Heavy earthquake in Japan

Japan just got hit by a fairly major quake. We're still getting constant aftershocks. Over here there is no damage, just a lot of mess and a very big fright.

Are the other Japan-based Niners doing alright?

Stay safe. See you at MIX.

MAJOR damage further to the north due to tsunami.

Wow, this is going to be a major disaster... Hope the death toll is low but I fear the worst

@Sven Groot:

http://www.youtube.com/user/aljazeeraenglish?blend=1&ob=4

Shudder to see all those cars and trucks which are still running on the road, when the massive body of water is engulfing things just behind them ....

I hope and pray that death toll remains low ...

Wow! Tsunami visualized:

@Minh: that's incredible.

Good to see you are unharmed, Sven.  Much damage where you are?

Herbie

I took this image from the JMA site, showing the strength of the tremors at each location:

The part of Tokyo that I'm in was listed as "5 Lower". Considerig how intense this was I can't imagine what it must have been like for the 6 Upper (or even the lone 7) areas.

I'm just very, very thankful that I'm alive and well, and that everyone I know is as well. My heart goes out to those who suffered more today, and I hope Japan will have the strength to pull through.

Even though the effects here were mild compared to the tsunami-stricken areas, it's still weird. The supermarket, normally open 24/7, is closed for the first time in the four years I've lived here. Convenience stores have been picked completely clean, nothing edible is left. Trains still aren't running even in Tokyo, leaving millions of people stranded in the city. Still, those are minor inconveniences compares to those who lost their homes or loved ones today.

Meanwhile, the aftershocks continue unabated (including another medium-heavy one right as I'm typing this). I've heard some experts say it could go on for months, which I'm not looking forward to. It's pretty nerve-wracking.

Glad to hear you are OK over there Sven.  You came to mind as soon as I saw the news coverage this morning.  The devastation could have been so much worse if not for the high building standards over there.  Best wishes to the people of Japan in picking up the pieces.

I've been feeling quite miserable as Edinburgh has been remarkably windy and cold, which pales into insignificance when you see the brutality of nature in your location.

Good to know you're safe and unharmed, thank your lucky stars!

I felt sick to my stomach reading/seeing/hearing about this, this morning.  Watching the tsunami wash buildings, cars, and people away in seconds is heart wrenching.  I'm also glad you're doing ok, Sven.

Wow. I didn't even know the Richter scale goes that high. Good luck and everything, but I doubt you'll need it.

Well, it's the next day after a rather restless night (kept being woken up by aftershocks). Looking around my area it's hard to believe anything happened at all; there's no damage, and I'm very glad for that.

The supermarket was open again, and incredibly crowded. Everyone's hoarding stuff like crazy. The trains are running again (though not everywhere at full capacity). But it seems life goes on, at least in Tokyo.