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2020 Tokyo Olympics: Magnitude 6.0 Earthquake Strikes Off the Coast of Japan

As if the 2020 Tokyo Olympics couldn’t get any more interesting. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake has reportedly struck the coast of the Ibaraki prefecture in Japan. 

According to Insider, the earthquake hit about 5:30 a.m. local time Wednesday and the shaking could be felt by those attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) suggests the earthquake’s epicenter was 40km – around 25 miles – deep off the coast of Japan. The organization says that there is no threat of a tsunami, which can be an aftermath situation of an earthquake. 

2020 Tokyo Olympic Attendees React to Earthquake

NBC anchor Lester Holt, who is attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, took to his Twitter and announced he felt the earthquake. “I felt what appeared to be a mild earthquake here in Tokyo around 5:33,” Holt states. He also says that things “rolled” for a good 20 seconds. “Interestingly, my crew 3 floors below me felt nothing.”

The Sun reveals Mark Beretta, the Australian reporter who is attending the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, was reporting for Sunrise when the earthquake began. “Welcome to the Olympic city where we are currently in an earthquake, an earth tremor,” Beretta states. He also notes that the roof above him and his crew is moving. “You might notice our lights and camera are moving as well.”

The media outlet notes the 2020 Tokyo Olympics’ Village has shelter in the event of a higher magnitude earthquake. It includes a seawall built to stop tsunamis as tall as 6.5 feet. 

2020 Tokyo Olympics Volunteers Also Share Their Stories Of 2011 Earthquake

Earlier this week, NBC’s New York 4 reported some of the volunteers at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics are offering to share their 2011 earthquake stories.

The natural disaster devastated the area that the Games are taking place in. The 2011 Tokyo earthquake had a magnitude of 9.0-9.1. More than 18,000 people died in the disaster, which includes 10,000 in the Miyagi prefecture. One 2020 Tokyo Olympics volunteer has passed out handmade flyers that state, “Welcome to Miyagi Stadium. The gymnasium next door was the largest morgue for tsunami victims.

Atsushi Muramatsu, the volunteer who made the flyers, told the media outlet that he believes that residents in disaster-hit areas want to express gratitude for support from overseas. “I also want to keep delivering a message that we want to be remembered.”

Mieko Onuma, another volunteer at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, also says she wants to return the favor to the countries that supported the reconstruction by sharing her experience. “When the disaster happened, I was working as a teacher at an elementary school. I feel a sense of duty to tell what happened that day, so I tell my stories here.”

Muaramtus goes on to add, “I want to pass on the message to the next generation that we have received so much support from overseas and we shall never forget that support.”