Tokyo earthquakes aren’t all that uncommon. In fact, the entire region is somewhat unstable thanks to the geological makeup of the islands. It’s still unsettling to feel the earth rumble, especially since the wounds from the 2011 Tohoku earthquake still haven’t healed.
Reuters is reporting that Tokyo and surrounding regions was hit by an earthquake early Monday morning. The quake was said to have hit 6.2 magnitude on the Richter scale and had an epicenter 160 km below the ocean. Thankfully, no damage has been reported and everything, including nuclear power plants, are operating smoothly.
Even if it caused no damage, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake is nothing to scoff at. It’s still easily felt and those living in and visiting Tokyo certainly felt it. It’s not uncommon to see celebrities in Japan and singer John Mayer was tweeting about it today. He said it was the biggest he’s ever felt while staying in the country.
Earthquake just rolled through Tokyo for about a straight minute. Wild. Around a 5 magnitude, it seems. Biggest I've ever felt here.
— John Mayer (@JohnMayer) May 4, 2014
A more somber note came from Nintendo of America’s Bill Trinen who says today’s earthquake shared an epicenter with the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923.
Today's Tokyo quake had its epicenter near Izu-Oshima, which was also the epicenter of the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake.
— Bill Trinen (@trintran) May 4, 2014
For those unaware, the Great Kanto Earthquake was the worst earthquake in Japanese history up until 2011. A total of 105,385 people died with many perishing in the fires that erupted in the aftermath. While Monday’s earthquake was nowhere even close to the one that struck the Kanto region in 1923, it still rattles the nerves to think that something like that could happen again so soon after the events of 2011. After all, Japan is still hurting after an earthquake and tsunami that killed thousands and crippled the nuclear reactor in Fukushima.
While some were worried or reflecting on the past, others found humor:
There was an earthquake tonight in Tokyo. I sat down on the toilet and the earth started shaking I was like Whoa!
— KäSS OverLyfe (@KassaOverall) May 4, 2014
The last time Tokyo was hit by an earthquake was in December of last year. The earthquake was recorded at 5.5 magnitude so one could surmise that they’re only getting stronger. We can only hope that Tokyo and Japan as a whole gets a break. After what happened in 2011 and the years since, they’ve earned it.
Image via Wikimedia Commons
