Japanese authorities are urging some 2,000 residents living within a 2km radius of a nuclear plant in Fukushima to evacuate, the AFP reports. The plant has been shut down after its cooling system failed.

Posted by: Stimey at March 11, 2011 07:40 AM (mvLi7)

You've had over 100 aftershocks, haven't you?

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 11, 2011 07:42 AM (if2zg)

The BBC's former Japan correspondent Charles Scanlon says that while the government has set up an emergency task force in Tokyo, it will be difficult for rescuers to get to the affected region. He says: "They problem is they've got to get to this relatively remote area, especially the province of Iwate, to the north of Sendai - an area where we've seen some television pictures showing a town almost completely levelled by the earthquake. It is dark now, it's going to be very cold, it's still winter and snow is forecast."

Posted by: davidt at March 11, 2011 07:50 AM (9Pzy7)

Thanks.   Praying for everyone.

Posted by: lowandslow at March 11, 2011 07:52 AM (GZitp)

Did they just do that since the bill was passed?   How the hell does that happen?

 William Ramsay in Tokyo says: "I've been walking for hours, getting home. The streets are packed with people walking home as there's no transport. I've never seen anything like it in Tokyo. Some of these people will be walking for 20km. The mobile networks are down."

Posted by: davidt at March 11, 2011 08:04 AM (9Pzy7)

Stand corrected.  They just announced the Waikiki brain trust has walked away from the seawall.  Hard to tell what's where as I have to look up correct spelling of Hawaii, forget the geography.

Posted by: nevergiveup at March 11, 2011 08:04 AM (0GFWk)

He posted on Facebook last night they were on Code Black.  Says they'll be sending Marines to the mainland to help.

Good thing he purchased travel insurance.  He was to fly out of Tokyo Sunday. 

Posted by: Nighthawk at March 11, 2011 08:14 AM (RSqz2)

I want one!

Good morning, yes it's Saturday morning here in Sydney - 12.10 am

I've just got off the phone after talking to my friend in Osaka - he's happy his mates in Tokyo are safe - although the ones at work have no way to get home except by walking because all the roads are blocked, trains aren't running - total chaos

He was driving home from work and didn't feel a thing but he said his workmates felt the building shake - and Osaka is a long way from the epicentre

He was telling me what his local telly station was talking about about in the background to our conversation - 66 confirmed dead , hundreds missing

He lived through the Kobe earthquake, and when I visited him a year after that quake the things I remember - from the tower at Kobe Harbour you look down and you can see how far the land has disappeared into the sea, and also the big freeway along the waterfront was still tipped over on its side

I just can't get that image out of mind - those cars going round and round in that whirlpool - those poor poeple 

Does each island have their own set of TV stations, or do they cover all the islands? 

KITV seems to stay focused on Oahu.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2011 08:20 AM (M9Ie6)

He's at Camp Foster, Okinawa.  We've been unable to reach him.  He posted on Facebook last night they were restricted to barracks, and everyone was pretty freaked out.  Said the Marines are to go to the mainland.  Looks like we won't be seeing him anytime soon. 

Does anyone have updated casualty figures?  This is just awful.  I don't have any personal ties to Japan, but this earthquake and the resulting tsunami have, for whatever reason, hit me very hard.

Wouldn't that be over TWO hundred times as strong?  6.8 to 7.8 would be 100 times the strength.  Or is my math brain just not working this morning?

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 08:28 AM (UOM4

Oh, Jane, I'm so sorry.   I know you were really looking forward to seeing him.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 08:28 AM (UOM4

At least I've heard that all American servicemen and women in Japan have been accounted for.  I hope you'll get to see your son soon, and talk to him even sooner.

I hope everyones alright in the Earthquake area. The Japs seems to be very smart and understand they live in an earthquake prone area and have building codes that reflect it. At least for the larger newer buildings.

