9.0 Earthquake/Tsunami/Fukushima

[Lledargo]

From what I understand, neither the earthquake nor tsunami caused the damage to the reactor. The plant needs power to cool the reactor, the earthquake knocked out the main power source, which would have been fine, but then the tsunami knocked out the back up generators.

This meant that the fuel rods were at that time not being cooled. When the fuel rod is allowed to sit without being cooled it begins to melt. From what I gather, a melting fuel rod is what causes problems to occur.

The workers of the fukashima plant have been pumping sea water in to the reactor to cool it. they will probably have to do this for a few days until the rod has cooled enough that it will not melt.

I can't guarantee this, it is just what I have pieced together from different articles i have read.

 

[EmperorHirohito]

I was watching BBC News 24 on Friday morning when the quake struck. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered. To say that I am not concerned about the three nuclear reactors with problems, would be an understatement. It will take Japan time to recover fully from this, and I hope the rest of the world gives whatever help that is asked for.

 

[Jericho Desu]

Ok for those in the UK the British Red Cross has started to accept donations on behalf of the Japanese RC: The British Red Cross | Worldwide Humanitarian Charity

 

[thomas]

Empty supermarket shelves at my local supaa this morning - however, no panic in sight.

Here is a link with more info on the planned rolling power cuts in the Kanto region. So far - despite earlier announcements - there have been no outages yet.

=> Kanto & Tohoku Rolling Blackout :: YokosoNews

An updated list of the last 200 tremors around Japan

=> 地震情報 - Yahoo!天気・災害

Also, to put meltdown fears into perspective, read this

=> Why I am not worried about Japan's nuclear reactors. | Morgsatlarge – blogorific.

 

[epigene]

I'm pretty sure the outages did not take place because TEPCO sort of "blurted out its mind" without preparation. Thanks to the support of manufacturers, railway lines and retailers shutting down operation, they were able to suspend outages today. This isn't going to continue, since the stores and businesses have to open eventually.

I think the real and regular outages will start in the coming days, and we need to be prepared. Please remember also that there will be no water either because electrical pumps are being used for a lot of water supply systems.

A friend of mine in a Japanese Self-Defense Force administrative (logistics) job urged us not to hoard food and gasoline. The SDF troops heading to Tohoku from the Kanto region are having problems preparing for their operations. We in Tokyo can live without a few of the conveniences. Let us give to those in need.

5,000 SDF reserves have applied for service in this emergency operation.

 

[louiselim]

All I can do is to pray hard and let God hear my cry and hoping for miracles to end this on-going nuclear plant disaster.....

 

[Capster78]

We are certainly trying to do our part here from Misawa ABS, Japan. We have recently received rescue personel from several different countries here. They are being organized into teams to go out and help those stricken by the Earthquake / Tsunami. We were very fortunate here. Other than some minor damage and some area's still not having power / heat, we have not sustained a casualty as a result of the quake or tsunami.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/03/air-force-crews-join-japan-relief-efforts-031211w/

 

[Half-n-Half]

I am currently waiting at the international center here in Sendai waiting for a bus from the German embassy to take us to Tokyo. The situation is pretty much the same but a friend wanted us to come with. I don't know what we plan on doing once we get there but hopefully I can take a hot shower

 

[epigene]

I am currently waiting at the international center here in Sendai waiting for a bus from the German embassy to take us to Tokyo. The situation is pretty much the same but a friend wanted us to come with. I don't know what we plan on doing once we get there but hopefully I can take a hot shower

A bus? I think nearly all roads are closed, either destroyed or barely serviceable, used only by emergency vehicles. Hope the trip to Tokyo is a safe one!

Also, if you arrive during a power outage, there is no "hot" and no "shower"

We are certainly trying to do our part here from Misawa ABS, Japan. We have recently received rescue personel from several different countries here. They are being organized into teams to go out and help those stricken by the Earthquake / Tsunami. We were very fortunate here. Other than some minor damage and some area's still not having power / heat, we have not sustained a casualty as a result of the quake or tsunami.

http://www.airforcetimes.com/news/2011/03/air-force-crews-join-japan-relief-efforts-031211w/

Yes, I've heard how much effort the US government and military are putting to help out the region. For that, I am truly grateful.

 

[Half-n-Half]

I do not know how the bus is getting here but apparently it is It isn't gauranteed but we have nothing else to do.

Also, if you arrive during a power outage, there is no "hot" and no "shower"

Yeah, but at least it is not Sendai where the chance of a hot shower is zero

 

[Revenant]

We don't have the energy source of tomorrow, Revenant. Nuclear energy will continue to power Japan for decades to come, as it will power Illinois, considering we have six active nuclear power plants throughout the state. Illinois is also home to the Tevatron, the world's second highest energy particle collider in the world, trumped only by the Large Hadron Collider.

