Japan was hit by another powerful earthquake at around 09:57 local time (00:57 GMT). The earthquake was recorded at 7.1 in the Richter Scale. It hit Japan on Sunday July 10, 2011. United States Geological Services at the depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) near the epicenter of the most devastating earthquake that hit Japan last March 11, 2011.
Tsunami was issued after the earthquake was detected. Japan Meteorological Agency warned for a possibility of a 20 inches Tsunami to hit the northeastern coast of Japan. Residents of Ofonatu, a city in Iwate were immediately evacuated after the warning.
When the estimated time of arrival of the big waves was due, the people had only observed smaller waves measuring about 10 to 20 centimeters contrary to the foreceast of JMA. There were no immediate casualties reported and the Tsunami warning was cancelled after all estimated waves had arrived on the shores.
The 7.1 earthquake which has it’s epicenter at 130 miles off the coast of Sendai. It was located in the Pacific ocean off the coast of the main Japanese island of Honshu where Sendai located.
According to a geophysicists working for the USGS, Dale Grant stated that “”It’s just a continuing of the aftershocks of that devastating 9.0” said Grant referring to the previous March 11 earthquake. He further adds that “These kinds of aftershocks are likely to occur for some time.” said the geophysicist from USGS.
The 7.1 Japanese earthquake may not be as strong as the previous one that devastated the same place during the March 11 earthquake but one thing for sure the fear of the people for their lives was still there.
The structures also that were previously earthquake resistant were already weakened due the damage brought about by the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan last March 11. The seawall and other early warning devices were still recovering from the damaged brought about by the worst earthquake that ever heat the country.
Japan was one of the country that was prone to earthquake although their latest advancement in technology had helped a lot in combating the earthquake and tsunamis that visited the islands but the power of nature was more powerful compared to their advancement in technology.