A great earthquake occurred at 19:50:08 (UTC) on Thursday, September 25, 2003. The magnitude 8.0 event has been located in the HOKKAIDO, JAPAN REGION.
Two more quakes; one meauring 7.0, as well as a 7 foot tsunami have followed the main temblor.
The quake struck in the Pacific Ocean, about 65 miles south-southwest of Kushiro and 495 miles north-northeast of Tokyo, said John Minsch, a USGS geophysicist. The quake was shallow.
The quake has knocked out power, rocked several buildings, and derailed a local train. Over 120 people have been reported injured.
Fires have been reported in the city of Tomakomai. Plumes of black smoke and flames are seen rising from an industrial area.
The local government is warning residents to avoid the coastal regions due to the possibility of tsunami or high ocean waves.
Thursday, September 25, 2003 at 19:50:08 (UTC) = Coordinated Universal Time
Friday, September 26, 2003 at 4:50:08 AM = local time at epicenter
Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
105 km (65 miles) SSW of Kushiro, Hokkaido, Japan
210 km (130 miles) SSE of Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
800 km (495 miles) NNE of TOKYO, Japan
7140 km (4430 miles) NE of MOSCOW, Russia
