2 killed in Japan quake
By Tanya Bricking
Advertiser Staff Writer
UWAJIMA, Japan — Two people were killed and more than a dozen injured today when a 6.4 earthquake struck southwestern Japan.
In Ehime prefecture, a 50- year-old woman was crushed by a balcony when she tried to escape her home.
Another woman was killed in Hiroshima when her house collapsed on her.
Immediately after the quake, restaurants emptied as people were cautioned not to use fire for fear explosions from possible gas leaks. Television showed water was leaking from broken pipes.
The quake shattered windows across the region, causing injuries including a woman in Toyo who suffered cuts when a window of a pachinko parlor broke.
In Saijyo Harbor, the driver of a crane was injured by falling debris.
In Matsuyama, two hours by train from Uwajima, walls fell down on several buildings and phones were out.
Videos and books tumbled from shelves at stores and many business closed for cleanup.
For students who were rescued from the Ehime Maru fishing boat that sank after a collision with the submarine USS Greeneville off O'ahu, Japan's frequent earthquakes are a grim reminder of the accident.
Takahiro Hosokawa, father of Ehime Maru student Hiroyuki Hosokawa, said his son was afraid during a recent quake because it reminded the boy of the sounds he heard when the Ehime Maru sank and its lights went off.
Today's quake, centered about 38 miles below ground, struck at 3:28 p.m. local time midway between Hiroshima and Ehime, about 430 miles southwest of Tokyo, the Meteorological Agency said.
"There was a terrible shaking and some products fell on to the floor," said Takuya Ueda, a cashier at a convenience store in Hiroshima. "It lasted a long time, about 30 seconds, but there was no panic inside the store."
Train service was stopped, and the airport in Hiroshima closed for inspection. Telephone service was also disrupted, but there was no report of electrical blackouts.
Smoke could be seen rising from at least two places in Hiroshima, but officials could not immediately confirm whether it was from fires caused by the quake.
Michiyo Koniki, a police spokesman in neighboring Tottori prefecture, said the quake caused a slow rocking motion that lasted about 15 to 20 seconds.
He said there were no reports of injuries, damage to buildings or fires in Tottori.
In Hiroshima city, buildings swayed violently and people had trouble standing.
Television footage taken from inside NHK's Hiroshima office showed hanging lights shaking and employees leaving their desks to head for the exits. Telephone service in the area was also interrupted briefly.
A magnitude 6 quake can seriously damage houses and buildings in a populated area. Today's quake was located offshore and relatively deep, which may have lightened its impact somewhat.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
