If you have ever wondered what it would be like to be in a natural disaster such as the one in Japan these past few days, here is a good wkept ay to find out. The following is from a site kept up by a citizen and is called GREAT TOHOKU EARTHQUAKE. This is a minute by minute updating page.
It makes for astonishing and educational reading and offers us much knowledge and what to expect of such a disaster in a country that is WELL PREPARED with the latest technology and trained people when such a disaster occurs. What is amazing in my eyes is how calm the people seem to be! I am sure this is not the case for all, but most just seem to take this, so far, in their stride.
Although I am on an upper level of a very solid building, I am beginning to question the wisdom of living at he Pacific Ocean shores.
11TH MAR, 2011 BY MICHAEL IN JAPAN
I”ll be updating this post with ongoing announcements about the huge earthquake that is occurring in the Tohoku region of Japan. It has been labelled in Japanese the 東北地方太平洋沖地震 (Touhoku-chihou Taiheiyou-oki Jishin), the biggest earthquake ever to hit Japan. It struck at 2.46pm with a magnitude of 8.8 and was assigned the highest level 7 on the Japanese earthquake scale.
Aftershocks are still being reported in Tokyo and other areas even now (5:22pm). This earthquake reportedly had 32 times the energy of the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. It initially shook Tokyo and the northern cities Sendai and Iwate for minutes, producing huge tsunamis afterwards that reached 10m in height. The quake was also felt 100s of kilometres away in central Japan (by myself) and as far as Kyoto and Osaka, as reported by a friend on Twitter. There are also reports that it was felt in Beijing.
Aftershocks are still being reported in Tokyo and other areas even now (5:22pm). This earthquake reportedly had 32 times the energy of the Great Kanto earthquake of 1923. It initially shook Tokyo and the northern cities Sendai and Iwate for minutes, producing huge tsunamis afterwards that reached 10m in height. The quake was also felt 100s of kilometres away in central Japan (by myself) and as far as Kyoto and Osaka, as reported by a friend on Twitter. There are also reports that it was felt in Beijing.
The quake struck at a depth of 10 km, about 125 km off the eastern coast. The area is 380 km northeast of Tokyo.
.::: LIVE UPDATES ARE BELOW! :::.
QUICK LINKS AND INFORMATION
Leave a comment if you have any additional information, especially if you are in Japan.
An emergency line has been set up for non-Japanese speakers, on 050 5814 7230 and 03 5366 6001. English, Chinese, Korean are available 24 hours a day. Portuguese and Spanish between 9am-8pm.
CHECK THE PHONE NUMBER OF FAMILY AND FRIENDS:
Softbank: http://dengon.softbank.ne.jp/pc-e1.jsp
A free public phone service is in operation in the areas affected.
Person Finder: http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en
EMERGENCY MESSAGING SERVICE:
If stranded and you need to message someone, dial 171, then 1, then your own home phone number, then leave your message. To pick up a message, it’s 171, then 2, then your home phone number (the number you think the stranded person would have left).
TSUNAMI INFORMATION:
SHELTER LIST AND MAP:
LIVE FOOTAGE:
ONGOING EARTHQUAKE LIST:
INFORMATION ON CALLING JAPAN:
Best to avoid regular phone lines ~ use services like Skype to contact relatives. All major phone networks reporting problems connecting due to the high demands.
Bic camera charging phones and handing out free drinks.
HOW TO HELP:
LIVE UPDATES
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00.50 Tokyo Supermarket empty as people stock up on food (via @tokyocooney)
00.50 Tokyo Supermarket empty as people stock up on food (via @tokyocooney)
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00.26 Seismic activity using Trend Compass (via @shibuya246) Circle size shows magnitude, colour shows depth:
Note: The graph plotted ends *before* the current earthquake events began (thanks to @daniel_garcia_r for pointing that out).
00.21 Explanation from an alleged Nuclear Reactor Operator from Reed College about nuclear reactor cooling systems.
In response to the question How serious is the threat to the Fukushima nuclear plant? on Reddit.
Disclaimer: IAaNRO (I Am a Nuclear Reactor Operator. I work part-time at my college’s research reactor)
Short Answer: It’s unlikely. It’s been shutdown, but the core is still producing heat. It’s not impossible for it to meltdown, but the main concern right now is that the steam pressure is rising in the cooling system, to the point where the system might rupture if nothing is done.
