Huge 8.9 quake hits Japan

[disarm]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

we've all gotten used to seeing interesting videos on the internet, but that has to be one of the most incredible things i've ever seen...just an amazing perspective of the power and destruction of the tsunami

[Bullwinkle]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

we've all gotten used to seeing interesting videos on the internet, but that has to be one of the most incredible things i've ever seen...just an amazing perspective of the power and destruction of the tsunami

 

It just doesn't stop. I'm not trying to be funny, but it reminded me of a horrifying Karmari Damacy the way the water would keep taking away bigger and bigger things.

Plus I kept wanting to yell at the camera person to get the hell out of there.

[metallicorphan]

now they are saying that the death toll could top 10,000 after 2,000 bodies were found

sky news

Earlier, a regional police chief told reporters the number of fatalaties in Miyagi prefecture alone was likely to "reach the 10,000-level".

The Kyodo news agency has reported that around 2,000 bodies have been found on two shores in that area.

and there has been a second explosion at the Fukushima Nuclear power plant

[Caine]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

we've all gotten used to seeing interesting videos on the internet, but that has to be one of the most incredible things i've ever seen...just an amazing perspective of the power and destruction of the tsunami

 

It just doesn't stop. I'm not trying to be funny, but it reminded me of a horrifying Karmari Damacy the way the water would keep taking away bigger and bigger things.

Plus I kept wanting to yell at the camera person to get the hell out of there.

i was thinking pretty much the same thing.

[CeeKay]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

we've all gotten used to seeing interesting videos on the internet, but that has to be one of the most incredible things i've ever seen...just an amazing perspective of the power and destruction of the tsunami

it makes me glad I don't live anywhere near a ocean.

[morlac]

Before and after satteliete photos. 
http://projects.ajc.com/gallery/view/metro/news/tsunami-after/

Scary stuff.

[Larraque]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

we've all gotten used to seeing interesting videos on the internet, but that has to be one of the most incredible things i've ever seen...just an amazing perspective of the power and destruction of the tsunami

 

It just doesn't stop. I'm not trying to be funny, but it reminded me of a horrifying Karmari Damacy the way the water would keep taking away bigger and bigger things.

Plus I kept wanting to yell at the camera person to get the hell out of there.

i was thinking pretty much the same thing.

I did, a few times. Then I felt stupid for yelling at my phone.

[wonderpug]

It's a small thing but it made me smile to see a Pokemon trade from Japan come through on my DS this morning.

[Zekester]

gaming must continue!

[kronovan]

now they are saying that the death toll could top 10,000 after 2,000 bodies were found

sky news

Earlier, a regional police chief told reporters the number of fatalaties in Miyagi prefecture alone was likely to "reach the 10,000-level".

The Kyodo news agency has reported that around 2,000 bodies have been found on two shores in that area.

I can't see how it won't be much higher than even that. Remember for the Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, it was months before the body count got anywhere near the final. The problem is that people are often washed out to sea on the retreating swells, so it takes time before their bodies end up back on shore. As well, a quake hitting an affluent area like Sendai means incredibly deep debris, as the average person/business owns that much more in buildings, houses, boats, cars, etc. S&R workers will likely be finding bodies in, and under, that debris for some time. I'm praying for the best, but I fear the death toll will be in the 10's of 1000's.

[CeeKay]

interesting fact on video:  3 of the 4 corners of the 'ring of fire' (chile, christchurch, japan) have had major earthquakes almost all within a year.

[Purge]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

A page ago.

[Gratch]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

A page ago.

Love to know what happened to that white car that made the turn just ahead of the water.  Hoping he managed to ditch the car and climb up somewhere safe.

[wonderpug]

The roads ahead looked deserted so I hope he was able to just race out of there, but damn what a stupid move.  He should've been on the hill with the rest of the town.

[Teggy]

I can't download that one, but I'm wondering if it is the same one I saw this morning? In that one a guy is on the street, which is completely dry, and then water starts rushing in. Over the course of about 5 minutes, the water gets to be at least 10 feet high and he has to keep moving higher and higher up. He isn't on a hill, though, there's a bunch of people up on 3 story or so building that he's able to walk up to. Cars start floating by, shops get completely filled with water. Really horrifying.

[kronovan]

interesting fact on video:  3 of the 4 corners of the 'ring of fire' (chile, christchurch, japan) have had major earthquakes almost all within a year.

Doh...don't say that! We all no where the 4th corner is and I just happen to live quite close to it.  Unless of course Mother Nature decides to go for the upper 4th corner like she did in 64.

[happydog]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=0bf_1300048617

[CeeKay]

video from Kamaishi: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRDpTEjumdo

one from Miyako: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-zfCBCq-8I

a compilation of various videos taken during the quake.  around 3:25 you can see footage of the buildings swaying.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oLfHdReWfx8

[Tokek]

interesting fact on video:  3 of the 4 corners of the 'ring of fire' (chile, christchurch, japan) have had major earthquakes almost all within a year.

