Magnitude 7.1 earthquake in southern Japan

Japan Meteorological Agency ^ | April 15, 2016

[rdl6989]

The quake was only 10km deep.

[Black Agnes]

Something wicked this way comes.

[CedarDave]

Just came up on the USGS map - 5.4

[A CA Guy]

You were not alone, everyone including scientists doing earthquake observation in Japan said that this was a flurry culminating at that point with a 6.4.
All of Japan and the bulk of scientists called this quake way ahead of time.
I read an article about it couple of days ago about a bigger one being expected this time.

[VanShuyten]

From NHK:

“On the road next to the paddy, the biggest crack is 2 meters wide. The height difference between the ground on each side is 70 centimeters.”

That’s pretty impressive.

[VanShuyten]

Two M 5.8 quakes were recorded on the NE rim of the Mt. Aso caldera (not the present day volcano).

The caldera is one of the largest in the world, and contains some great hot springs, which I can attest are some of the best in Japan.

[gleeaikin]

I have watched several hours of coverage on Japan news. The death toll is up to 29, and 1,600+ treated in hospitals. Roads out bridges damaged. Some areas isolated. Helicopters shown loading 10 people on board, or hauling up a litter by rope with injured person. Mud slides, a cascade of water over one destroyed road area, and they are predicting heavy rains this weekend.

Here are a number of photos and maps of the affected area.
https://www.google.com/search?q=japan+earthquake+april+2016+images+and+photos&biw=1600&bih=799&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwim-YypzJLMAhVENj4KHRObC6gQsAQIGw

[A CA Guy]

And that is with the greatest earthquake technology on earth.

[RayChuang88]

It seems to have about 30 years beginning and ending with a major volcanic eruption, and serious earthquakes within the cycle. We are at the end of the most recent 30 years, but so far no major eruption like Tambora or Katmai.

We came close with the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991--said by many to be one of the largest volcanic eruptions of the 20th Century. So much volcanic ash and sulfur dioxide was spewed out from Pinatubo that it caused far-above normal rains in California for essentially three winters.

The fear now is that either Mount Aso (which is just north of the very center of Kyushu island) or Sakurajima east of Kagoshima city could erupt in a BIG way like what Pinatubo did in 1991, which could cause tremendous damage to Kyushu with ashfalls as far east as Tokyo itself.

[gleeaikin]

Pinatubo and several others just before are what I would call the beginning of the 30 year cycle. I don’t know if the giant Fukushima earthquake was the end of the cycle or if we have a big volcano to look out for.