8.9 Earthquake (upgraded to 9.0) and Tsunami hits Japan
- Hachimitsu
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8.9 Earthquake (upgraded to 9.0) and Tsunami hits Japan
Here is a link on the BBC News:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
There is also video footage of the tsunami hitting parts of Japan (from the network NHK). I can't bring myself to post it.
There is now a tsunami warning for much of Pacific.
Edit: to adjust the title of the thread
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
There is also video footage of the tsunami hitting parts of Japan (from the network NHK). I can't bring myself to post it.
There is now a tsunami warning for much of Pacific.
Edit: to adjust the title of the thread
Last edited by Hachimitsu on Sun Mar 20, 2011 5:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Voronwë the Faithful
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- Primula Baggins
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I hope not.
The parts of the Oregon coast I've been hearing about seem pretty well evacuated. The tide is about halfway out at the moment, which is good.This coast has had hours of warning. The sirens have been going off, and school is canceled in most coastal towns.
The images from Japan are horrifying and heartbreaking. They didn't get any warning.
The parts of the Oregon coast I've been hearing about seem pretty well evacuated. The tide is about halfway out at the moment, which is good.This coast has had hours of warning. The sirens have been going off, and school is canceled in most coastal towns.
The images from Japan are horrifying and heartbreaking. They didn't get any warning.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
- Túrin Turambar
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I think that, save perhaps for a huge fire, a tsunami must be the most terrifying natural disaster. I remember the amateur street-level footage from Indonesia in 2005 - just terrible. And in particular, the way that they strike with little warning.
On a political level, I suspect that this will make or break the apparently ailing Kan Government. A good response will boost Naoto Kan's approval and take attention from the donations scandal that's been troubling the DPJ. If it bungles it then I can't see how it could survive.
On a political level, I suspect that this will make or break the apparently ailing Kan Government. A good response will boost Naoto Kan's approval and take attention from the donations scandal that's been troubling the DPJ. If it bungles it then I can't see how it could survive.
I heard about it last night. We are really such small, fragile creatures for all our powers. What a tragedy.
They issued tsunami watch here, but it's more for unusually rough surf, higher waves, something boaters and people at the water edge need to be aware of. At least, last I heard.
They issued tsunami watch here, but it's more for unusually rough surf, higher waves, something boaters and people at the water edge need to be aware of. At least, last I heard.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
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- Voronwë the Faithful
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I certainly hope it's just a precaution! They are expecting waves of 2-5 feet, possibly flooding in the low coastal areas. Beaches are closed.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... .DTL&tsp=1
The reports from Japan are now "at least forty dead." It must still be chaos there.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... .DTL&tsp=1
The reports from Japan are now "at least forty dead." It must still be chaos there.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
- Primula Baggins
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I've heard they've recovered 400 bodies already in the coastal city hit first and hardest by the tsunami, and are certain there will be many more. But the power is out over wide ranges of the country, the trains are shut down, elevated highways are closed; information is getting out from some places but others are cut off.
“There, peeping among the cloud-wrack above a dark tor high up in the mountains, Sam saw a white star twinkle for a while. The beauty of it smote his heart, as he looked up out of the forsaken land, and hope returned to him. For like a shaft, clear and cold, the thought pierced him that in the end the Shadow was only a small and passing thing: there was light and high beauty for ever beyond its reach.”
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
- Voronwë the Faithful
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Sadly, I'm sure we will be talking about thousands, not hundreds, before too long. And many millions of lifes disrupted. And probably billions of dollars of damage. This is a big one. Again.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
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Apparently there is a some damage in Santa Cruz Harbor, with some boats floating free, or capsized. A stupid surfer had to be rescued by the fire department. Apparently they are predicting larger waves later in the morning, so it is likely to get worse.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
I've seen reports of at least one broken dam with the accompanying devastation and a couple nuclear reactors had to be shut down, though no radiation leaks have been reported. Japan's got seismic coping skills (we borrowed the word "tsunami" from them) but a quake like that can't be coped with.
When you can do nothing what can you do?
V, I saw reports from Santa Cruz showing the boats that tore loose and smashed. A mess, on one hand, and on another, compared to the devastation in Japan it does not seem as significant.
And yes, the final count will probably be in thousands of lost lives.
And yes, the final count will probably be in thousands of lost lives.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
- Voronwë the Faithful
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I completely agree, Frelga (although I'm sure that the people whose boats are damaged or ruined aren't very happy). But just the fact that an event so far away could have such impact here blows my mind, and shows what a powerful event this was.
"Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world."
Oh, absolutely. And given that, as I heard, many were commercial fishing boats, some families' livelihood may be affected, not just leisure. But then I look at the cars piled up among the rubble...
There, but for the grace of God, goes the humanity.
There, but for the grace of God, goes the humanity.
If there was anything that depressed him more than his own cynicism, it was that quite often it still wasn't as cynical as real life.
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
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Quite honestly I find it very difficult to watch such footage. It seems intrusive on personal horror and tragedy. It will take days to discover the full awfulness of this. It struck me how comparatively helpless the international community is to make the aftermath of this much better.
The nuclear power station situation is worrying.
The nuclear power station situation is worrying.
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