Posted by: Vic at March 11, 2011 08:31 AM (M9Ie6)

Good to hear.  I'm sure the folks on Okinawa will be fine.  My prayers are going out to the poor folks on the mainland.  Looks like the Marines will be doing search and rescue.  When a typhoon hit Okinawa several months ago, our kid got a glowing letter of commendation for his and his unit's work getting supplies all over the island, and clearing roads of debris, etc. 

Momma; whirlpool video in sidebar:

BBC News

Posted by: momma at March 11, 2011 08:32 AM (penCf)

_{Man, Friday night starts awful early around here.}

There has also been a major explosion at a petrochemical complex in Sendai, according to the Kyodo news agency.

Posted by: ontherocks at March 11, 2011 08:35 AM (HBqDo)

You may be right...

Large aftershocks are still continuing off Japan's east coast. The US Geological Survey reports seven more over the past half hour measuring between 5.2 and 5.6 magnitude.

Momma; whirlpool video in sidebar:

jesus, how does that even work?

How long til Danny Glover blames the earthquake and tsunami on AGW/the Tea Party/Bush.

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 08:46 AM (VuLos)

No kidding.  Sigh. 

Posted by: MWR at March 11, 2011 08:47 AM (4df7R)

Have you seen the footage yet of the tankers and merchant ships on their sides yet? That one really blew me away.

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 08:46 AM (VuLos)

_{When I go to be early I get the silent treatment for a couple of days, at a minimum.}

Have you seen the footage yet of the tankers and merchant ships on their sides yet? That one really blew me away.

Posted by: HH at March 11, 2011 08:52 AM (6oDXl)

I have.  And just now was watching the footage of the water from the tsunami just rolling across the countryside, picking up buildings and cars and boats and everything.  The worst is that you can see cars driving fast to try and get away.  It's like something frmo a movie, but devastatingly real.

_{When I go to be early I get the silent treatment for a couple of days, at a minimum.}

Posted by: ontherocks at March 11, 2011 08:54 AM (HBqDo)

As well you should, darlin'....as well you should.

OK, which one of you morons was sporting a diaper and in drag?

Authorities said a woman entered the Amherst County Courthouse on Thursday morning with a tiny monkey tucked into her bra, dressed in diapers and a pink and white dress.

The unusual event occurred when the woman arrived for a hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations court.

Officials said they had no idea the woman had the monkey until the she went into an office for a routine procedure to fill out court-related paperwork.

When the woman referred to a daughter, a puzzled official asked where the daughter was and the woman pulled the monkey out of her bra.

Some of you guys will do anything to get inside a woman's bra!

Posted by: Ben at March 11, 2011 08:57 AM (wuv1c)

A BBC reporter already threw in the magic words in his report earlier this morning.

The tsunami is clearly a result of glo- AAAAHHH!!!!

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 08:57 AM (UOM4

I heard earlier that he already had a press conference scheduled for today. To talk about gas prices. So anyhow, sometime around 11 I think.

I heard earlier that he already had a press conference scheduled for today. To talk about gas prices. So anyhow, sometime around 11 I think.

Posted by: HH at March 11, 2011 09:00 AM (6oDXl)

Which is about 15 minutes after he drags his sorry ass out of bed.

Wouldn't that be over TWO hundred times as strong?  6.8 to 7.8 would be 100 times the strength.  Or is my math brain just not working this morning?

No and no, as I understand it; first, as I understand it, the progression of 10s is from whole number to whole number (6.0 to 7.0; 6.2 to 7.2, etc.). So, 7.0 is 10x as strong as 6.0, and 8.0 is 10x as strong as 7.0 -- hence, 10x10, not 100+100.

Second, if I'm wrong about the whole-numbers thing, it would be 100 x 100, not 100 x 2, so 10,000 instead of 200. (Exponential growth = multiplication instead of addition.)

OK, which one of you morons was sporting a diaper and in drag?

Authorities said a woman entered the Amherst County Courthouse on Thursday morning with a tiny monkey tucked into her bra, dressed in diapers and a pink and white dress.

The unusual event occurred when the woman arrived for a hearing in Juvenile and Domestic Relations court.

Officials said they had no idea the woman had the monkey until the she went into an office for a routine procedure to fill out court-related paperwork.

