We got a big scare with the quake last night. Fortunately, however, its direct impact was not as severe as the “level 6 lower” shindo level seemed to indicate. Nonetheless, NHK spend a lot of air time (way over an hour) providing continuous coverage (which I think was mostly national). In this case, it turned out to be overkill, but I support the “when in doubt, err on the side of caution” approach.
Ultimately, it seems like the people who suffered the most as a result of the quake this time were those who depended on the Shinkansen to travel between Fukuoka and Kumamoto.
Of course, this quake could wind up being a prequel to a more serious one – as happened in 2016. So, it’s better not to assume that we have heard the last from Mother Nature in regard to this matter. I’m relieved, though, that last night, at least, it wasn’t as bad as it might have been.
– Kirk
