Strong quakes shake coastal Japan, Indian Ocean
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
TOKYO, Aug 11 (AP): Two powerful earthquakes struck Asia early Tuesday, killing one and injuring dozens in coastal Japan and sending panicked residents into the streets as tsunami warnings were issued for countries skirting the Indian Ocean that were devastated by a deadly 2004 quake and tsunami.
The US Geological Survey said the first quake, registering magnitude 7.6, hit the Indian Ocean about 257 kilometres north of Port Blair in India's Andaman Islands. A tsunami watch was called for India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh, but was later lifted.
T Ramakrishnan, a police official in Port Blair, said there were no injuries or damage caused by the quake.
"But people ran out of their homes in fear as they remembered the 2004 tsunami".
The US Geological Survey said the first quake, registering magnitude 7.6, hit the Indian Ocean about 257 kilometres north of Port Blair in India's Andaman Islands. A tsunami watch was called for India, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Bangladesh, but was later lifted.
T Ramakrishnan, a police official in Port Blair, said there were no injuries or damage caused by the quake.
"But people ran out of their homes in fear as they remembered the 2004 tsunami".