8.2 magnitude quake sparks tsunami warning

  • Published
  • By Petty Officer 3rd Class R.J. Moraida
  • American Forces Network
MISAWA AIR FORCE BASE, Japan (AFNEWS) --  For the second time in three months, servicemembers and families here found themselves under the threat of a tsunami after an 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck east of the Kuril Islands in the Pacific Ocean Jan. 13, sparking tsunami warnings and shaking buildings.

"I haven't been in an earthquake before. It felt like the whole building was shaking, (and I) heard some of my objects on my desk rattling around. Looking down, my feet were moving around all on their own," said Airman 1st Class Daniel Hogston.

A tsunami is a seismic sea wave caused by underwater earthquakes, landslides or volcanoes.

"We had residents coming inside wondering what was going on," said Brandy Adamic, a fitness specialist at the base fitness center, where televisions were tuned in to breaking news reports. "They hadn't heard anything and were just trying to make sure everything was going to be okay."

Misawa Air Base officials placed residents were under a brief tsunami warning and advised military personnel to stay away from beach areas and monitor local media for warning updates.

No damage was reported, and the tsunami warnings were later lifted.

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