We just got hit by a rather large shaking of the earth, far more potent than anything I've been through. It was a 6.9 in Iwate, the prefecture north of us, and local sensors say we got hit with a high five/low six. The coffee in the coffee pot was sloshing up and almost out of the carafe (which was less than half full), the shelving unit in the kitchen swayed back and forth like an able seaman on his first day of shore leave, and when it was all over many of our belongings were scattered hither and fro around the house. We're still getting aftershocks now, thirty minutes later.
Everything is all right, and the friends we have contacted so far are all right as well, so anyone hearing about the earthquake that hit Northern Japan: yes, it hit us, but no, not too hard.
Every few seconds I think I feel another shake though. It's going to be a little while before I trust the stability of the ground again. I suppose that may be because we are still shaking: five minutes ago there was a 5- earthquake in northern Miyagi, one of the largest aftershocks to hit yet. We got hit with a 2, which was 1/1000 or less of the power of the initial shock. 'Twas but a tender massage.
--EDIT--
This is insane: according to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the Naruko area is still shaking with 5- quakes every few minutes. It must be terrifying up there. It's scary to think this is happening only a short train ride to the north.
Comments
It was scary enough before...
Wow. It was tough when you and Jon and I got that little shake in the night time, this one sounds downright scary! Hopefully the excitement has died down a bit by now, though?
Not really
They are still looking for a number of people, and the aftershocks are still hitting. We got a pretty big one last night. All trains are still stopped, as far as I know, until the activity dies down in the region. There could be another big one at any time. It's nerve wracking, but everyone bucks up and goes about their daily routine.