Amid melee online, Japan met agency lifts tsunami advisory

BANGALORE, INDIA: Japan got a tsunami scare yet again on Friday, as a quake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale hit the northeastern coastline of Japan.

As a result, it was reported that a one-metre wave crashed into Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture, following which many local residents were asked to move to higher ground.

Soon after the news of the earthquake broke out, it brought back the bad memories of 2011 and online fora were abuzz with panic and rumors doing routine rounds.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there was no risk of a widespread tsunami and there was no news of any casualities. An advisory, however, was issued as a precautionary measure, only to be lifted soon across Japan by the Japan Meteorological Agency.

In the meantime, online platforms like Twitter, where news spreads faster than wildfire, there was panic, fear, caution and care for near and dear ones.

Television personality Mandira Bedi (from her Twitter handle ‏@mandybedi) tweeted, "Am sorry to hear about the EarthQuake in Japan.. Hoping now that the damage and loss of lives is at its minimum.." (sic)

An ultra-terrified user, Ben, @b16gold, said, "The world's ending is supposed to start with an earthquake that triggers other earthquakes.... Uh oh #japan." (sic)

Many people, who had their friends or relatives visiting Japan during this part of the year, were concerned to the core. Susie ‏(@excusemykisses) tweeted, "Dear lord, please protect my cousins who flew to Japan today. :(." (sic)

"7.3 magnitude Earthquake strikes Japan & 1 meter high tsunami hits Miyagi prefecture! Hoping for everyone's safety!" (sic) wrote Siti Muthiah Tohir.

It was not without any reason, though, as the March 2011 earthquake and the resultant tsunami wreaked havoc in the lives of about 20,000 and triggered a deadly leak in the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant.

Now, that the tsunami warning has been lifted, they can afford themselves a sigh of relief. Tell us how you feel as well.