(Note: Originally I thought it was impossible for this reactor to meltdown at this point, but I’ve since been corrected. I’ve edited my answer slightly to reflect this)
Long answer:
Nuclear power reactors are of two main varieties: Pressurized Water Reactors, and Boiling Water Reactors. The plant in question is a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR). BWRs work by using the core’s thermal energy to boil the cooling water into steam, and then channeling the steam in order to turn a steam turbine. After it exits the turbine, the steam is cooled in a condenser, where it turns back to water, and then is sent back into the core. The condenser requires cool water to be actively pumped through it, to keep the pipes upon which the steam condenses from becoming too hot. The water/steam that runs through the core and the turbine is referred to as the “primary cooling system”, and the water running through the condenser is the “secondary cooling system.”
The primary is assumed to be contaminated (that is, it is measurably radioactive), whereas the secondary system is not, since it is isolated from the primary.
As far as I can tell, the chain of events for this particular plant went something like this:
Shortly after the quake, the reactor successfully shut down in anticipation of the tsunami. This means that no more fission is occurring in the core. A meltdown a la Chernobyl is a result of uncontrollable fission. This will not be another Chernobyl. However, just because U-235 is no longer fissioning, doesn’t mean that the core isn’t producing heat. The fission fragments (those isotopes produced as a result of the U-235 fissioning) will continue to decay through alpha, beta, or gamma emission, until stable elements at the bottom of the decay chain are reached. The decay of these fission fragments and their decay products will cause the core to continue to produce heat for some time after shutdown.
Presumably due to the fact that every reactor near the east coast of Japan was being shutdown, off-site power for the secondary cooling system was unavailable, so the power plant had to rely on on-site backup power, but the on site power only lasted for 8 hours. After that, the secondary cooling system failed, which is what triggered the declaration of the Nuclear Emergency, and evacuation of those living within 3Km of the plant.
Since the core is continuing to produce heat, and consequently steam, the steam pressure inside the primary system is rising above normal levels. They are hesitant to bleed off steam into the containment dome, since the dome was probably damaged in the quake, but obviously bleeding off some steam is better than having the primary system rupture. Thankfully, most of the really nasty decay products have a relatively short half-life.
In particular, Nitrogen-16, which gives off pretty high energy betas when it decays, has a half-life of 7.2 seconds. Therefore, releasing the steam is undesirable, but not catastrophic, and probably not even particularly hazardous.
The radioactive materials in the cloud will be longer-lived decay products of hydrogen and oxygen in, and as far as I’m aware none of those are particularly active. The cloud will be dilute itself after release, which will lower the intensity of the radiation field significantly. Therefore, the total radioactivity release will be many orders of magnitude lower than that of Chernobyl or Three Mile Island.
tl;dr: Right now, the fear isn’t meltdown, it’s mainly the steam pressure. The media are definitely playing up the meltdown angle, though.
Like I said, I’m a nuclear reactor operator ~ if you still have questions, please ask me.
Via:http://www.reddit.com/r/askscience/comments/g29ay/how_serious_is_the_threat_to_the_fukushima/c1ke4zi
23.47 Japan Sub-culture updates with a page explaining how you can help the disaster efforts.
23.44 Another level 5 quake recorded in Niigata
23.39 National Police Agency confirms 5000 homes submerged in Rikuzen Takata city, Iwate prefecture. In Sendai, Wakabayashi-ku and Arahamachi-ku 2700 homes have been completely washed away and 200-300 bodies have been found on the shore.
23.29 Map showing the radius around Fukushima. Currently only a 20km risk area has been identified.
23.22 Softbank allows free SMS messages within Japan for a week form the quake.
23.19 Heading in the wrong direction (via @shioyama)
23.11 NHK reports that cooling the Fukushima reactor with seawater should be done by about 1am.
22.50 3 civilians awaiting rescue in Fukushima prefecture diagnosed with radiation sickness.
22.45 Mutantfrog has translated the TEPCO Fukushima nuclear plant profiles into English:
22.22 Terrifying footage from inside Sendai area at the time of the initial tsunami:
22.19 A low level 5 quake recorded in Fukushima prefecture, Hamadori. Tsunami warnings issued. This is the first level 5 quake since the level 6 one at 5.46 this morning.
