Damn, That Felt Big
October 6th, 2004
The quake we just felt was a 5.8 on the Richter scale, depending on who’s saying, but it felt big
–the biggest one I’ve been in so far (again–they seem to be getting bigger as time goes by, or maybe just closer), this one almost up to get-the-hell-under-a-door-frame-now big. That one shook the whole apartment visibly–not quite enough to throw things off tables or out of cabinets, but it was close. So far, no reports of serious damage.
The quake was close, in southwestern Ibaraki, right close to where Tokyo, Saitama and Chiba are in proximity to Ibaraki. As far as I can figure, it was just 50 km (30 mi.) from central Tokyo, about 75 km from where I am.
Yikes.
It’s weird–I was walking home from the station just then and I hear this big rattle, like dozens of shop shutters being pulled down for the night. But I didn’t feel it. I just thought, hmmmm, that’s a weird noise. Then I notice the ubiquitous net of electrical cables overhead and the lamp posts are swaying like crazy. Some people were looking up, but others seemed oblivious. My husband was white (no pun intended) when I got home–said it was REALLY big and some framed photos had been knocked down. First time we’ve had something knocked off a shelf that I can remember.
Better make sure your earthquake survival kit is ready!