We're also pretty close to the New Madrid Fault, a rift that formed after the failure of the North American continent to seperate. It's expected to have some pretty serious earthquakes in the future. So, what's going on with Japan's nuclear power plants is of great importance to me. How Japan will recover and make their nuclear power plants able to withstand the force of a 9.0 magnitude earthquake will likely be how our nuclear power plants are secured.

What I'm saying is I'm in favor of far more energy efficient houses, cars, etc than building ever more nuclear reactors. Check the energy usage of a passive house vs a regular house, and that loads of energy need not be created if we just put better tech into use. Something of 50 percent of America's energy goes to residences. We need Nuclear energy, but would we rather have hundreds more built or put energy saving tech to use? I'm with the latter.

 

[Lledargo]

What I'm saying is I'm in favor of far more energy efficient houses, cars, etc than building ever more nuclear reactors. Check the energy usage of a passive house vs a regular house, and that loads of energy need not be created if we just put better tech into use. Something of 50 percent of America's energy goes to residences. We need Nuclear energy, but would we rather have hundreds more built or put energy saving tech to use? I'm with the latter.

Revenant, Thor,

I understand that you both care about this subject, but it seems like it would be better for the serious discussion forum, than a thread dedicated to news about the earthquake.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Second explosion at Japan nuclear plant

A second explosion has hit a Japanese nuclear plant that was damaged in Friday's earthquake, but officials said the reactor core was still intact.

A huge column of smoke billowed from Fukushima Daiichi's reactor 3, two days after a blast hit reactor 1.

The latest explosion, said to have been caused by a hydrogen build-up, injured 11 people, one of them seriously.

Soon afterwards, the government said a third reactor at the plant had lost its cooling system.

Water levels were now falling at reactor 2, which is to be doused with sea water, said government spokesman Yukio Edano.

A similar cooling system breakdown preceded the explosions at reactors 1 and 3.

Full Story;

Japan quake: Fresh explosion at Fukushima nuclear plant

In other developments:

* Two thousand bodies have been found on the shores of Miyagi prefecture, Japanese media are reporting
* The government said it would pump 15 trillion yen ($182bn; £113bn) into the economy to prop up markets, but the Nikkei slumped more than 6%
* Prime Minister Naoto Kan postponed planned rolling powercuts, saying they may not be needed if householders could conserve energy

 

[LifeIsBeautiful]

^ Dear God, that's just horrible...

 

[Kirie_Maiden]

I'm sad that it took a disaster like this to remind me that this forum exists and to worry about all the Japanese poeple I've made friends with (through banning them XD) on here. I'm glad to see some familiar names in this thread confirming that they are ok, and I just hope that their friends and families are ok too.

It's bizzare to think that a country that I consider prosperous and technologically advanced can be rocked by something like an earthquake, even one as large as this, but I guess I've been proven wrong. I guess not every city in Japan can be fully outfitted with anti-earthquake precautions. I hope the death toll doesn't rise too much, and my thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, be they on this forum or not.

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

New Daily Mainichi articles today 14/03/11;

"Experts warn of seriousness of latest explosion at Fukushima nuke plant";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na018000c.html

"Earthquake-ravaged Iwate town lies in smoldering ruins";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na015000c.html

"Thanks for the kind messages of support from all over the world";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na022000c.html

"Public needs to join hands to help Japan recover from huge quake";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20110314p2a00m0na012000c.html

"Cooling functions fail at Fukushima No. 2 nuclear reactor";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2g00m0dm010000c.html

"Quake deaths likely to top 10,000 in Miyagi alone, local governments in shambles";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na009000c.html

"Tokyo Electric embarks on power outages, to last by April";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2g00m0dm008000c.html

"Survivors return to search 'living hell' of Miyagi town";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na021000c.html

"Mainichi reporter eyewitness to tsunami destruction in Iwate Prefecture";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na006000c.html

"Failures at nuke plants show vulnerability to natural disasters";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na013000c.html

"City in Iwate erased by tsunami";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110314p2a00m0na008000c.html

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

"10-meter tsunami observed in Sendai port in Miyagi Pref.";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110311p2g00m0dm056000c.html

"Mainichi photographer describes devastation of massive Japan quake";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110312p2a00m0na016000c.html

"Confusion from deadly quake spreading, over 5,000 dead or missing";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20110314p2g00m0dm052000c.html

"Mainichi reporter eyewitness to tsunami destruction in Iwate Prefecture";

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/national/news/20110314p2a00m0na006000c.html

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

(^Sendai....)

New damage pictures from the BBC...;

Japan earthquake: In pictures

Even hospitals were destroyed, with people inside them killed....;


Japan earthquake: Meltdown alert at Fukushima reactor

Technicians are battling to stabilise a third reactor at a quake-stricken Japanese nuclear plant, after the latest explosion rocked the facility.