When the woman referred to a daughter, a puzzled official asked where the daughter was and the woman pulled the monkey out of her bra.

Some of you guys will do anything to get inside a woman's bra!

_{Wasn't me.  I don't own a monkey.}

Posted by: RJ at March 11, 2011 09:03 AM (qDPnZ)

Close enough to earn a beating with a clue-by-four.

Tiyan, Guam -- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has lifted a tsunami warning for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, where no damage has been reported from the earthquake-spawned waves.

Tiyan, Guam -- The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has lifted a tsunami warning for Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands, where no damage has been reported from the earthquake-spawned waves.

Posted by: Deanna at March 11, 2011 09:07 AM (Cfb4m)

Good.  I was worried it might tip over.

129

I remember it clearly - Indonesian/Thai tsunami December 26th 2004

Bush Derangement Syndrome in full swing - apparently the warning systems - can't remember where (maybe Hawaii)  were defunded or hadn't been established quickly enough or something because of your dreadfullly evil President Bush

Some guy on the BBC mentioned "climate change" while reporting on this (sort of randomly), although he did not claim that "climate change" actually caused the earthquake.

Yes, because a movement of the earth's crust SIX MILES BELOW THE SURFACE in an area renowned for quakes has to be associated with a non-existent atmospheric phenomenon somehow.

Some of you guys will do anything to get inside a woman's bra!

_{I think O-care covers surgery for that.}

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 09:14 AM (VuLos)

You have to be kidding.  Fuckers.

Good.  I was worried it might tip over.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 09:09 AM

You know that was the first thing I thought of when I head about this.  Terrible huh?  Anyway, more good news...Twitter...

US military officials tell NBC News that the tsunami has passed through the US Navy port at Pearl Harbor and the impact was "INSIGNIFICANT"

Some of you guys will do anything to get inside a woman's bra!

Yes, yes we will.

Posted by: Soap MacTavish at March 11, 2011 09:15 AM (vbh31)

And if GWB gets a fever....look the hell out.

CNN just reporting 200-300 bodies found in Sendai.  Jesus

If i had to make a guess, considering the aging population and their inability to react quickly enough, I'm gonna say we're looking at 20-30 thousand dead when all is said and done.

Many will be missing as they are dragged back out to sea. Others won't be found until the rubble is cleared.

BBC just did the 'climate change' thingy.  "If you're on an island that's already experiencing climate change, with the seas rising, you're going to be devastated by a tsunami."

Face palm.

You have to be kidding.  Fuckers.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 09:17 AM (UOM4

I so wish I was.  

I'm so sorry to hear about D'oh boy's cancelled trip.  That sucks.

The dumbass one was awakened around 4ish by shithead Daley, and issued a statement.

Actually, Daley said he woke him up, but probably only to tell him what the statement said.

I'm so sorry to hear about D'oh boy's cancelled trip.  That sucks.

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 09:19 AM (VuLos)

Thanks, Tami.  Yeah, we were looking forward to celebrating our 25th anniversary with him next week.

However, my heart goes out to the Japanese people.  Our kid needs to do whatever he can to help. 

However, my heart goes out to the Japanese people.  Our kid needs to do whatever he can to help. 

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 09:21 AM (UOM4

BBC mentioned the 50K US forces in Japan and that they'd probably be asked to help.

Will he get to reschedule his trip at a later date?

However, my heart goes out to the Japanese people.  Our kid needs to do whatever he can to help. 

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 09:21 AM (UOM4

Yeah, disappointment for the D'ohs planned reunion but the Japanese peoples need every available superhero.

The US state department is advising US citizens to avoid all non-essential travel to Japan following the massive earthquake.

Well, no shit.   Gawd, our government is dumb as hell.

Putting it as delicately as possible, Japan's Cabinet Chief said that the damage is worse than expected.

It's relatively easy to prepare for the shake.  It's damned difficult ot engineer for large amounts of water slamming into things.

Gawd, our government is dumb as hell.

