Earthquake: No Worries

There was an earthquake here early this morning (03:30 to be exact) measuring 6.2 on the (worthless) Richter scale, according to this article.

The earthquake had an intensity of only 2 here in Yokohama, according to the Japan Meteorological Agency. "What does that mean, an intensity of two?" my more astute readers may be asking? Well, allow me to introduce you to the wonder that is the Japanese Meteorological Agency Seismic Intensity Scale, or JMASIS for short, though no-one calls it that but me--Japanese people use its real name: 震度 (shindo).

An intensity of 2, according to the 震度 scale, means: "Felt by many people in the building. Some sleeping people awake. 0.025–0.08 m/s²". And by "the building", they mean our building. And by "some sleeping people", they mean Lyani and I. The shaking only lasted 15 seconds or so, and we went right back to sleep.

Don't worry, no serious injuries or major damage was reported. One such quake is expected every month in Japan, which sits (unwisely) astride not one, two, or even three, but four major tectonic plates. Lyani and I have felt three so far in the three-and-a-half months we have been here, so I guess the Law of Averages has not been revoked.