12/7/2004

It may sound unbelievable in hi-tech Japan, but there is NO fast online resource for earthquake information. The Japanese Weather Service who handles earthquakes has a website that seems to runs on just one dial-up modem line and it has NEVER EVER functioned after a large earthquake. As in all offices in Japan, here in my office we have to find a TV to get earthquake news. Yahoo’s entry will be a great service to the nation.
Thank you Yahoo! Japan.

Yahoo Japan to start providing quick info on quakes
Yahoo Japan, the country’s largest Internet portal site operator, will introduce a system in which the information will be displayed on the top page of the site…. will include what time an earthquake occurred, which area it hit, where its focus was, in addition to the intensity

See also: NTT DoCoMo to prioritise SMS in event of disasters–Geekzone, 08/04/2004 20:17:00 NZ