Powerful Typhoon Neoguri Battered Okinawa

Japan urges thousands to evacuate as a powerful typhoon hits Okinawa with torrential rain and high winds. Katie Sargent reports

Powerful Typhoon Neoguri battered Okinawa on Tuesday bringing heavy rain and strong winds, high waves up to 14 meters (46 feet) high and storm surges that were set to intensify as the storm passed the main island of Okinawa in the evening.

The Okinawa government reported four people were injured, while a man was reported missing from a fishing boat in rough seas off Kyushu.

Typhoon Neoguri is one of the strongest and biggest typhoons to hit during Japan’s summer months.

The Japan Meteorological Agency said that Typhoon Neoguri was packing sustained winds of 194 kilometers (120 miles) per hour and gusts up to 240 kph (148 mph).

Local airports were closed and about 550,000 people were advised to evacuate their homes.

Forecasts show the storm tracking toward Kyushu island and then across Japan’s main island of Honshu. 

A man walks across a street amid strong winds in Naha, Okinawa, southern Japan, Tuesday, July 8, 2014. Powerful Typhoon Neoguri pounded across the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa on Tuesday, as residents took refuge from destructive winds, towering waves and storm surges. Airports closed and residents were evacuated from low-lying areas and shorelines as the typhoon passed over Okinawa, packing sustained winds of 175 kilometers (108 miles) per hour and gusts up to 250 kph (154 mph), the Japan Meteorological Agency said. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, CREDIT MANDATORY

Women walk in strong winds caused by typhoon Neoguri at Kokusai street, a shopping and amusement district in Naha, on Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, in this photo taken by Kyodo July 8, 2014. REUTERS/Kyodo

A powerful typhoon struck the southern Japanese islands of Okinawa on Tuesday, as residents took refuge from gale force winds, towering waves and storm surges. (July 8)

Powerful Earthquake Struck Chile

Another major earthquake happened  just after a 7.0 earthquake hit Okinawa.

A magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit central Chile early Saturday.

Chile is in South America.

At least 6 people were killed.

This is a very powerful earthquake.

May be more people were killed.

The earthquake was located near the city of Concepcion.

Concepcion is the second largest city in Chile.

The city is 212 miles (341km) from capital Santiago.

The earthquake struck at 3:34 am (1:34am ET).

There are reports of collapsed building in Santiago.

So far CNN has not reported the destruction in Conception.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for Chile and Peru.

Tsunami watch has been issued for Ecuador, Colombia, Panama and Costa Rica.

The center recorded a tsunami wave as high as 9 feet.

According to USGS the largest earthquake in the world was recorded in Chile.

It happened on May 22, 1960 with a magnitude of 9.5 killing 1665 people.

This is a real disaster and I am very sad to learn about this news.

I hope that we can stop the earthquakes.

Earthquake Strike Okinawa, Japan

Okinawa was hit by  a 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

It happened at 5:31 am (3:31pm Friday ET) early Saturday.

ET means USA’s Eastern Time.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency issued a tsunami advisory to the people in the Okinawa Islands, Amami Islands and Tokara Islands.

They should avoid the beaches and the sea.

Okinawa Flag

Amami Flag

Tsunami is giant waves.

The quake was centered about 6 miles (10km) deep and about 53 miles (85km) from Okinawa.

So far CNN said they haven’t received any news about the damage or casualty on the islands.

Anyway, I guess the aftermath will not be as bad as in the Haiti’s earthquake.

On 12 January 2010 Haiti was hit by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake that almost destroyed Port-au-Prince and killed hundreds thousands of people.

Earthquake is a natural disaster.

I think we must avoid earthquake.