'Severe' Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Strikes Japan in Southern Inland Sea

By Eric Chen 13 Mar, 2014 18:29 EDT

An earthquake with magnitude 6.3 struck Japan in the inland sea separating the largest island of Honshu from the southern islands of Kyushu and Shikoku on March 13, 2014, the US Geological Survey reported Thursday afternoon.

The epicenter of the quake is located 31 miles NNE of Kyushu and 37 miles SSE of Yamaguchi, Honshu, 61 miles west of Matsuyama, Shikoku, and 375 miles SE of Seoul, South Korea, according to U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake struck at 2:06 a.m. on Friday (17:06 UTC).

No reports of damage or casualties have immediately followed. The USGS has released a 'green' alert, reporting "low likelihood of casualties and damage."

So far no tsunami warning has been issued.

Our team in Fukuoka #Japan just awakened by earthquake. All is well. Praying for rest, safety & for many to come to know Christ this weekend

— BGEA (@BGEA) March 13, 2014

According to RT.com, local TV reports of fire in Shunan city, on the east coast of Honshua, none are hazardous. In addition, the Shimane Nuclear Power Plant, located some 250 kilometers northeast of Shunan also confirmed that there have been no abnormalities caused by the quake.

The 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck just three days after the third anniversary of the Fukushima earthquake on April 11, 2011 and subsequent tsunami which caused the melt down of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants in Japan.

The magnitude-9 earthquake in Japan which was followed by a tsunami that had waves over 100 feet high claimed over 15,800 lives and over 2,600 people have been reported missing. In addition, the financial loss from the combined disasters was over $235 billion, making them the most expensive catastrophes in history.

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'Severe' Magnitude 6.3 Earthquake Strikes Japan in Southern Inland Sea

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.

Survey: Hong Kong teens generally identify with traditional Chinese cultural values

Global Lutherans celebrate Reformation Day, ‘trusting in the power of grace in a merciless time’.

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues

2.1M Korean Christians estimated at joint worship service to affirm family, oppose gay marriage, pray for nation

Many American churchgoers expect their pastors’ sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues
American churchgoers are looking for more than biblical explanation from their pastor each week. Many expect the sermons to help them understand and address modern cultural issues.