Deadly quake

last updated 8 January 2015

Nagaoka, Japan

The worst earthquake in nearly a decade hit northern Japan this week, killing at least 30 people and injuring more than 3,000. Tens of thousands of residents in the rural, mountainous region of Niigata had to camp in shelters for days, waiting out torrents of rain that touched off several landslides. The rice-growing region is famous for its sake, but this year’s vintage may not be salvageable because tremors badly damaged several breweries. The quake, which measured 6.8 on the Richter scale, also derailed a bullet train that was traveling 125 mph, but no passengers were hurt. Japan is all too familiar with seismic activity. The country accounts for around 20 percent of the world’s earthquakes measuring 6.0 or higher.