On Sunday, Northern Italy was rocked by a magnitude-6.0 earthquake. In the process, many cheese factories in the region suffered damage — and it is estimated that over 300,000 wheels of cheese, thought to be worth at least $US320 million, have been destroyed.
I’ve lived in California all my life. While I shrug off any earthquakes below a 5.0, I know that the “Big One” is coming. That’s what they’ve been telling me all my life. The “Big One” is coming and we’re all doomed. To feed my paranoia of falling into the Pacific Ocean, Popular Mechanics has an app to track earthquakes. Awesome?
A second earthquake—magnitude 7.4—has hit northeastern Japan, prompting a tsunami warning. The quake, strong enough to move buildings in Tokyo, hit 125km north of the devastated Fukushima plant, where officials are now checking for further damage. [BBC]
In an environment as inhospitable as Japan’s wasted Fukushima nuclear plant, there’s no feasible way for humans to partake in salvage efforts. Which is why Japan has called on the services of 23 brave rescue robots to enter the heart of darkness.
CNN has a great story on Akiko Kosaka, the Japanese exchange student in California, and the internet search for her family, who were among those affected by the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in the small fishing town of Minamisanriku.
In addition to their updated Google Earth imagery, Google has created a Picasa album full of before and after shots of Japan following the devastating earthquake and Tsunami.
This first-person view is the most terrifying and unbelievable video I’ve seen of the Japan tsunami. Initially everything seems ok, just a mild wave coming towards the camera. Then, the sea goes Godzilla on the city, destroying everything it finds.
