At 2:46 pm local time, a massive earthquake hit Japan, causing
between 200 and 300 deaths and hundreds more reported missing
(at the time of this writing). Thousands of residents are
evacuating in the wake of the tsunami that followed, and coastal
flooding has resulted in extensive damage to rice fields, homes,
and entire towns. The quake itself sparked at least 80 fires,
according to Japan’s Kyodo News Service, and residents have felt
67 aftershocks with magnitudes as big as 7.1. The epicenter was
approximately 230 miles to the northeast of Tokyo. Japan is no
stranger to earthquakes, but this 8.9 event is being called the
biggest in 100 years. Waves from the tsunami have rocked the
Pacific Ocean and reached the shores of Hawaii. They are
expected to reach the west coast of the United States this
morning but serious damage is not expected. Residents of
California are not, however, advised to visit the shores today.
The Red Cross is now accepting donations for earthquake relief.
(Top pic via Business Insider,