This afternoon, they have had a big earthquake with magnitude 7.1 in Kumamoto Pref, an area of southwest Japan. It has left extensive damages in the wide area. At a big shopping mall, the 2nd floor has collapsed and dozens of people, mainly the personnel, have been confined in the building. A high way was destroyed. Houses fell apart. No exact number of casualties is not reported yet. It is quite plausible that large number of people have been killed or injured.
I could not seismologically explain what has caused it. There is, however, the Median Tectonic Line, MTL, crossing Kumamoto Pref. MTL is recognized as a geological terminology but a fault, running from the central part to the southwestern part of our country. There have been a number of big earhquakes at various places along it in hundreds of years interval. It is really the largest fault.
Around this earthquake epicenter, there are 3 nuclear power plants, NPPs, located. Actually, 3 of them are running at present. Ikata NPP is very close to MTL, only 6km away from it, in Ehime Pref. of Shikoku Island. It is an isolated place where they could hardly rescue or support the NPP once a serious accident should occur. In addition to the other 2 NPPs, it should be stopped as soon as possible. Actually, only 10 years ago, they have had a couple of big earthquakes comparable to this one. The faults directly cause earthquakes are not MTL itself but it is highly suspected the area along MTL is "activated" now. At least, in geological time span.
Needless to say, the people affected by this disaster should be rescued soon. Without life line, it might be very tough for them to get through the situation in this hottest season of a year.
Glad you’re both OK Shin, 161, John K1JD
ReplyDeleteThanks, John. No quake at all here.
DeleteI was very sorry to hear of the earthquake in Kumamoto. Just a couple of days ago, I contacted Nobuo JA6GCE and I hope he and his family are all right.
ReplyDeleteI often wonder when the "big one" (earthquake) will happen in the Seattle area since we are also on the "Ring of Fire.".
When Denise and I were in Miyagi-ken, we experienced an earthquake that shook our building in the middle of the night and it was frightening. Luckily, there was no damage.
All the best to you and your family, Shin.
Thanks, Rob. Unfortunately, it seems our region in the world, a part of Pan Pacific Volcanic Belt, the Ring of Fire as you mentioned, has entered the seismologically active period. This earthquake seems to be caused by a fault belonging to the Median Tectonic Line. The fault runs south to the area of another nuclear power plant in Sendai city in Kagoshima, different from the big city in Miyagi. A geological researcher told there had been a fault running beneath the plant found decades ago. If the plant moves a feet or so due to a shift of the fault in any earthquake, the pipe lines necessary to cool the plant/nuclear fuel would be easily destroyed. It would result in the disaster which we have experienced in Fukushima in 2011. The other problem is that those nuclear power plants do not have enough proof to seismic acceleration as well. A big earthquake is known to cause larger seismic acceleration than that is postulated as an earthquake proof.
DeleteIn a word, we are on "a Russian roulette"!
I hope your area is spared with such a natural disaster. Wishing you and Denise safe and healthy life.