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22.10 10,000 people missing in tsunami-hit town of Minami-Sanriku, Miyagi prefecture (population: 17,800) (via @pinktentacle, NHK)
22.01 Outline of TEPCO nuclear reactors 1-6:
21.57 Fukushima evacuation areas for reactors 1 and 2:
21.46 Current death toll at over 1000 people.
20.45 Edano, Chief Cabinet Secretary, briefs the public on the situation at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, reactor 1. Beginning 14.00, valves were opened to begin releasing pressure building up in the nuclear reactor. Before this, radiation amounts were increasing.
At 15.36 an explosion occurred as a result of the levels of water used for cooling the reactor decreasing. This gave rise to large amounts of radioactive steam, increasing pressure. This steam had a chemical reaction with the metal-coated pipes covering the nuclear rods, producing hydrogen. The hydrogen eventually combined with oxygen to cause the explosion, damaging the surrounding concrete and steel structure.
The container and nuclear core reactor itself have not been damaged, so there will be no large radiation leaks. According to Edano, the density of radiation did not increase after the explosion.
At 15.29, 1015μSv/h of radiation was detected (*edit* according to other sources this is equivalent to an annual dose for a human being). The explosion then took place at 15.36.
At 15.40, 860μSv/h of radiation was detected, and at 18.58, 70.5μSv/h, showing that the level of radiation was decreasing. Currently, the radiation leakage to outside has not changed much. In order to prevent any further damage or leakage Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) are to fill the reactor with seawater (something rather unprecedented) to ensure it does not reach a critical state again. These measures have been put into place as of 20.20. Residents within the 10-20km radius are not in immediate danger, but the government wanted to err on the side of caution and extend the radius in case of any further complications. Asks all citizens to react calmly and beware of false information.
20.35 Kan, Prime Minister of Japan, speaking live on television. Government making full efforts to rescue missing persons and take care of people in evacuation areas. Regarding 1st and 2nd nuclear power plant in Fukushima, the first priority is the safety of people. New development has resulted in extending the evacuation order extended to 20km radius.
Images of before and after the explosion:
Explosion at 3.36pm, Fukushima nuclear power plant:
Fukushima nuclear power plant:
**LIVE UPDATES RESUME AS OF 20.32**
Gotta leave you for now all. Thanks for the support!
05.49 Another level 6 in Nagano.
05.45 Latest figures: 184 dead, 708 missing, 947 injured.
05.37 I was just interviewed on CNN about the earthquakes here in Japan. ~ Sorry I missed an hour of updates!
Short interview should be towards the end of this recording:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13251729
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13251729
04.34 Another level 6 quake measured in Nagano.
04.26 Quakes still continuing every few minutes:
04.04 Another big quake scale 6 recorded in Nagano, Niigata and other areas. I felt a slight tremor here near Nagoya.
04.01 Great Tohoku Earthquake ranks 5th biggest in the world since 1990.
03.48 Latest figures from the National Police Agency: 167 dead, 515 missing, 827 injured.
03.45 2 workers reported missing from the 1st Fukushima nuclear plant. 1 reported dead from the 2nd plant.
03.37 Diagram showing how the vapour would be released from the reactor.
03.27 Has been decided that it is necessary to release the pressure in the nuclear reactor. A small amount of radioactive vapour may be given off, but it should not cause a threat as people have been evacuated from around the immediate area. (via NHK)
03.20 Radiation leak could occur at Fukushima nuclear plant: Minster for Economy, Trade and Industry Banri Kaieda. Any leak though, would be small (Kyodo) (via @japantimes)
03.16 Another aftershock recorded on a scale of 3. Looks like they are continuing after all, so take care everyone. #signing out
03.14 Emergency warning for incoming earthquake in China and Ibaraki. Take care all.
**End live updates** I’m signing out. It’s been 10 hours since I started blogging and I’m shattered. Keep following the news on Twitter and the various news sites. My thoughts are with the people in Northern Japan. I pray the worst is over. Peace.
03.00 Tsunami warnings still being issued. Stay away from the coasts until clear. Be vigilant and prepare for aftershocks for days to come!
02.59 New Scientist article about Japan’s largest ever earthquake.
02.58 Looks like things might be starting to calm down a little. Aftershocks still continuing on a scale between 1-4, but gradually seem to be weakening.