Fukushima Daiichi plant's operators said they could not rule out a fuel rod meltdown, after a cooling system broke.

They are frantically injecting more water into reactor 2 after its fuel rods became almost fully exposed.

A cooling system breakdown preceded explosions at the plant's reactor 3 on Monday and reactor 1 on Saturday.

The latest explosion, said to have been caused by a hydrogen build-up, injured 11 people, one of them seriously, and sent a huge column of smoke billowing into the air.

The operators are playing down any health risk and say the thick containment walls shielding the reactor cores have so far remained intact.

But the US said it had moved one of its aircraft carriers from the area after detecting low-level radiation 160km (100 miles) offshore.

Full Story;

Japan earthquake: Meltdown alert at Fukushima reactor

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

1224: A quick summary of the nuclear crisis in Japan: The nuclear emergency following Friday's earthquake and tsunami has worsened, with the operators of the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant warning that they can't rule out a possible meltdown. The company says it's possible that cooling water at the number two reactor has evaporated, exposing the nuclear fuel rods. The BBC environment correspondent Richard Black says such an outcome would be very serious.

BOJ pumps $183bn to calm markets as stocks tumble

The Bank of Japan is to inject 15 trillion yen ($183bn; £114bn) into the banking system to stabilise financial markets.

Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index fell 6.2% on the first day of trading after Friday's quake as the markets assessed the full impact of the devastation.

The amount is the largest ever in a single operation by the Japanese central bank.

The Bank also announced steps to ease monetary policy.

"We will take every possible measure, including providing liquidity, to ensure the stability of financial markets," a bank spokesman said.

Japan is facing upheaval on a huge scale as it grapples with the massive clean-up operation, a potential nuclear meltdown, power shortages and huge disruption to the economy.

Full Story;

BOJ pumps $183bn to calm markets as stocks tumble

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

And just if you thought things couldn't get any worse...

Shinmoedake volcano erupts as Japan struggles in earthquake aftermath


Hundreds of people fled after Japan's Shinmoedake volcano erupted, shattering windows 6km (four miles) away, as the nation struggles with the aftermath of a massive earthquake and tsunami.

Rock and ash was thrown 1,800m (6,000ft) into the air and experts say a lava dome is growing inside its crater.

The eruption was on the southern Kyushu island, 1,500km (950 miles) from the epicentre of the quake.

It last erupted two weeks ago but experts do not know if it is linked to geological destabilisation caused by the earthquake.

It is Shinmoedake's most significant activity in some 300 years.

Read more: Shinmoedake volcano erupts as Japan struggles in earthquake aftermath

Another article on the volcano;

Volcano in southern Japan erupts

 

[Davey]

Jref Donations will be sent to the Japanese Red Cross.

For the ones that haven't read the thread in the site updates section yet, here is the link:

JREF Earthquake/Tsunami Donations

Dear Valued Members, on the occasion of a very generous donation and in the light of the tragic events of last Friday we would like to announce that all donations we receive on behalf of JREF will henceforward be used towards relief missions in Japan. Please check this thread for more...

jref.com

 

[FrustratedDave]

This is just terrible. No words can describe this.

 

[Jericho Desu]

What on earth is happening to Japan..

 

[Nuala]

Revenant, Thor,
I understand that you both care about this subject, but it seems like it would be better for the serious discussion forum, than a thread dedicated to news about the earthquake.

Yes, you are right. It was a brief chit-chat on the matter. Further discussion on the matter will go into a thread in the Serious Discussion forum.

I thought there would be some volcanic activity after the earthquake struck. It makes sense, you know? I hope it doesn't develop into anything more serious. The entire world can agree that Japan has too much on it's plate already. Power outages, problematic economy, catastrophic damage to infrastructure, entire cities wiped out, and tens of thousands are dead. And what now? A volcano erupts? HOLY CRAP. Any one of the aforementioned would be a crisis in itself, but all of them at once? No words can describe it.

I haven't said this yet, but I wish I could physically help the people suffering in Japan. If I had any money to my name, it would be going to the charities helping in the area. Please, if you guys can donate any amount of money, even just $1, it would obviously help!

Update: Three reactors affected by the earthquake & tsunami appear to be melting down. The rods are burning through the reactor's container. I am running out of words to describe these series of cataclysmic events.

 

[Homerduff]

For the members who want to know what Japanese TV is broadcasting, I can highly recommend this channel:

中年ヤリマンおばさんとの出会い募集掲示板

This Japanese guy has been broadcasting live from his home around 15 hours every day since the earthquake struck, and he's doing a great job letting non-Japanese speakers know what's been told on Japanese TV.

As for the rest, let's wait and see how this is going to evolve. It's a fact that some foreign media's out there are overexaggerating a bit.

As for donating money to Japan: if you don't know which charity to chose, go with Red Cross and you can be sure your money will be spend wisely.