Our hearts and thoughts are with the people of Japan, and the beautiful places we’ve been lucky enough to travel to. An 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit northern Japan today, triggering massive tsunamis. The quake struck just under 400 kilometres (250 miles) northeast of Tokyo, the US Geological Survey said. It was followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, one as strong as 7.1. Telecommunications in Japan are crippled as millions attempt to use a system affected by the tremor.
All of Tokyo’s suburban train network has been brought to a standstill, stranding hundreds of thousands of workers in the city. Tokyo airports are currently closed; other airports in Japan may be closed or have restricted access, the State Department reported. Tsunami warnings and watches have been issued for Hawaii, the U.S. territories of Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands as well as portions of coastal areas, including Alaska, California, Oregon and Washington. The U.S. Department of State issued a travel alert for Japan, advising U.S. citizens to avoid tourism and nonessential travel to Japan at this time.
Japanese are using
social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Mixi as cell phone networks are jammed.
Google has established its people finder service for those affected by the
8.9 registered earthquake and resulting tsunami today. The system can be used for those looking for both Japanese residents and for tourists visiting the country. We urge you to support our friends across the Pacific: follow
CNN Live Blog for minute-to-minute coverage, and donate to the
Red Cross Relief Fund. Text to 90999 and your gift will support Japan earthquake and pacific tsunami. If you are planning on travel to Japan and have any questions, contact Shah Travels on twitter @NKSPhotos or by email: nkshahphotos@gmail.
Included in this post are some of our favorites memories of travels to Japan. Share your memories and photos with us on Facebook (fan: Nihar K. Shah Photography)…