02.55 According to the National Police Agency, in 9 of the northern prefectures there have been 151 deaths, 547 missing and 798 injured. Casualties are being reported on a mass scale due to communities being caught in the huge tsunamis immediately following the earthquakes.
02.48 Ginza, Marunouchi, Namboku, Hanzomon line working; Hibiya, Tozai, Chiyoda, Yurakucho, Fukutoshin partially working; theyll all run all night (via @nobi)
02.46 12 hours since the initial quake.
02.37 US Air Force to bring cooling agents to stressed Fukushima nuclear reactor.
02.30 Emergency lines opened for foreign residents:
02.17 48 dead in Fukushima, 370 missing
02.13 Defense Ministry says 1,800 households in Minamisoma city, Fukushima Prefecture is destroyed, JIJI Press reports (via @jt_kamiya)
02.13 Measures are being considered in order to release the pressure building up in the reactor core. Currently no radiation leakage, but there is still a possibility.
02.10 Nuclear reactor in Fukushima still holding up with the temporary cooling measures. No radiation leakage yet, but water level rapidly diminishing.
01.54 Over 300 dead. Over 500 missing. (via NHK)
01.50 People being advised not to turn their gas back on yet.
01.48 Report from Tokyo blogger Hikosaemon:
“Place to stay tonight for FREE in Tokyo: Meiji Univ., Rikkyo Univ. Shinagawa Prince Hotel those who cannot going back home tonight in Tokyo.” via @ask9
If you plan to walk home and it will take a long time, consider it again ~ it can be better to stay at an evacuation center/a friend’s place for the night.
Here’s a Google map of shelter (in Japanese). via @tcsuliv
If you are around Shinjuku, Bunka Fashion College (文化服装学院) is offering food and shelter for the night. Map here.
If you are in Tokyo and in need of recharger for your mobile phone, you can use a recharger for free at Bic Camera.
If you are around Omiya Station in Saitama and can’t go home, Saitama Super Arena is now offered as an evacuation center. Map here.
NHK Radio 2 broadcasts in English for the emergency info: Tokyo 693, Akita 774, Sendai 1089, Morioka 1386 (kHz AM)
01.25 Multi-lingual radio list:
01.23 USGS showing 119 quakes across Japan:
01.15 Narita airport expecting to re-open tomorrow morning (12th) for departures and arrivals.
01.12 KDDI undersea cable has been severed. Landlines and mobile phones networked to KDDI in Tohoku and the west of Kanto are without reception.
01.10 ATTN: foreign citizens ~ Go to NHK Radio 963 to check the latest updates. Available: ENG, CHI, KO, SP, POR, GER, FR (via @shioyama)
01.09 Another live streaming NHK channel added:
01.04 Official death toll now at 300 ~ conservative figures, and sure to rise. Kyodo reporting 88,000 people missing (via @AkikoFujita)
01.02 NHK collecting information from local broadcasting agencies:
00.58 Incredible video of Tokyo towers swaying:
00.56 @gakuranman Twitter account back for now. Follow @gakuu in case it goes down again.
00.55 13,000 stuck at Narita airport (via @tokyotwilighter)
00.52 Aftershocks still continuing (level 2, Chiba):
00.47 Dam breaks in Fukushima Pref., washes away homes (Kyodo) (via @japantimes)
00.44 Quake said to be 178 times bigger than the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. (via Nikkei)
00.43 Twitter has killed my main account @gakuranman for too many tweets. Please follow @gakuu for updates.
00.33 93 dead, 351 missing according to police
00.28 Photos from the quake, Daily Mail:
00.17 Current Twitter trends:
00.15 Estimated people only had 10-15 minutes between the time the quake hit and the first tsunamis as the epicentre was so close (via Twitter)
00.13 8000 members to be dispatched from the Japan Self Defense Force to deal with the crisis:
00.11 China’s CCTV reports Japan quake swayed buildings in Shanghai (via @martyn_williams)
00.10 Fukushima reactor cooling system to come back on @ 1.30am. No leak: RT @asahi_fukushima 福島第１原発２号機の冷却系は午前１時半に復旧する見通し！ 福島県対策本部の情報です。今のところ放射能漏れはない (via @shioyama)
00.07 30 people dead, over 300 missing in Fukushima prefecture.
