http://video.kcts9.org/video/1737194182

BANDA ACEH, Indonesia (Reuters) - On Wednesday, a strong 8.6 magnitude earthquake and several strong aftershocks struck off Indonesia, forcing people to flee their homes as far away as southern India. However, there appeared to be little risk of a devasting tsunami similar to the one that struck in 2004.

Even in Aceh, the nearest province and the region that was devastated by the disaster eight years ago, no reports of damage or casualties had been received for several hours after the quakes, as Indonesia claimed to be doing.

It might take some time to determine whether there was any damage, though, since some of the isolated locations near to the epicenter are.

There was widespread fear of more tremors.

One year after the terrible Great East Japan Earthquake, the world mourns the loss of life, pays its respects, and considers ways to stop similar tragedies in the future.

As Fukushima Prefecture and the country rebuild from the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, JAPAN'S indomitable spirit has been on soulful display for the past 12 months.

Events starting at 10 a.m. will honor the March 11, 2011, tragedy that claimed 20,000 lives. to 3 p.m. at Seattle Center on Sunday. The Fisher Pavilion is the site of the opening ceremony. At 2 p.m. The International Fountain's Kobe Bell, to the north, will ring. At 2:46 PM, there will be a minute of silence. when a 9.0 earthquake hit Japan's northeast shore and a 46-foot wall of water followed it.

President Obama commemorated the one-year anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan and caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant to experience a nuclear meltdown.

In a statement released on Friday, Obama lauded the "amazing endurance" of the Japanese people as well as American efforts to aid in their recovery.

US," Obama stated. Experts still support Japan's ongoing attempts to address the issues brought on by Fukushima.

Obama appointed a task committee to assess safety at the 104 nuclear reactors in the US in the wake of the Fukushima accident. The task force made a number of safety reform recommendations last year, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is attempting to put into practice.

There is now a possibility of 100-foot tsunami surges along the NW coast.

Emergency planners in the Northwest are unsure whether a similar earthquake here would cause a tsunami to be far larger than expected in light of last year's megaquake and tsunami in Japan.
NOAA
A computer simulation displays the path taken by a tsunami produced by an earthquake of magnitude 9 off the Northwest Coast. Scientists are trying to determine whether the large waves produced by the earthquake in Japan last year means a similar earthquake here could produce larger-than-expected tsunamis. Wave sizes are indicated by darker hues.

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) - After a strong earthquake struck the western Indonesian coast, authorities there issued a tsunami warning.

According to the USGS, the earthquake, which occurred 260 miles (420 kilometers) off the coast of Aceh province, had a preliminary magnitude of 7.3.

Its center was 30 kilometers (18 miles) below the surface of the ocean.

A tsunami warning has been issued, according to geological agency representative Arief Akhir.

Due to its location on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a ring of volcanoes and fault lines encircling the Pacific Basin, Indonesia is vulnerable to seismic tremors.

On December 26, 2004, a massive earthquake off the nation sparked a tsunami in the Indian Ocean that killed 230,000 people, almost half of them in Aceh.

Fischer Broadcasting is hosting the first "What If?" Expo, this Saturday from 10-5.  Disaster preparedness and response experts will be exhibiting and presenting. 

Visit Sound Seismic's table to discuss retrofitting with Leif or Erik.  Or stop by the seminar stage at 3:30 to hear Leif talk about how our homes can be reinforced to resist earthquake damage.