2011 Japanese Earthquake/Tsunami

[old medic]

http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/12_45.html

Agency: Uranium fuel may be melting at reactor

The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says 2 radioactive substances, cesium and radioactive iodine, have been detected near the Number One reactor at the Fukushima Number One nuclear power station.

The agency says this indicates that some of the metal containers of uranium fuel may have started melting.
The substances are produced by fuel fission.

University of Tokyo Professor Naoto Sekimura says only a small part of the fuel may have melted and leaked outside.

He called on residents near the power station to stay calm, saying that most of the fuel remains inside the reactor, which has stopped operation and is being cooled.

Saturday, March 12, 2011 15:26 +0900 (JST)

 

[old medic]

Explosion at Japanese nuclear plant sparks fears of reactor meltdown
Mark MacKinnon
Tokyo— Globe and Mail Update
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/asia-pacific/explosion-at-japanese-nuclear-plant-sparks-fears-of-reactor-meltdown/article1939779/

Radiation is leaking from a troubled nuclear reactor north of Tokyo after an explosion blew the roof off the facility, raising fears of a catastrophic meltdown one day after Japan was struck by a massive earthquake and tsunami.

Though government experts said the chance of the reactor sustaining serious damage remained low, residents were being evacuated from a 20-kilometre radius around the 40-year-old Daiichi 1 reactor plant in Fukushima prefecture Saturday............

 

[The Bread Guy]

.... here:

“On behalf of Laureen and myself, I offer our heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people. The thoughts and prayers of all Canadians are with all those affected by the powerful earthquake, its aftershocks, and the tsunami that have struck Japan.

“Our Government is also closely monitoring the potential impact of the tsunami warnings affecting the wider Asia-Pacific region, including Canada’s west coast. We are working closely with local first responders, municipal and provincial officials in order to address the immediate needs of citizens and ensure their safety.

“Our diplomats at the Embassy of Canada in Tokyo are working with Japanese authorities to determine whether any Canadians have been injured in the earthquake or tsunami. Earlier today, I spoke with Japan’s Ambassador in Canada and offered Canada’s support and assistance. Canada stands ready to help and support Japan in responding to this disaster.

“Friends and relatives in Canada seeking information on Canadian citizens believed to be in the affected areas should contact the Emergency Operations Centre at the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade by calling 1-800-387-3124 or 613-943-1055. They may also send an e-mail to sos@international.gc.ca.”

 

[old medic]

U.S. troops, searchers and equipment arriving in Japan
By the CNN Wire Staff
http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/03/12/quake.response/

(CNN) -- The first wave of promised aid from the United States began arriving in Japan on Saturday in the wake of the devastating 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami.

More aid -- in the form of equipment, staffers and search-and-rescue teams -- was expected to arrive Sunday.

In Shiroishi, a town near the area hardest hit by the quake, two SH-60 helicopters from U.S. Naval Air Facility Atsugi delivered 1,500 pounds of rice and bread donated by people in Ebina, southeast of Tokyo, the U.S. 7th Fleet, said in a statement Saturday. The fleet is headquartered in Yokosuka, just outside Tokyo.

Two destroyers, the USS McCampbell and USS Curtis Wilbur, were off Japan's Boso Peninsula, which shelters Tokyo Bay, and were preparing to move into position "to assist Japanese authorities with providing at-sea search and rescue and recovery operations," the 7th Fleet said.

An additional destroyer, the USS Mustin, will depart Yokosuka on Sunday. Eight other U.S. ships are en route to Japan from various locations, set to arrive Sunday or later in the week, according to the 7th Fleet. One, the USS Tortuga, departed Japan Saturday night to pick up two helicopters in South Korea before returning in about two days.

Three ships from the USS Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group also are among the eight ships, the military said. "USS Ronald Reagan is prepared to serve as an afloat platform for refueling Japan Self Defense Force and other helicopters involved in rescue and recovery efforts ashore," it said.

Meanwhile, the III Marine Expeditionary Force, based on the island of Okinawa, south of Japan, said it was "prepositioning forces and supplies in support of humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations."

The force was sending staffers, a cargo aircraft and transport helicopters to the mainland, it said in a written statement. Additional aircraft and supplies will be sent in the next few days.

The military assistance operation is known as Operation Tomodachi, or "friendship," the statement said. The name was chosen by the Japanese.

U.S. Forces Japan, based at Yokota Air Base near Tokyo, is the lead military command for coordinating humanitarian assistance, the military said. Shortly after the quake struck, the air base was designated as an alternate airfield for flights that could not land at Tokyo's Narita Airport, and it received a handful of commercial flights....................................

