In the span of two days, Japan has dealt with a major earthquake and plane crash.
© Ronald W. Erdrich/Reporter-News via Imagn Content Services, LLC + © AP Photo/Hiro Komae
(Tokyo) – As Japan was left reeling by a 7.6 magnitude earthquake that killed at least 48 people and left upward of 30,000 without power — the Asian island nation is dealing with more disaster Tuesday. A Japan Airlines plane appears to have collided with a Japanese Coast Guard aircraft in Tokyo, causing Flight 516 to burst into flames as it streaked across the runway.
Amazingly, reports say nearly all of the 380 passengers and crew were able to make it out of the flaming plane. That said, five members of the Coast Guard crew are unaccounted for. Dramatic images are making the rounds on social media and TV news networks showing the large jet completely engulfed in flames.
As for the earthquake, which struck near a peninsula on Japan’s west coast, more aftershocks could be coming. At least one tsunami resulted, though warnings have since been downgraded. Hawaii was never affected by a tsunami risk, according to US officials. The Japanese prime minister has dispatched thousands of soldiers to the affected region in western Japan, as roadways have been severely damaged and officials are using helicopters to make rescues and assess damage.
