A magnitude 8.9 earthquake hit Japan at 1446 Tokyo time. This is the strongest earthquake ever recorded in Japan. The epicenter was 231 miles northeast of Tokyo, about 80 miles off the eastern coast of Sendai. The earthquake also triggered large tsunami waves moving both into Japan and eastward across the Pacific. Tokyo's Narita Airport has been closed, and utilities and communications are disrupted.
The American Red Cross and Google have set up web pages to assist in locating people in the area.
Those links are:
• Red Cross person search
• Google Japan Person Finder
• The Google page in Japanese
Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan can be referred to the U.S. Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202-647-5225.
A tsunami warning is in effect for the Pacific, including Hawaii and the Pacific coasts of the United States, Central America, and South America.
• Hawaii Red Cross tsunami coverage on twitter
• NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
• Reuters tsunami map
News story links:
• Reuters
• BBC
• NY Times
• LA Times
Charitable and relief organizations are establishing relief funds. Please consider contributing to the organization of your choice.