In defense of State, some people are not very bright either.

Oof.

Listening to Fox about the nuc. plant...predicting core meltdown. Or saying it's possible...

There have been more than 100 aftershocks.    At least 50 have been from 5.0 to 5.8.

Posted by: texette at March 11, 2011 09:22 AM

That is good news.  I am still waiting to hear from friends in Hawaii but last I heard they shouldn't be affected too much.  And the military reported "insignificant" damage at Pearl Harbor.

I'd better get to Hawaii to check the beaches.

Could take weeks.

D'oh Boy just called!  He said he was working in the motor pool when the tsunami warning came, and helicopters were flying overhead ordering everyone to barracks.  Said Okinawa's okay.

Excellent news, Jane.

Yay, Jane!   You should be so proud of that fine Marine.

D'oh Boy just called! 

Good, Jane!

Well, it would be nice if he could fly home, but yeh, I guess you can't exactly count on it right now.

Posted by: Plateau Plato at March 11, 2011 09:32 AM (H+LJc)

Indonesia got small waves, but no damage.   Don't think the others had any problems, either.

Posted by: Jane D'oh at March 11, 2011 09:30 AM (UOM4

Oh YAY!!! 

True. Just think about the random stupid you encounter on a daily basis. The misinformation, misunderstanding, complete inability to grasp basic facts of life. But enough about the media............

Posted by: Mallamutt at March 11, 2011 09:32 AM (OWjjx)

Whew, my ears were burning there for a moment.

Anyone have a link to the Russian news of their islands north of Japan, and from Taiwan and the more southern coasts of Indonesia? It would seem that this series of tsunamis would affect Australia and New Zealand as well. When it rains, it pours. As if things weren't already bad enough.

The Kurile Islands are sparcely populated, i bet there are not more than 20,000 Russians and Japnese living there

Alaska Emergency Management says the tsunami from the Japanese earthquake caused a wave just over 5 feet at Shemya and about 18 inches at Adak and Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands.

Shemya is 1,200 miles southwest of Anchorage.

Emergency Management Specialist David Lee at Fort Richardson says there are no reports of damage and no significant damage expected on the coast of Alaska, although that could still depend on the surge in different areas.

I just hope this earthquake didn't wake the tentacle monsters from their slumber. If japanese animated porn is to be believed they will wreak havoc on the female population.

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 09:38 AM (pW2o

That's what the buoys showed too on the NOAA Data Buoy Site.

Posted by: Fritz at March 11, 2011 09:41 AM (GwPRU)

You have a 'minx.cc' in the link that's causing it to fail.

Posted by: Museisluse at March 11, 2011 09:12 AM (xrmna)

I saw the initial reports about that despicable crime a few days ago.  And just when you think the NY times can't be disgusting enough, they have to go and write a story like THAT.  Given that the link leads to MOTHER JONES, of all places, goes to show you how despicable the NYT is.

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 09:46 AM (pW2o

The epicenter was in Sendai, northern Japan.  8.9 quake.  BBC is saying Tokyo doesn't have that much damage but maybe they mean relative to Sendai.

Posted by: Plateau Plato at March 11, 2011 09:47 AM (H+LJc)

Link?

Another five powerful aftershocks measuring around 5.5 magnitude have just rattled the eastern coast of Japan in quick succession, the US Geological Survey reports.

Total aftershocks now close to 150 with 60 or so between 5.0 & 5.8.

Posted by: Miss Marple at March 11, 2011 09:56 AM (Fo83G)

Actually, we've had that proof before.  The question is, how many times will it take.

Posted by: Plateau Plato at March 11, 2011 09:56 AM (H+LJc)

What?  I'm asking you for a link to the "4 million lost" quote.  Do you have one?

I have no words for this picture.

Posted by: Miss Marple at March 11, 2011 10:02 AM (Fo83G)

That's what I thought, but he pasted a quote.  No link, though, for this extraordinary claim.  I'm shocked.

