Japanese city blanketed in ‘mysterious foam’ after deadly earthquakes (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
The streets of a southern Japanese city became blanketed in foam after a devastating earthquake, close to its epicenter in Kumamoto, leaving residents baffled by the phenomenon which the authorities, busy with the disaster’s aftermath, found no time to explain.
The froth appeared shortly after disastrous tremors from a 7.3 magnitude quake shook the city of Fukuoka on Friday. Twitter users posted photos of the snow-like foam sheet and wondered what caused it.
地震で地下から泡は出るわ(福岡天神)
— ロキア (@R0KlA) April 15, 2016
ラウンドワン上のピンは落ちてくるわ
コンビニの中はグッチャグチャになるわ
大変やな......地震ってあんまり経験してないから気おつけとこ、皆さんもお気をつけて pic.twitter.com/5lQNuyK0Sd
The unexplained phenomenon affected the downtown Tenjin and Imaizumi areas of Fukuoka, according to reports.
天神が謎の泡、、？ pic.twitter.com/H4YP8KFcWp
— TAKAFUMI (@The_takafumi) April 15, 2016
Some speculated that it may be the result of a burst underground pipe caused by the earthquake. Others suggested it could have been common firefighting foam, although no fire trucks could be seen anywhere in the photos.
福岡の天神どうしたん
— はるぴよ⑅⃝ (@_xPIYOx_) April 15, 2016
泡だらけやん pic.twitter.com/JE2QKxayBT
天神あわ吹いてる pic.twitter.com/GX8Hhpz8tZ
— 関原ゆうき (@yuuking1015) April 15, 2016
One witness however believes he has solved the mystery… claiming it was caused by a burst fire sprinkler in front of a friend’s store.
今泉にある友達の店の前が、スプリンクラー破裂で泡まみれになっとる。皆さん、大丈夫でしょうか？#地震pic.twitter.com/1HkxGJHYFY
— 岩本壮一郎(平成の相場師) (@ilinkCEO_NOW) April 15, 2016
The death toll from Japan’s two earthquakes has reached over 40 while 90,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.
Over 200 aftershocks have hit Japan following the initial Thursday tremor of 6.5-magnitude, which hit the city of Kumamoto on the island of Kyushu.
