By Michael Mroziak
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wbfo/local-wbfo-957168.mp3
Buffalo, NY – Earthquake researchers at the University at Buffalo will be busy over the next few days sorting through data coming from Japan's massive quake.
A magnitude 8.9 earthquake occurred struck near the east coast of Honshu, Japan,Friday at 12:46 a.m. EST. It was most powerful earthquake to hit Japan on record.
Scientists and engineers at the University at Buffalo and UB's MCEER, Multidisciplinary Center for Earthquake Engineering Research, met with local members of the media to discuss the powerful magnitude that also triggered tsunamis and evacuations throughout half the world.
Japanese students attending UB are trying to contact loved ones back home but are having problems with jammed or downed phone lines.
Keiko Ogata is a UB graduate student from Tokyo who tried for at least two hours before she got through to her family.
UB officials said, so far, all students currently taking part in exchange programs in Japan there are accounted for and safe.
You can click the above audio to listen to the news briefing held at UB's North Campus, Ketter Hall in the UB Structural Earthquake Engineering and Simulation Laboratory.