00.02 Aftershocks continue. Magnitude 4 in Ibaraki prefecture.
March 12th, 2011
23.58 Aftershocks still occurring in Tokyo. Water outages in many locations, Electricity gradually being restored.
23.57 New Scientist article on how the earthquakes will create more tsunamis to come.
23.53 Two videos from Fukushima (via @howtojapanese)
23.49 Dial 050-5814-7230 for 24-hour free interpreting service for quake affected people (En, Zh, Kr to Jp). Spanish, Portuguese from 0800 to 2100 (via @durf)
23.48 Photos of the earthquake in Japan
23.44 USGS has measured 67 aftershocks scale 5 or greater since the main quake:
23.39 Reports the Fukushima nuclear power plant has cooled (via @howtojapanese)
23.38 Reports a tsunami is covering Hokkaido, Northern Japan (via @shioyama)
23.33 Video showing the moment of the quake in Sendai
23.28 The fires in Kesennuma covering 2.5×4.5km (via @durf):
23.24 Footage of Kesennuma ~ a town on fire:
23.19 East Japan Railways has reported that they’ve completely lost contact with one of their 4-carriage trains.
23.14 Fukushima nuclear reactor update: Battery cooling the reactor has stopped. Backup not arrived yet. Risk of breaking down and radiation leaks. (via Japanese TV)
23.11 Footage of burning oil refinery
23.10 Nagoya International Women’s Marathon may be cancelled. Make no mistake, this earthquake is going to affect the whole country.
23.02 More quakes being reported from Tokyo by my friends.
22.52 Aftershocks still continuing (level 4s – original quake was 7 on the Japanese scale):
22.46 Tokyo Sky Tree fine. Tip of Tokyo Tower bent. It broadcasts NHK and other signals, so no reception in some areas.
22.43 All bicycles are sold out in some bike shop. No wonder. (Via @satoshi213)
22.38 Location of the Fukushima nuclear power plant map (scaled out, Japan) (closeup) (via @earthoutreach)
22.35 Video from Ofunato. 48 people swept away there, including 23 middle-school students.
22.34 Police reporting 200-300 bodies discovered in the Arahama area of Wakabayashi Ward, Sendai (TBS News) (via @gen)
22.32Kyodo just said 200-300 bodies were found on the beach of Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture … (via @jt_nakata)
22.2７ Tsunami footage from Sendai airport.
22.23 All Tohoku lines and Eastern JR lines closed until safety can be assessed.
22.21 All public high schools in Tokyo now open for people who can’t get home (via @tamegoeswild)
22.20 Risk of radiation exposure in Fukushima. Nothing confirmed, but people still being advised to evacuate.
22.19 Another aftershock in Tokyo.
22.16 People in Chili, Easter Island and Equator being advised to evacuate amid tsunami warnings.
22.05 Expressways in northern Japan (Tohoku) closed due to damage.
22.05 Waves of up to 2m are being predicted for many places all over *southern* Japan. People near the coast being advised to get to high ground.
21.55 NHK-TV reporting on the nuclear sit in Fukushima ~ no leakage yet. They are asking people with 3km to evacuate. People 3km-10km should be on alert for instructions.
21.54 Quake of 4 in Nagoya. Tsunami warning issued, evacuation advised.
21.45 NHK *finally* starts a live stream on Ustream. About time.
21.42 Another big tsunami warning along the coast of Japan, Hokkaido, Aomori, Chiba (etc.)
21.41 Narita re-opens airport for departures.
21.39 Supermarket getting hit by the quake: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9QNzGY0qxw&feature=youtu.be
21.37 Tokyo electric struggling to meet demand – thus request for people to try to cut down on use – heaters off! (via@tokyotwilight)
21.27 Residents to be evacuated within 2km of the nuclear reactor amount to about 1864 people.
http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0311/TKY201103110661.html
21.27 “Residents within 2km of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant are requested to evacuate, due to low cooling water level NHK Radio” (via @good_people)
21.27 “Residents within 2km of Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant are requested to evacuate, due to low cooling water level NHK Radio” (via @good_people)
21.23 Nuclear emergency has already been declared. The battery cooling the system will run out by about 10pm, then there is a risk of the reactor breaking down and radioactive material leading. Okuma town and Futaba town residents to be evacuated.