Doh...don't say that! We all no where the 4th corner is and I just happen to live quite close to it.  Unless of course Mother Nature decides to go for the upper 4th corner like she did in 64.

Yeah, VRaverna and I are dead smack in the middle of the Ring of Fire, so here's hoping nothing major is coming our way anytime soon.

[CeeKay]

now they're reporting a third explosion at Daichi.

[edit] and it's been upgraded to a 9.0.

[metallicorphan]

now they're reporting a third explosion at Daichi.

[edit] and it's been upgraded to a 9.0.

just watched the press conference...the power plant is currently on fire,radiation levels have gone high enough that they could have an impact on human life

people living closer than 20km from the site have been told to evacuate,and people living 20-30km have been told to stay indoors

the Japanese Prime minister has asked for calm

[CeeKay]

now they're reporting a third explosion at Daichi.

[edit] and it's been upgraded to a 9.0.

just watched the press conference...the power plant is currently on fire,radiation levels have gone high enough that they could have an impact on human life

people living closer than 20km from the site have been told to evacuate,and people living 20-30km have been told to stay indoors

the Japanese Prime minister has asked for calm

isn't 20KM (12 miles) the current forced evacuation zone already?

[metallicorphan]

now they're reporting a third explosion at Daichi.

[edit] and it's been upgraded to a 9.0.

just watched the press conference...the power plant is currently on fire,radiation levels have gone high enough that they could have an impact on human life

people living closer than 20km from the site have been told to evacuate,and people living 20-30km have been told to stay indoors

the Japanese Prime minister has asked for calm

isn't 20KM (12 miles) the current forced evacuation zone already?

hmm,not sure,but it has it here as well
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42066534?gt1=43001

Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation has spread from the damaged reactors and warned of more leaks. He said people within 20 kilomoters (12 miles) of the plant should evacuate, Kyodo News reported.

[ericb]

From NHK
Tokyo Electric Power Company says radiation levels reached 8,217 microsieverts per hour near the front gate of the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power station at 8:31 AM Tuesday.
Anyone in this kind of environment would be exposed to more than 3 years' worth of naturally occurring radiation within a single hour.



For the record...normal readings are .5 microsieverts per hour.  That whole area is screwed especially with a 4th explosion reported and levels rising.

[Caine]

interesting fact on video:  3 of the 4 corners of the 'ring of fire' (chile, christchurch, japan) have had major earthquakes almost all within a year.

Doh...don't say that! We all no where the 4th corner is and I just happen to live quite close to it.  Unless of course Mother Nature decides to go for the upper 4th corner like she did in 64.

uh, yeah.  i work in a 42 story office building in downtown seattle.  house is 30 miles south in the lowlands.  earthquakes and high water are two things i don't need in any quantity right now. 

[kronovan]

interesting fact on video:  3 of the 4 corners of the 'ring of fire' (chile, christchurch, japan) have had major earthquakes almost all within a year.

Doh...don't say that! We all no where the 4th corner is and I just happen to live quite close to it.   Unless of course Mother Nature decides to go for the upper 4th corner like she did in 64.

uh, yeah.  i work in a 42 story office building in downtown seattle.  house is 30 miles south in the lowlands.  earthquakes and high water are two things i don't need in any quantity right now.  

I'm actually about 500' about sea level in Greater Vancouver on firm ground, so I'll be fine. I'm not sure if the Greater Seattle and Greater Vancouver are heavily threatened by a Tsunami in this area. The Juan de Fuca plate is quite far offshore from the west coast of the Olympic Pennisula and Vancouver Island. For sure though, any lowline communities on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, Washington state and Northern Oregon are in serious trouble if a wave hits. As well, communities in the straight of Juan de Fuca, the San Juan Isles (USA) and southern Gulf Isles (Canada) are in for one serious wash.

Here's a decent illustration of the fault:



Anyway, enought about worrying about the 4th corner and diverting this thread any further. My mind is really with the people of Japan, and I'm starting to become extremely concerned about what I'm seeing and hearing about the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

[CeeKay]

the nuclear crisis is now a level 6 on the disaster scale.  Three Mile Island was a 5, and Chernobyl was a 7.

[Moliere]

the tsunami was high enough to get that car on top of a 3 story building.

I see your car and raise you a boat.

[CeeKay]

yeah, but that's only a two story building.

[morlac]

yeah, but that's only a two story building.

LOL I thought the same exact thing.  Then I decided that since it is at least a 2 story boat all is even.