 

[HavokFour]

As of this time there are still FOUR trains missing in action, and;

BREAKING: 10,000 REPORTED MISSING IN JAPANESE TOWN FOLLOWING QUAKE ​

NEARLY 10,000 people are missing from a Japanese port town, a news agency is reporting.

The coastal town of Minamisanriku, just 290 miles north of Tokyo, Japan, has been devastated by the tsunami.

The Japanese state broadcast agency has reported that nearly 10,000 people are unaccounted for in the town, in Miyagi prefecture, which has a population of 19,000.


Reports are coming in that the town was literally 'washed away' and that many buildings have been completely destroyed. 

The confirmed death toll in Japan is at 574, but thousands are still unaccounted for. Four trains are still missing.

Fresh aftershocks are now hitting the country. British aid teams have been dispatched to help rescue survivors.

***ARTICLE UPDATED***

UPDATE: Four trains are still missing and a ship carrying 100 passengers.

UPDATE 2: One train and the ship have been found, all passengers rescued.

 

[old medic]

JAPAN Coast Guard Patrol Vessel Kurikoma (PL-06)  of the Erimo class, aground post tsunami

 

[old medic]

Matsushima Air Base damage photos

3 more photos at link;
http://alert5.com/2011/03/12/photos-of-damaged-f-2-fighters-at-matsushima-air-base/



edit to add this photo link:
http://www.patricksaviation.com/files/photos/full/40012_36590.jpg

 

[Dissident]

That'l buff right out.

 

[old medic]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/03/navy-carrier-ronald-reagan-set-to-arrive-today-off-japan-for-earthquake-relief.html

The aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan, whose home port is San Diego, is set to arrive off the Japanese main island of Honshu later Sunday Japan time, prepared for humanitarian relief for the country ravaged by an earthquake and tsunami.

The Reagan had been set for a port call in South Korea but was redirected. The carrier has helicopters, medical supplies, and drinking water, all critically needed.  Other ships in the carrier strike group are also being redirected.

The Navy medical ship Mercy is in San Diego but may be deployed for long-term assistance, officials said.

Daily Telegraph live blog
www.telegraph.co.uk

23:10 GMT US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived off the coast of Japan early Sunday to provide logistic support for Japanese forces after a killer earthquake and tsunami hit the country.

Agence France-Presse

US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan arrived off the coast of Japan early Sunday to provide logistic support for Japanese forces after a killer earthquake and tsunami hit the country.

"Ronald Reagan will continue to operate near Japan in order to best support disaster relief efforts led by the Japan Self-Defence Force," the US Pacific Fleet said on its Facebook page.

Japan had so far asked the carrier to provide refuelling operations for its helicopters and to assist in the transportation of its troops to affected areas, it said.

Separately, a 144-member rescue team of the US Agency for International Development was scheduled to arrive in Misawa, northern Japan, on Sunday, to join inland operations, the Japanese foreign ministry said.

 

[old medic]

Kyodo News Agency
13 March 2011
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9LU0RF80&show_article=1

Kan plans to double No. of SDF members to quake-hit areas to 100,000+

TOKYO, March 13 (Kyodo)—Prime Minister Naoto Kan is planning to double the number of Self-Defense Forces personnel sent to areas hit by a devastating quake to 100,000, Defense Minister Toshimi Kitazawa said Sunday.

Kitazawa told a meeting of the ministry's emergency headquarters that he has received such an order from Kan.

 

[HavokFour]

As of 03/13/11 at 00:31 EST, Japanese officials raise official death toll to 801. Tens of thousands still missing.

 

[old medic]

Japanese man rescued far out to sea after quake and tsunami
13 March 2011
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/breaking-news/japanese-man-rescued-far-out-to-sea-after-quake-and-tsunami/story-fn3dxity-1226020701604

A JAPANESE man who was swept 15km out to sea by Japan's deadly tsunami was plucked to safety today after being spotted clinging to a piece of wreckage, officials said.

A Maritime Self-Defence Force destroyer rescued 60-year-old Hiromitsu Shinkawa after discovering him floating on a piece of roof in waters off Fukushima Prefecture, two days after the disaster struck.

The man, from the city of Minamisoma which has been virtually obliterated, was swept out along with his house after the massive tsunami tore into Japan's northeast following a 9-magnitude earthquake on Friday.

He is conscious and in "good condition" after his rescue which took place around 12.40pm local time, ministry officials said, adding that he was taken to hospital by helicopter.

