Japan earthquake and tsunami warning

[Dacia Brabant]

Very sorry that this happened. I almost got a job teaching in Sendai, one of the hardest-hit places, so my heart goes out all the more to the people there.

I really hope any forumites or their families/friends who live in the affected areas are safe and unharmed.

[Chess435]

Update from the U.S. Pacific Coast: Things are nervous, and we've evacuated the areas next to the ocean. For the most part, schools are delayed but not canceled, at least up north where I live. The first waves are hitting, but they're not very high, a few feet at most.

[Killer Angel]

Kyodo News Agency reported more than 1.000 victims.
Fukushima's dam collapsed, hundreds of houses were wiped away.

I have no words...

[Haruki-kun]

Kyodo News Agency reported more than 1.000 victims.
Fukushima's dam collapsed, hundreds of houses were wiped away.

I have no words...

Watching the news right now. 1000 confirmed.

Note, if you're looking for someone in Japan or have information on someone in Japan right now, Google has a Person Finder for this situation. I don't know how trustworthy it is, but it was on the news.

[ObadiahtheSlim]

Okay they got the nuclear plant under control. They are running the troubled reactors coolant system off batteries now. The fire is in a turbine so they should get that under control before long. Looks like the worst is some gas and oil refineries that are still burning.

[Eldariel]

I'm just glad to hear that the casualties are so much lower than what they could be. Good job, Japan.

Natural disasters always lead in tragedies, though. We'll remember those who perished.

[Chess435]

I hope Nintendo Headquarters is okay......

[Strawberries]

I am so sorry. There really are no words.
My thoughts are with people in Japan.

[Soilborn]

If I were religious I'd pray, but all I can do is hope for the best.

I'd hoped to get some portfolio work done today, but as soon as I heard about this I knew my entire day was shot. I've been following the entire thing streaming on Al Jazeera all day. They keep swinging between Japan and the static in Libya (which is also big news,) but are doing a generally great job.

http://english.aljazeera.net/watch_now/

[Dvil]

Does anyone know how the other countries are doing, like Indonesia, New Zealand, etc?

[The Librarian]

I have a close friend, who lives in Fukushima City, which is literally a 100 miles away from the epicenter. I really hopes he okay, and I also hope that anyone from Japan including Ink, Kasanip, and everyone that is active here at GITP is okay.

[CynicalAvocado]

how is the Fukushima reactor holding? are they still unable to cool it down?

[The Librarian]

Okay they got the nuclear plant under control. They are running the troubled reactors coolant system off batteries now. The fire is in a turbine so they should get that under control before long. Looks like the worst is some gas and oil refineries that are still burning.

Seems like its okay CynicalAvocado. My estimate is they probably won't let people back into the city where the plant is for another 36-48 hours. Who know how long until the plant can start functioning regularly again.

[CynicalAvocado]

Seems like its okay CynicalAvocado. My estimate is they probably won't let people back into the city where the plant is for another 36-48 hours. Who know how long until the plant can start functioning regularly again.

ok thanks. must have missed that post

[Azuyomi244]

Wow. This is awful . I can't even think of what to say. My thoughts go out to everyone affected.

[CWater]

So do mine. This is really awful.

[SDF]

Previous reports of the nuclear plant being under control seem to be incorrect. There are now two plants that are having trouble. One has a leak and rad levels are over 1000 times normal, but it is unknown if it is contained within the plant or not yet.

[CynicalAvocado]

Previous reports of the nuclear plant being under control seem to be incorrect. There are now two plants that are having trouble. One has a leak and rad levels are over 1000 times normal, but it is unknown if it is contained within the plant or not yet.

oh gods

[Silverraptor]

No news about Kasanip yet...

[Raz_Fox]

No news about Kasanip yet...

Agreed. I know I'm not going to be able to get much sleep tonight, worrying about whether she's all right...

[Dusk Eclipse]

.... 1000 time the normal radiation ???

Oh god.... I really hopes this works out for the best.

[Cobalt]

A friend of mine moved to Guam; I was nervous all day after hearing the tsunami warning go out and seeing pictures this morning. I read news now that Guam wasn't really hit very much at all, but the pictures from damage on coasts of Japan are horrifying.

What makes me start worrying again is that another friend of mine moved to Japan a while back. Central Japan, if I remember correctly, so they probably didn't get hurt, but it still scares me. I hope they're all right.

[Dacia Brabant]

Reuters is reporting that they've had to release pressure at Fukushima Daiichi, and they're preparing to release pressure at Daini as well. That's very bad, but it sounds like there was no other way to prevent a core melt. Really hoping that'll be enough.

[Lady Moreta]

Does anyone know how the other countries are doing, like Indonesia, New Zealand, etc?

I can't answer for Indonesia, but I know a tsunami warning was put in place for NZ up north. It was listed as a marine incident only, heavy seas, swells etc, not expected to hit land and was likely to arrive at low tide, which should hopefully help a bit.

Christchurch earthquake itself is now in recovery/clean-up mode. 108 of the dead have been named and while I haven't been able to find a complete death toll, I believe it's in the region of 220.

[CynicalAvocado]

I can't answer for Indonesia, but I know a tsunami warning was put in place for NZ up north. It was listed as a marine incident only, heavy seas, swells etc, not expected to hit land and was likely to arrive at low tide, which should hopefully help a bit.

Christchurch earthquake itself is now in recovery/clean-up mode. 108 of the dead have been named and while I haven't been able to find a complete death toll, I believe it's in the region of 220.

as far as indonesia went,

Thousands of people fled their homes in Indonesia after officials warned of a tsunami up to 6 feet (2 meters) high. But waves of only 4 inches (10 centimeters) were measured. No big waves came to the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. territory, either

-huffington post

[rayne_dragon]

I know BC had a tsunami alert, but I haven't noticed anything here, so we're probably more or less unaffected - in contrast to my mum's reaction to it.

I work with a student whose family is back in Japan, but he said they're all okay, for which I'm glad. If only everyone was so lucky in this.

[Silverraptor]

For those of you worried about Kasanip, she is fine and okay.

[CynicalAvocado]

For those of you worried about Kasanip, she is fine and okay.

very good to hear. we may be spread all over the world, but we're still a family damnit!

[Science Officer]

On the Fukushima nuclear plant... it doesn't sound good

If I read that article correctly, the problem is with power loss and damage to back up generators means that cooling systems for the reactor and waste storage facilities on battery power. Battery power which will only last "around 8 hours" according to an expert quoted in that article.
Once cooling systems fail, well... that's how meltdowns happen (I gather).


EDIT: wasn't there trouble with a dam in the same area?

[CoffeeIncluded]

For those of you worried about Kasanip, she is fine and okay.

Oh, thank god!