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Though we may not feel the waves of the tsunami that hit nearly all parts of the Pacific Rim Thursday night and into Friday morning, the effect of the record 8.9 earthquake in Japan that caused it can be felt locally. Initial reports say 200-300 bodies were seen in flood waters in Sendai, near the earthquake’s epicenter. Japanese coast guard officials have reported a ship carrying 80 dock workers was swept away as the tsunami hit the northeastern coast. No official damage or death toll has been released. KNIA/KRLS News spoke Friday morning with Sheri Roslien of Pella, whose brother Kyle Timmer, also of Pella is a teacher in Tokyo, approximately 200 miles from the epicenter. She says he’s okay, and has described his trip home to her as “unworldly”, as he walked home with millions of other Tokyo residents following the shutdown of transportation systems. Timmers is a teacher at an all girl’s school in Tokyo. He told his sister that despite the closed transportation systems, his apartment withstood the tremor, and the building still had power when he arrived home. Roslien says she is happy to have heard positive news from Japan, and relieved to know her brother is well. Sheri and Kyle are the children of Gary and Maureen Timmer of Pella.

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