21.20 NHK Radio 2 broadcasts in English for the emergency info: Tokyo 693, Akita 774, Sendai 1089, Morioka 1386 (kHz AM) (via @kenji_rikitake)
21.20 Fukushima losing the battle to cool the nuclear reactor. If they can’t cool it, there is risk of radioactive leakage.
21.18 Fukushima nuclear power plant struggling to cool reactor. Local evacuation ordered – Nikkei (via @dicklp)
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21.10 Ship carrying 100 washed away by tsunami: Miyagi police (Kyodo) (via @japantimes)
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21.03 NHK radio AM963 apparently broadcasting earthquake related info in English, Fre
nch, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean (via @fukumimi)
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21.02 Reading that Ginza and Hanzomon lines in Tokyo are up and running now. Marunouchi & Nanboku too. Only those 4 metros yet (via @tokyoreporter)
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20.55 Tokyo Metro Ginza Line running between Shibuya and Asakusa (via NHK News). Hanazomon line also running. (via @shioyama)
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20.51 61 Dead. 244 Missing.
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20.39 46 Dead. 51 Missing. 90 Injured.
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20.38 Another big shake in Iwate city.
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20.35 Water outage confirmed in Saitama (via @hillpoems).
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20.30 UK Prime Minister announces the British government is making efforts to get help out to Japan.
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20.28 Another small quake recorded in Sendai. Gradually getting weaker
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20.28 Shelter list
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With public transport entirely disrupted across the city (JR has announced there will be no more services this evening), the following public spaces have been made available to stranded Tokyoites:
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In Tokyo:
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Aoyama Oath, Shibuya; Dommune club (50 people max); Eiji Press (Ebisu) is offering toilet, telephone, internet; Yotsuya Sophia University; Hiroo University of the Sacred Heart; Roppongi Butagumi Shabu Ann (the owner is handing out curry and onigiri for free); Sasazuka Bowl; Seikei University (Kichijoji & Mitaka area); Waseda University (Building 8, Waseda Campus, Takadanobaba) Shinjuku Bunka Fukuso Gakuin; Ueno Tokyo Bunka Kaikan; Takashimaya Times Square Shinjuku; Tsukiji Honganji; Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel lobby; Ikebukuro Rikkyo University; Shinagawa Prince Hotel lobby; Shibuya & Omotesando Aoyama Gakuin University gymnasium
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In Yokohama: Fifth floor of Landmark Plaza building
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In Saitama: Saitama Super Arena
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Aoyama Oath, Shibuya; Dommune club (50 people max); Eiji Press (Ebisu) is offering toilet, telephone, internet; Yotsuya Sophia University; Hiroo University of the Sacred Heart; Roppongi Butagumi Shabu Ann (the owner is handing out curry and onigiri for free); Sasazuka Bowl; Seikei University (Kichijoji & Mitaka area); Waseda University (Building 8, Waseda Campus, Takadanobaba) Shinjuku Bunka Fukuso Gakuin; Ueno Tokyo Bunka Kaikan; Takashimaya Times Square Shinjuku; Tsukiji Honganji; Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel lobby; Ikebukuro Rikkyo University; Shinagawa Prince Hotel lobby; Shibuya & Omotesando Aoyama Gakuin University gymnasium
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In Yokohama: Fifth floor of Landmark Plaza building
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In Saitama: Saitama Super Arena
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20.26 Ongoing fire at an industrial complex:
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20.09 No radiation leakage has been confirmed (via Japanese tv). Though coolant reactor may have been damaged (via @pinktentacle).
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20.06 People trapped on the Shinkansen in a tunnel in Fukushima prefecture. Currently unable to be led out safely.
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19.59 41 deaths and 90 injuries confirmed as of now. Many people missing.
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19.50 JAL and ANA cancel all flights from Narita airport (voa @japantimes)
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19.49 Photos of the evacuations in Tokyo from Shibuya246:
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19.45 Industrial complex in Chiba still blazing.
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19.43 Convenience stores running out of food as people prepare to spend night in Tokyo.
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19.38 Another quake recorded in Fukushima, scale 4.
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19.30 Trains in Ibaraki are free. Expected to expand to the larger Kanto area.
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19.27 Working to resolve the situation in Fukushima. Still possibility of radiation leakage, but as of yet nothing has been confirmed.