"I ran away after learning that the tsunami was coming," Shinkawa told rescuers, according to Jiji Press.

"But I turned back to pick up something at home, when I was washed away. I was rescued while I was hanging to the roof from my house."...............

 

[Dog Walker]

Adding to Japan’s other troubles; there is now a Volcano eruption in the south of the country.

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/304596

Volcano in Southern Japan erupts anew, adds to country's woes

Tokyo- A volcano located at the southern region of Japan has been reported by the Meteorological Agency to be spewing rock and ashes on Sunday.
Mt. Shinmoe-dake erupted after being silent for over two weeks. The most recent eruption released a pillar of rock, ash and volcanic debris two and a half miles high into the air.
Level three warnings have already been issued within the immediate and surrounding areas of the volcano. Authorities have also restricted access to the mountain, which is located in the Kirishima range in the island of Kyushu.

 

[HavokFour]

Some 2,000 Bodies Found On Quake-Hit Miyagi's Coastal Areas​

Article

SENDAI (Kyodo)--Some 2,000 bodies were found Monday on two shores in Miyagi Prefecture following Friday's devastating earthquake and massive tsunami, as Japan continued to struggle to grasp the whole picture of the disaster.

The findings will significantly increase the death toll from the magnitude 9.0 quake and ensuing tsunami, with police having so far confirmed 1,597 deaths and 1,481 people missing across the affected areas in northeastern and eastern Japan.

About 1,000 bodies were found coming ashore on hardest-hit Miyagi's Ojika Peninsula and another 1,000 have been spotted in the town of Minamisanriku where the prefectural government has been unable to contact about 10,000 people, or over half the local population.

The official death toll excludes about 200 to 300 bodies in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi, that have yet to be recovered by police and other workers due to the difficulty of reaching them amid the devastation and rubble.

The Miyagi prefectural government has decided to ask for help from other prefectures as work to cremate bodies is falling behind, it said.

About 450,000 people had evacuated by Sunday in Miyagi and five other prefectures but water, food and fuel are in short supply in various locations where they have taken refuge, prompting the government to decide to airlift supplies by Self-Defense Forces helicopters.

While the Miyagi prefectural government has been unable to contact about 10,000 people in Minamisanriku, comprising more than half the town's population, information has been received that many town residents have evacuated to neighboring Tome city, officials said, adding they are trying to confirm the report.

The whereabouts of about 2,500 tourists who were visiting the quake-hit areas have not been confirmed, the Japan Tourism Agency said.

With the country's largest recorded quake having crippled some nuclear power plants in the Tohoku region in northeastern Japan, Tokyo Electric Power Co. is set to start an unprecedented rationing of power in the Kanto region surrounding Tokyo in the morning to make up for an expected power shortage.

The region-specific outages, expected to last at least until the end of April, will affect most of the 45 million people in the power firm's service area in Tokyo and eight prefectures, with railway operators suspending most services in the region through Monday.

The utility, meanwhile, reported to the government that the radiation level at the troubled Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant had again exceeded the legal limit following brief rises over the weekend with some of its reactors having lost their cooling functions.

 

[The Bread Guy]

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, outlined an array of expertise and technical assistance that the Government of Canada has offered to the Government of Japan as part of international efforts to help Japan respond to and recover from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck the country on Friday, March 11.

“Our government has been actively engaged since learning of this tragic event,” said Minister Cannon. “As Prime Minister Harper stated, Canada stands ready to provide any and all possible assistance to the people of Japan. Canada has put a range of capabilities at Japan’s disposal, including a 17-member Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team, which is currently on standby and ready to be deployed.

“In addition, we are offering chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) technical expertise and equipment, Canadian Forces assets—including strategic airlift and personnel—to facilitate humanitarian relief efforts, Government of Canada relief stocks, and emergency medical and engineering capabilities,” added Minister Cannon.

Minister Cannon noted that some 13 Canadian federal departments and agencies have been collaborating within Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada’s Task Force on Natural Disasters Abroad.

In addition, Canadian government officials have been in contact with the United Nations and the International Red Cross, as both organizations have dispatched disaster-assessment teams to Japan.

The Government of Canada will remain responsive to needs identified by the Government of Japan and, working in close coordination with provincial and territorial authorities, stands ready to respond to other specific requests for assistance ....

More from DFAIT statement here.

 

[HavokFour]

According to the JMA, there is a 70 percent chance of another quake (7.0M) in the next three days and a 50 percent chance of another hitting three days after that.