I would imagine the nuc plant has battery back up AND emergency generators.  Now the questions of fuel for the generator could be a concern, and battery power is limited, but i'd suspect as long as they have water moving around the nuc rods, there is no danger of a core meltdown. 

That said, if they don't have coolant flow and heat remoal capabilities because the quake damaged water piping, there isn't anything to do but get far, far away.

I have no words for this picture.

Posted by: Mama AJ at March 11, 2011 09:59 AM (XdlcF)

A 10 meter high wall of debris and water, on fire!  Not CGI. 

I'm guessing the death toll is going to be massive. Remember, it's night there now. You really can't search very well in the dark. And a lot of these cities are going to be without power. Throw on top of that fires burning out of control, you have major problems.

Something else to consider. Food and water. These are Islands, so how badly were their harbors hit? From the initial footage, pretty damn bad. So stuff is probably going to have to flown in.

This is very, very bad.

At least we have an intelligent, thoughtful man in the White House.

Oh, who's visiting today?

Cosmo Oil Co:  Major fire at oil refinery, near LPG tank, in Chiba prefecture, east of Tokyo. All operations halted

Honda Motor Co:  42-year-old male employee dies at Honda R&D Centre in Tochigi prefecture after wall collapses in cantine. In other Tochigi facilities, including other R&D sites and engine parts/transmission factory, walls and ceilings damaged, injuring 30-some employees.

Nippon Paper Group : Factories in Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures halted production. Damage unknown.

Nissan Motor Co :  Production halted at all four car assembly factories in Japan, including those in severely hit Tochigi and Fukushima prefectures. Small fires confirmed at those two factories. Two suffered minor injuries at Tochigi factory.

Sony Corp : Six factories, (two in Fukushima, four in Miyagi), all halted and most employees evacuated. One Miyagi factory makes semiconductors, the other three make optical film and various other parts. The two Fukushima factories make batteries.  Floor of chemical products factory in Miyagi flooded and about 1,000 employees taking refuge on second floor.

Sumitomo Metal Industries : Suspends operations at two blast furnaces at Kashima plant, in Ibaraki prefecture. No injuries reported.

Toyota Motor Corp: Joint venture with Panasonic Corp Prime Earth EV Energy, in Miyagi prefecture. Makes batteries for hybrid cars. Production suspended.  Tohoku car parts factory. . Production stopped, no injuries.

http://tinyurl.com/4nr8bcn

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 10:25 AM (pW2o

It's maverick muse.

Stimey at March 11, 2011 10:22 AM

I agree with the others here.  Maybe it's time to get out?  Staying inside an older home with all those after shocks may not be the best idea.

The good thing is that if that is the case there is a large quantity of water in the vessel and it will take a long time without any water supply before the fuel is uncovered. So they have time to rig power to at least one supply pump.

Yeah, that's true, so long as there's no leak they should be ok for a while. The big fear would be failure of heat removal leading to steam build up in the reactor, i'd think. that could blow some piping, or the vessle itself.

Posted by: Stimey at March 11, 2011 10:33 AM (mvLi7)

Obama is still worried about international opinion.  Wouldn't want to be seen taking charge of the situation or anything.

Posted by: Y-not at March 11, 2011 10:34 AM (pW2o

Of course.  Drilling would be ineffective, nay, counterproductive, but tapping a reserve we have to replace?  Perfect.

Someone tell me how the Democrats have convinced a large part of the population that drilling is irresponsible, and not drilling will somehow reduce our dependence on foreign oil.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at March 11, 2011 10:33 AM (if2zg)

oh that is getting bad now.

BBC video is scary.

Very scary.

OK, wait, the reactor's cooling system isn't working due to lack of power?

A critical part of a power generation facility, designed to generate power, has no power?

Someone enlighten me, I presume there's a good reason for this...

Posted by: Tami at March 11, 2011 10:41 AM (VuLos)

Holy Christ.  Even if you don't normally pray, folks, I hope everyone's sending up prayers for the people in Japan.  This is almost Biblical in scope.

