The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 05-03-20

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Magnitude of seven points Strong Earthquake in Japan

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: Reuters

A strong earthquake, measuring 7 according to a Japanese measuring system, similar to the Richter scale, occurred at 10.53 this morning (local time) on the island of Kyushu, the countrys third largest island. Latest reports speak of one person dead, raising the number of injured to 350. Some houses collapsed, others have been badly damaged, while damage was also caused to the water pipes. The authorities fear strong aftershocks of up to 6 points.

Low Depth

The epicentre of the strong earthquake was in the sea off the city of Fukuoka, and was not at a great depth.

Initially, the town authorities issued a tsunami warning, but they recalled the warning one hour later, nonetheless asking the residents not to approach the seafront.

Owing to the earthquake, Fukuoka airport temporarily closed down operations, in order to check for possible damage.

One hour later, it reopened as normal.

The railway network and the metro train system also temporarily closed, although at this time the trains are now running as normal.

The earthquake did not cause any damage to the two nuclear installations on the island, Saga and Kagoshima.

Felt as Far as Seoul

The earthquake, which was felt as far away as Seoul, caused panic amongst the residents of the island.

"The earthquake was so strong that I thought the house would fall down," stated Toshiwoki Yashukawa, a local official in the town of Shu outside of Fukuoka.

From the very first moment, the authorities were at the ready, with officials gathering at the prime ministers residence in Tokyo in order to coordinate movements.

Unusual for the Area

According to Katuguki Abe, a seismologist at the University of Tokyo, an earthquake of such a magnitude is extremely rare in that area. He adds that a similar quake, of seven points, had not occurred in the area for over 300 years.

In general terms, Japan is one of the worlds most earthquake-prone countries.

Japan sees 20% of the largest earthquakes on Earth, seismic activity that tends to be in the region of six points and upwards.

In November 2004, an earthquake measuring 6.8 struck the area of Nyigata in northern Japan, killing 40 people and injuring over 3000.

Translated by Millie Williams

[02] Qatar's first suicide attack Terror in Doha Theatre

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: Reuters, Aljazeera

A performance of terror was yesterday in store for the people, mainly Westerners, who went to the central Doha theatre to watch the play "Twelfth Night" by William Shakespeare. A suicide bomber drove his car packed with explosives to the theatre and detonated, resulting in the death of the bomber himself and a Briton, and injuring a further twelve people. So far, no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, last Thursday, the leader of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia released a message warning of a new wave of attacks in many Arab countries, including Qatar.

Al Qaeda's Thursday Warning

In contrast with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, hotbeds of activity for Al Qaeda, yesterdays incident was the first time that a suicide attack took place in Qatar.

The authorities in Qatar have not confirmed whether the incident is connected to similar attacks that took place in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, stating that at this stage they are collecting information about the attack.

The attack occurred on the anniversary of two years since the start of the war in Iraq, while last Thursday, the leader of Al Qaeda in Saudi Arabia released a video taped message warning of a new wave of attacks in Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.

Car Belonged to Egyptian man

According to Al Jazeera, most of the casualties are Arabs and Asians.

The attack was carried out while the play "Twelfth Night" by Shakespeare was being performed, and there were about 100 people in the theatre.

The countrys Interior Ministry stated that the car used for the attack belonged to an Egyptian, who has been missing since last Sunday.

Translated by Millie Williams

[03] Meeting with Erdogan on Monday Karamanlis in Brussels

By Annita Paschalinou

Sources: NET 105.8

Bilateral, fiscal issues, the Cyprus problem and the state of the Kosovo Plain will be at the focus of the meeting this evening in Berlin between the Prime Minister Mr Kostas Karamanlis and the German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. On Monday, the Prime Minister will go to Brussels, where the European Union Spring Summit Meeting is to be held. In the context of the Summit, Mr Karamanlis will hold a meeting with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Speaking on Saturday to the Central Committee of ND, Kostas Karamanlis repeated the position of support from Greece towards Turkeys prospects in Europe and expressed his wish that the pending talks with his Turkish counterpart will prove fruitful, and that Turkey will respond to its European obligations.

Translated by Millie Williams

[04] In the mountain village Peta, Arta Xirokabos Murderer Arrested

By Annita Paschalinou

This morning in the village of Peta, Arta, 44-year-old Dimitris Mazarakos, the man who on Wednesday morning shot and killed 16-year-old schoolpupil Christos Roumeliotis at Xirokabos, Arta, was arrested. The man was first located by a local resident, who informed the police, who then arrested him and took him to the Arta Police Station. The police had mounted a search to find and arrest him since last Wednesday morning, when the unprecedented incident occurred. Draconian security measures are in force outside the building of Arta Police Station, as there are fears that relatives and fellow-villagers of the victim may try to attack the arrestee.

Translated by Millie Williams

Related News:

17-Year-Old's Murderer at Large

Student Murdered in Arta

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