[Purge]

Richter Magnitude (approx)	Approximate TNT for Seismic Energy Yield	Joule equivalent	Example
6.70	168 kilotons	708 TJ	Northridge earthquake (California, USA), 1994 ($20B in damages)
7.00	474 kilotons	2.00 PJ	Java earthquake (Indonesia), 2009 Haiti earthquake, 2010
8.35	50 megatons	210 PJ	Tsar Bomba - Largest thermonuclear weapon ever tested
8.70	168 megatons	708 PJ	Eruption of Krakatoa (Indonesia), 1883
9.00	474 megatons	2.00 EJ	Lisbon earthquake (Portugal), All Saints Day, 1755

   

[rickfc]

Get a cool t-shirt by making a donation to the Salvation Army's relief efforts in Japan

http://www.merchline.com/thesalvationarmy/categorydisplay.4972.c.htm

[Trink]

With the reactor in Japan reaching Chernobyl numbers.  It got me wondering.  The area surrounding Chernobyl is pretty much uninhabitable.  How large of a area is it?  How does that compare to the space they will most likely find un-useable in Japan?

[Isgrimnur]

With the reactor in Japan reaching Chernobyl numbers.  It got me wondering.  The area surrounding Chernobyl is pretty much uninhabitable.  How large of a area is it?  How does that compare to the space they will most likely find un-useable in Japan?

Wiki on the aftermath:

The Exclusion Zone is so lush with wildlife and greenery that in 2007 the Ukrainian government designated it a wildlife sanctuary, and at 488.7 km2 it is one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Europe.

[Trink]

So there will be a large area useable by animals and such, but what about the people its going to displace?  Japan is a much smaller place than russia for displaced people.

[Isgrimnur]

The reactors are in Okuma.  The city is listed at around 10,000 people.  The district Okuma is in is around 75,000, with an area of less than double that of the Exclusion zone.  Also, it's on the coast, so the odds of the entire district needing to be abandoned are slim. 

[Zinfan]

It is not reaching "Chernobyl" levels and not even close.  Yes it is very bad but if they can continue cooling the reactors with seawater than there should be little long term impact on the surrounding area.  The major difference between the two is that Chernobyl ejected massive amounts of it's core when it exploded, Fukishimi did not and probably won't at this point.  I can't say why the dose rates rose to such a high level but they have dropped since then so perhaps they got the core covered again if the increase was due to further loss of cooling.

[hepcat]

The head of our nuclear energy division just sent out this updated statement from the NEI (Nuclear Energy Institute):

Dear NEI Member:
UPDATE AS OF 2:15 P.M. EDT, TUESDAY, MARCH 15:
An explosion at unit 2 of the Fukushima Daiichi plant earlier today has damaged the suppression chamber, which holds water and stream released from the reactor core. Personnel not directly supporting recovery efforts have been evacuated from the plant, with about 50 employees remaining, principally to restore cooling water in the reactors.
Later in the day, water level inside the unit 2 reactor was measured at 1.7 meters below the top of the fuel rods, but it was rising as workers pumped sew water into the reactor, reports said.
Tokyo Electric Power Co. said that an oil leak in a cooling water pump was the cause of a fire that burned for approximately 140 minutes. The fire was not in the spent fuel pool, as reported by several media outlets. Unit 4 was in a 105-day-long maintenance outage at the time of the earthquake and there is no fuel in the reactor.
All four reactors at the Fukushima Daini power plant are shutdown and reactor coolant systems are keeping the reactors safe.
Residents have been evacuated from the area surrounding the facility and they have been given potassium iodide tablets as a preventive measure. The ingestion of the tablets can help prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid.
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission has sent 11 experts to Tokyo to provide assistance requested by the Japanese government. Two reactor experts were dispatched Saturday; others began departing Monday.

Energy Secretary Steven Chu said today that nuclear energy is safe and important to the country’s energy portfolio. Americans “should have full confidence that the United States has rigorous safety regulations in place to ensure that our nuclear power is generated safely and responsibly.”
In testimony before the House of Representatives, Chu said: “Safety remains at the forefront of our effort to responsibly develop America’s energy resources, and we will continue to incorporate best practices and lessons learned into that process. He said the country must rely on several energy sources, including nuclear.”
Sen. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement, “I think undoubtedly they’ll (Nuclear Regulatory Commission) be taking a fresh look at the safety precautions and provisions that are in place, in light of whatever is learned from the Japanese. I hope that the Commission will quickly reach some conclusions about whether the safety precautions and provisions that it has insisted on are adequate for the future.”

[Moliere]

Why is there no looting in Japan?

Looting is something we see after almost every tragedy; for example: last year's earthquakes in Haiti and Chile, the floods in England in 2007, and of course Hurricane Katrina back in 2005. It happens when some people who've seen life as they know it get tossed out the window feel that all morality has been tossed out too. It's survival of the fittest and whatever you can get your hands on is yours, no matter who it belongs to.

But that's not happening in Japan.

[Punisher]

holy fucking shit ground level view of the water plowing over a neighborhood.

A page ago.

This link is dead, anyone have a new one for this?