An update now on the nuclear power station in Japan at the centre of a huge evacuation order: Officials have said the reactor cooling system that failed after the quake at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is expected to return to normal soon, according to the Jiji Press news agency.

momma- those pictures are heartwrenching.  Excellent coverage by the Telegraph.

Anyone know when Barky is making a statement?  I want to be sure to have the TV off.

He was already scheduled for an address in about a half hour.  I'll lay odds he'll just fold a line or two into his regularly scheduled ignorant poppycock.

Does anyone know what's happening to the people in the Japanese subway system?  Since all the trains are stopped, are they stuck in the tunnels, or have they managed to get out?

Posted by: Stimey at March 11, 2011 10:48 AM (mvLi7)

Can you access the BBC online? 

http://tinyurl.com/4ug6f4y

Does anyone know what's happening to the people in the Japanese subway system?  Since all the trains are stopped, are they stuck in the tunnels, or have they managed to get out?

Posted by: MWR at March 11, 2011 10:48 AM (4df7R)

Last I heard, BBC said a lot of people are stuck on trains.

BRB with the link:

STUART ROBERT, FEDERAL MP: Well we're still on the train inching our way towards Tokyo. We've been on the train for seven, maybe eight hours now.

ALI MOORE: Are they keeping you informed? Are they telling you what's happening?

STUART ROBERT: As much as they can, which is very, very little. We spent four or five hours stationary there in the middle, unable to get on or after and of course the train ran out of food and water before they moved to a new station. And all they could say was they're checking the rail. No bullet trains are moving. No electric trains in Tokyo are moving. Millions and millions of people are stuck. And they'll provide further update as they come along. And now we're inching our way towards Tokyo.

With tsunamis afoot, subway tunnels are dead last on my list of places I'd want to be in Japan.

I gotta take a break. Hang in there Stimey.

The video is bad enough, but I don't want to hear about reducing our carbon footprints to prevent bullying or something.

lol, @ LDC.  it's possible they put a couple of water buffalo or tanks like that into the plant, i think they have their own pumping capability. maybe?

And glad to hear they got some coolant back online. a core meltdown would have been a topper to a near armageddon situation this is looking like for northern Japan.

Posted by: Joanna at March 11, 2011 11:08 AM (HaYO4)

Here are some pictures, if you can't catch the feed.   These tell pretty much the whole story.

http://tiny.cc/5edql

The buildings caught in that tsunami wave just disintegrating like tissue paper as they hit each other.

Posted by: Steph at March 11, 2011 10:57 AM (AkdC5)

"Conservatives" are already writing his political epitaph. Speaking of which, I was just reading about the soldier and his dog who died within hours of each other and bawled my eyes out. Doubt the president does much of this. Please, Republicans, get that POS out of the White House.

Posted by: eman: United People's Front of Wisconsin at March 11, 2011 11:16 AM (azrS2)

It was just pics!

Posted by: Steph at March 11, 2011 11:34 AM (AkdC5)

Uh....they might want to hurry up their consideration.

Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix

Maybe we did drop some crates of Prerstone in. Of course i wouldn't expect HRC to know what the hell she's talking about. But i'd hope he staff could get her the right information.

So long as the reactor doesn't go all melty, things will be fine.

In other news, Illinois is now taxing Internet businesses with affiliates in state.  Which yeah, pretty much means more jobs on their way out of Illinois.  (Forbes by way of Drudge.  Go read, other things today aside from Gojira an earthquake destroying Japan.)

Oh, and Utah just decided to allow gold and silver to be used as legal tender within its borders.  (Washintgon Times, again via Drudge)

O M G.

BBC said the wave went 10K inland. 6.2 miles.

I hope that isn't true. Tell me I heard that wrong.

Well, the prez is going to be speaking shortly. I'm just wondering, since he was originally going to address high gas prices, do you think he will state that we need more 'alternative' power?

My guess is that he will. And of course nothing like nuclear power.

Sighs...

totally inappropriate:  msn is running a story about the japanese nuclear plant problems...as a related link, they offer "where is the plant?"...takes you bing where one of the search results is priceline's "hotels near..."

{facepalm}