Strong quake hits southern Japan

Source: Al Jazeera
http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pacific/2010/02/20102262195240553.html


A strong earthquake has hit Japan's southern Okinawa island, prompting a tsunami warning for waves of up to two metres in some areas to be issued, but later withdrawn.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency said that the 6.9 quake occurred off the coast of the island of Okinawa at a depth of 10km at 5.31am on Saturday (2031 GMT on Friday).

The US Geological Survey said the earthquake had a 7.3 magnitude.

Noritomi Kikuzato, an Okinawa prefectural police official, said there were no reports of injuries or major damage.

Seiboku Sueyoshi, an official in Naha city, southern Okinawa, said: "First there was a strong vertical shake, then sideways. The strong quake lasted for about 10 seconds."

Small waves of around 10cms were recorded in southern areas of Okinawa island, Japan’s Meteorological Agency said, adding that additional minor surges of the sea level may still be seen near the island.

'Big one' feared

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas.

The country accounts for about 20 per cent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

Geologists warn that Japan is overdue for a massive and potentially devastating earthquake.

They point to an 87 per cent chance that the "Big One" - a magnitude-eight earthquake or worse - will strike the greater Tokyo region, home to around 35 million people, within the next 30 years.

The last time a massive earthquake struck Tokyo was in 1923, when the Great Kanto Earthquake claimed more than 140,000 lives, many of them in fires.

In October 2004, an earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 struck the Niigata region in northern Japan, killing 65 people and injuring more than 3,000.

That was the deadliest quake since a magnitude 7.3 tremor hit the city of Kobe in 1995, killing more than 6,400.

Iran ready to accept Japan's nuclear offer

Source: PressTV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=119540§ionid=351020104


Tehran says it is ready to hand over the construction of five nuclear power plants to Tokyo, if Japan is truly determined to shoulder the undertaking.

"Japan's participation and involvement in the construction of Iran's power plants will serve the interests of Japanese state and private companies. Iran's suggests that Japan start its job from a particular point, by building a nuclear power plant inside the country," visiting Head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of Iran's Majlis, Allaeddin Boroujerdi, remarked in Tokyo on Thursday.

The announcement comes after an earlier report by the Japanese newspaper Nikkei Business Daily reported that during a visit by Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Saeed Jalili, in December, Tokyo made an offer to construct five nuclear power plants for Tehran.

"The nuclear power plants are actually set to be built for energy production and have no other usage. They have nothing to do with the faults the United States and the Western states are trying to find with Iran," Boroujerdi added.

"The Iranian nuclear power plants have nothing to do with the differences of opinions between Iran and the United States. Russia has no problems in completing Bushehr power plant; the plant will be operational in the near future," Boroujerdi added.

"Iranian lawmakers believe that it's not logical that Japan pursue its interests through its relations with the United States; rather, it should decide itself," the Iranian official opined.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani announced on Thursday that Tehran will study Tokyo's offer to enrich uranium for Tehran.

"It has the substance to be worth discussing. We want to deepen the discussion on it," Nikkei Business Daily quoted Larijani as saying.

In early February Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ordered construction of 10 more nuclear facilities in the country. At this point, nearly 20 potential sites for the construction of 10 new enrichment facilities have been identified, the Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Ali Akbar Salehi, disclosed.

The senior Iranian official reiterated that Japan is viewed favorably by Iranian parliamentarians and the nation. Currently Japan cooperates with Iran on several major projects; the annual trade volume of the two states exceeds $11 billion.