 11:01 AM

May be SF say this happened due to he is in Jail....

LIMA Saturday, 12 March 2011 10:46 AM

any tsunami or earquake could be predicted after it happens, whether it is 6 , 7 , 8 or 9 in richter scale or whatever all man made scales. Nobody can predict on what scale or mm or meter this will happen and when will this happen . GOD Almighty has foretold in his revelation that these will happen where ever people live in adultery and does not have belief in GOD's act of and only believe in man made matters , believing as these are natures , then you better expect all these things and more than this.

Gayan Samarasekara Saturday, 12 March 2011 10:53 AM

what nonsense??????

Konde bendapu china Saturday, 12 March 2011 10:45 AM

A massive explosion has struck a Japanese nuclear power plant after Friday's devastating earthquake.,Tsunami,now Nuclear OMG

Gz Saturday, 12 March 2011 10:35 AM

Puran appu then why did a tsunami hit SL??

Guru2 Saturday, 12 March 2011 10:09 AM

The connection between the earthquake and tsunami and the killing of whales is nonsensical, unless of course you believe in devils, evil spirits and malevolent gods.

Add comment
Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Earthquake moves Japan by 8 feet

Comments - 25

Add comment

RECOMMENDED

‘Spike in blast fishing’ poses renewed threats to Sri Lanka’s marine ecosystems

UDA owned land in Thalawathugoda; UDA Minister Prasanna Ranatunga under the spotlight for forceful occupation of reserved land

Loss-making SMIB faces political pressure in recovering loans

Baltimore Bridge Collapse: MV Dali, SL authorities anchored in mystery?

Has Sri Lanka become a potential hub for the illegal wildlife trade?

Spotlight on Moragahakanda Development Project Moragolla villagers lose livelihoods and down to one meal a day

Ambitious Sri Lankan jobseekers ‘trafficked into Ukraine war zones’

Most Viewed in News

Two racing drivers arrested over Fox Hill tragedy

Racing event tragedy leaves seven dead including eight-year-old child

Astrologer Chandrasiri Bandara passess away

Complaint lodged over Piumi Hansamali's possession of Gota’s Range Rover

SL on alert on possible genocide allegations by Canada

Sri Lankan among NASA’s new crew for next simulated Mars journey

MIRROR CRICKET

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Is Chamari Athapaththu Sri Lanka’s greatest cricketer ever?

Athapaththu back atop ICC Women’s ODI Batting Rankings

Chamari Athapaththu sets big goal for T20 World Cup

TODAY'S HEADLINES

Sri Lanka to establish new energy sector regulator

Cabinet nod to transfer China-built Mattala airport’s management to Indian, Russian joint venture

Sajith never attends dinners hosted by Ranil Wickremesinghe

One soldier dead, nine injured in road crash

Sahan Arachchige to lead Sri Lanka ‘A’

Dates confirmed for 78th Bradby Shield

SLAS appoints independent committee for investigation

Pakistan lose key players for last two T20Is against New Zealand