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19.22 Google Tsunami update:
19.18 Bic camera apparently letting people recharge phones (via @jcayzac)
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19.16 Aftershocks still continuing. Currently around 50 recorded:
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http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/
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http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/
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19.12 Update on free drinks for Suntory vending machines
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Suntory vending machines have emergency levers beneath a sticker on the upper-right corners. Pull the sticker off, pull the lever firmly and you’ll get free drinks.
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Elsewhere, Bic Camera is offering a free phone charging service at all their stores.
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19.10 Tsunami whirlpool in Ibaraki:
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19.07 Safety advice collected via Twitter:
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With the 1995 Kobe earthquake, the biggest aftershock occurred 3 hours after the initial quake. Prepare for those aftershocks even if it appears safe now.
Get some water ready and handy. Stock up some water in your bath tub or some other containers.
Get some emergency food ready.
Plug off unnecessary outlets.
Shut down gas and electricity, especially when you leave your house to evacuate or when the power is out. A fire is most likely to occur when electricity comes back.
Tokyo Electricity Power Company is asking to save electricity.
Keep windows open.
Don’t make phone calls unless absolutely necessary in order to ensure that those in need of making emergency calls can use the lines.
Using Skype, Twitter, Facebook, and e-mail is fine.
“Dial 171, leave a message with your home number. Anyone who knows ur home number can check your safety.” (via @beerintokyo)
Get warm clothes.
Be ready for potential power outage if it hasn’t happened to your area yet.
Check where the closest evacuation center from where you are. Parks, schools, and other public places are often used as an evacuation center. If you live in Tokyo, here’s a list of evacuation centers. It’s in Japanese, though.
If you are a woman, be careful for potential rapists who take advantage of this emergency situation and be with some other people. Don’t be alone.
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18.58 Power outages continuing in Tohoku and most of kanto (Tokyo area).
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NOTE: People are advised to turn off appliances and power to their houses before evacuating – when the power returns it could cause a fire..
18.52 Govt declares state of emergency regarding possible radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear power plant (via @pinktentacle)
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/110311/dst11031118270134-n1.htm
18.47 500m+ bus lines forming in central Tokyo
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18.47 JR East have decided to halt all trains until tomorrow (via @akikohayashi)
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18.46 Quake reported to be 160 more powerful than the one to hit Christchurch last month (via @tamegoeswild)
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18.38 All Suntory vending machines reportedly free after the earthquake ~ just hit the button (via @dannychoo)
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18.31 Following areas have been opened to the public for those who cannot get home tonight:
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While there have been no major casualties in Tokyo, thousands are stranded tonight as taxis and hotels find themselves oversubscribed. The following public spaces have been opened to people unable to get home.
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Tukiji Honganji, Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel lobby, Ikebukuro Rikkyo University, Shinagawa Prince Hotel lobby, Shibuya & Omotesando Aoyama Gakuin University gymnasium.
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Tukiji Honganji, Shinbashi Daiichi Hotel lobby, Ikebukuro Rikkyo University, Shinagawa Prince Hotel lobby, Shibuya & Omotesando Aoyama Gakuin University gymnasium.
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18.17 Tsunami updates and report from Mutantfrog.
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Regions with LARGE tsunami risk (red) are as follows:
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Iwate, Miyagi, Fukuoka, Hokkaido Pacific coast central area, Aomori Pacific coast, Ibaraki, Chiba Kujukuri outskirts, Izu islands, Hokkaido Pacific East Coast, Hokkaido Pacific West Coast, Aomori Sea of Japan coast, Chiba interior, Ogasawara Islands, Sagami Bay and Miura Peninsula, Shizuoka, Wakayama, Tokushima
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Regions with REGULAR tsunami risk (orange) are as follows:
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Aichi outer sea, Mie southern area, Kochi, Miyazaki, Tanegashima/Yakushima region, Amami/Tokara islands, Hokkaido Sea of Japan southern coast, Mutsu Bay, Tokyo Bay inner bay, Ise, Mika Bay, Awaji southern region, Ehime Uwakai coast, Oita Seto Inland Sea coast, Oita Bungo Channel, Kagoshima East and West regions, Okinawa main island, Daito Islands, Miyakojima, Yaeyama Islands.
