2011 Japan Earthquake: Read about it!

So much for the evacuation of about 1.5 million people. Japan‘s weather agency made an apology on Monday for “crying wolf.” The feared tsunami turned out to be way smaller than expected.

Jiji news agency quoted Japan Meteorological Agency official Yasuo Sekita telling a news conference after all warnings and advisories had been lifted, “In the end, (the warning) was a bit excessive. I would like to apologize for the fact that the warning lasted so long.”

Experts, on the other hand, defended the Japanese weather agency’s decision to alert the residents of waves measuring 3 meters (9 ft 10 in) or more which was earlier believed could strike Japan’s Pacific coast.

Dailin Wang, an oceanographer at the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said, “I don’t question the wisdom of their warning. The key thing to remember is that they cannot underwarn. That is not an option.”

Tsunami warnings are highly common in Japan, as the country is prone to earthquakes. However, the tsunami alert issued on Sunday was the first ever in 17 years and the fourth since 1952.

(story from msnbc)