 

[eurowing]

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/quakes_big.php

The above link is very interesting.  Once you open it, scroll down to the 8.9.  You will see the number of +M5.0 quakes since then.  Everything above M6.0 is highlighted in red. 

 

[old medic]

US moves ships out of path of Japan radiation
The Associated Press
Monday, March 14, 2011; 10:31 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/14/AR2011031401990.html

WASHINGTON -- The Navy says it moved several U.S. ships away from a troubled Japanese nuclear plant after detecting low-level radiation on 17 helicopter crew members positioned there for relief efforts.

Navy Cmdr. Jeff Davis, a spokesman for the U.S. 7th Fleet, said Monday that the Navy is committed to continuing the operation to help the Japanese after last week's earthquake and tsunami. But he says officials had to figure out how to continue safely after airborne radiation was detected Sunday by the carrier USS Ronald Reagan and on a helicopter crew returning to the ship from search and rescue operations.

By moving the ships in the carrier group out of the downwind path of the power plant, Davis says the navy can continue with less risk to Americans participating.

 

[old medic]

Trying to keep it on military news, since there is far too many aspects of this event to cover in a thread.
However, the nuclear power plant news is quickly causing international worry.

Kyodo News Agency
Container damaged, radiation leak feared at Fukushima No.2 reactor
TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo

Radiation is feared to have leaked after part of a container vessel was apparently damaged by an explosion at the troubled No. 2 reactor of the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant Tuesday morning, its operator said, triggering fears that the problem could develop into a critical ''meltdown'' situation.

The government's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said that radiation levels at the plant shot up after the apparent blast at 6:10 a.m........

http://www.nationalpost.com/news/world/Risk+radiation+leaking+into+atmosphere+Japanese/4438546/story.html

FUKUSHIMA — Japan’s prime minister said on Tuesday that radioactive levels had become high around an earthquake-stricken nuclear power plant after an explosion there, and there was a risk of radiation leaking into the atmosphere.

Naoto Kan urged people within 30 km of the facility north of Tokyo to remain indoors and the French embassy in the capital warned in an advisory that a low level of radioactive wind could reach Tokyo within 10 hours.

Tuesday’s explosion was the third at the plant since it was damaged in last Friday’s massive earthquake and tsunami. ............
The complex had already seen explosions at its No. 1 and No.3 reactors. ....................
Whilst the Fukuskima plant’s No.1 and No.3 reactors both suffered partial fuel rod meltdowns, operator Tokyo Electric Power Co (TEPCO) had earlier said the No. 2 reactor was now the biggest concern.

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/stay-indoors-japanese-pms-order-to-residents-beyond-nuclear-reaction--evacuation-zone-after-blast-20110315-1busf.html

Naoto Kan said in a live address on national broadcaster NHK that people beyond 20 kilometres but up to a  30-kilometre radius from the plant should stay indoors.

He said radiation levels around the damaged reactors  had risen considerably and that a fire broke out at reactor No.4. The possible of radiation leakage was rising, he added.

Looking at the Kyodo newswire, the fire in No.4 was a hydrogen explosion, and was reported as out at 12:04. (Japanese time, Tuesday 15th)

Earlier explosions are reported to have injured a number of ground self-defence force personnel.

 

[old medic]

Kan orders SDF to focus on relief operations for quake victims
TOKYO, March 15, Kyodo
http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/78276.html

Prime Minister Naoto Kan on Tuesday ordered the Self-Defense Forces to focus on relief operations for survivors of Friday's deadly earthquake that hit northeastern Japan.

''While we will continue with our rescue operations, there are many people at evacuation centers hoping for help so we need to gradually shift our work to addressing (their needs),'' Kan said at the start of a Cabinet-level emergency disaster headquarters meeting held at his office.

Bearing in mind that food, water and other necessary supplies are not reaching the survivors, the premier urged SDF troops to assume a central role in transporting such items to quake-affected areas.

It would be ''most effective'' for the SDF to take charge of this task because they have the organizational power to do so, Kan said.

Under the scheme, local governments and companies will deliver goods to collection points at SDF bases and stations, and the SDF will take charge of delivering the goods via helicopters and ships.

Individuals can also take goods to the nearest municipal government.

The Defense Ministry said the runway at the Air Self-Defense Force's Matsushima Air Base in Miyagi Prefecture reopened Tuesday after being submerged by a tsunami.

The reopening of the runway means that aircraft such as C-130 transport planes can airlift goods in large quantities to quake-hit areas, the ministry said.