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Regions with LOW level alert (yellow) are as follows:
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Sea of Okhostsk, Osaka, Hyogo Seto Inland Sea coast, Okayama, Kagawa, Ehime Seto Inland Sea coast, Ariake/Yatsushiro Sea, Nagasaki western region, Kumamoto Amakusanada coast, Akita, Yamagata, Niigata Kaminaka and Kaetsuchi, Sado region, Toyama, Ishikawa Noto region, Hiroshima, Yamaguchi Seto Inland Sea coast.
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Other regions do NOT have a tsunami warning or watch at this time.
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[Update at 5:20]
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I just heard that the Philippines raised their tsunami alert level to the highest in many years, NE coast, which faces Japan, will be hit in around 2 hours.
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18.02 Many people stranded in Tokyo as trains are brought to a standstill (Ikebukuro)
Source: http://twitgoo.com/20ppgg
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18.01 Certain ATM machines in affected areas reporting not working.
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18.00 Devastating footage of the tsunami from CNN:
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http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1
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http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1
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17.56 Huge damage to 福島学院大学
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17.51 More tsunami warnings issued in Fukushima.
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Payphones have become free for people in northern areas.
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Currently there is no power in many of the northern cities including Akita, Iwate and Sendai. People in Kanagawa prefecture have also reported loss of power.
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Chiba Steelworks has exploded:
Source: http://twitpic.com/48edb1
Oil Refinery:
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The roof of a school building in Tochigi has collapsed at a school graduation ceremony.
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Shinakansen heading towards Tohoku have been stopped.
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Tip of Tokyo Tower bent:
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Split in the earth:
Tsunami damage:
Fire in Odaiba Telecoms building:
Fire in Odaiba Telecoms building:
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INITIAL EARTHQUAKE:
**********************
[...] A picture of a giant whirlpool in Ibaraki (via @gakuranman): [...]
[...] A picture of a giant whirlpool in Ibaraki (via @gakuranman): [...]
http://gakuranman.com/great-tohoku-earthquake/
http://www.survivingnjapan.com/2011/03/earthquake-in-japan-links-resources.html [...]
[...] A picture of a giant whirlpool in Ibaraki (via @gakuranman): [...]
[...] Bild eines riesigen Strudels in Ibaraki (über @gakuranman): [...]
[...] 日本語の分からない日本在住の方は非常に心細い思いをされていると思います。英語で災害情報や避難情報がまとめられたサイトがあるんでRTしてあげてほしいです http://ow.ly/4cpMD [...]
[...] foto van een gigantische draaikolk in Ibaraki (via @gakuranman [...]
[...] blog has updated info about earthquake and tsunami in Japan last night. addthis_url = [...]
[...] Consider this for astounding: the aftershocks have been as frequent as every ten minutes. (link via Gakuranman). [...]
[...] I’m in the yellow area in the center of the map, near Korea. So, we’re OK. Right now the ...
[...] In The News For families who need to closely follow the earthquake and tsunami news that broke this morning ...
[...] Gakuranman: Great Tohoku Earthquake [...]
[...] not cause a threat as people have been evacuated from around the immediate area. (via NHK) ...
[...] Live Blog From Japan with tons of updates and info [...]
[...] Gakuranman.com has great live coverage, as well as a ton of emergency information and more links to live feeds. ...
[...] Egy hatalmas örvény fotója Ibarakiról (forrás: @gakuranman). [...]
[...] caused a massive tsunami. Internet-savvy Japanese immediately started using google services, websites and social networks to communicate and coordinate ...
[...] PressurePressure reviews inside the reactor has risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal, according to Japan’s nuclear safety ...
[...] Wer die aktuelle Lage verfolgen möchte (und des Japanischen mächtig ist) kann hier Infos zu den aktuellen aufgezeichneten Erdbeben ...
[...] Pressure inside the reactor has risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal, according to Japan’s nuclear safety agency. ...
[...] Gakuranman.com has great live coverage, as well as a ton of emergency information and more links to live feeds. ...
[...] Zdjęcie ogromnego wiru w Ibaraki (via @gakuranman): [...]
[...] news: You can follow along with my friends Ashley and Michael. Both of theme are translating and livebloging news ...
[...] news: You can follow along with my friends Ashley and Michael. Both of theme are translating and livebloging news ...
[...] twitter, here are some websites with updated information regarding the Great Tohoku earthquake: Gakuranman Nihongo Up Surviving Japan Without ...
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