8.9 Earthquake hits Japan

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:37 am

This afternoon, Japan was hit by the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history. It was larger than the earthquakes that hit Indonesia and Haiti. So far, the reported death toll is small (between 5 and 19) and a comparative small number of people have been injured (a little over a hundred reported).

The damage to property has (in areas) been incredible. Some of the videos coming out of this are unbelievable.

The real damage, though, has been due to multiple tsunamis. One of which was reported to be 10 meters high. We're expecting multiple aftershocks as well as more tsunamis.

Aaron Hong · Post by **Aaron Hong** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 9:51 am

Just saw it on the news, they say there's 26 confirmed dead now.

Also there's a tsunami warning all over the Pacific basin, though I have a feeling this'll be just like the last time.

It's probably unrelated but I can't help thinking the school of floating dead fish from that other time is connected.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:59 pm

Saw those tsunamais on the news. Very sad. Praying for the people of Japan.

Post by **Kaylee** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:20 pm

Very sad

Post by **spiderfrommars** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 4:42 pm

Each new bit of footage is more dreadful than the last.

How are things where you are Smooth?

bumblemusprime · Post by **bumblemusprime** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 5:01 pm

Yeah, you or any of your loved ones shaken, Smooth?

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 6:40 pm

Pretty brutal.

:/

*adds to the concerned well-wishing*

Edit: finally managed to have a sit down and turn the TV on. Um, holy ****.

inflatable dalek · Post by **inflatable dalek** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:22 pm

Glad your OK Smooth.

The pictures and film are just staggering, it's very hard to come up with a description that feels adequate. Here's hoping that there's not another strong quake in the imediate future (becuase whilst the Earthquake proofing of the buildings has stood up to the toughest test possible as well as could be expected they're likely badly weakened by this and wouldn't stand up to much more) and that the problem at the nuclear powerplant is something that can still be brought under control.

Oddly all the news coverage I've seen thus far (which, due to working nights and being asleep most of the day hasn't be more than an hours worth) has focused on Japan and other Pacific Islands that have and may soon be affected, but China hasn't been mentioned once. I'd be surprised if they haven't been hit considering the proximity, so were they just very lucky or are they not sharing information?

One annoyance I had with the rolling news services when I got in this morning is they started a death count imediately. This wasn't even something that had just happened but was still going on. What possible point is there in going "There's six people confirmed dead so far" that early when the figures blatantly going to be off by at least three digits?

There was something almost blackly comic about BBC News' discussion of that ship in the whirlpool as the presenter tried to put a hopefully spin on it with a "Might they have got out in time?" question only for their expert to get all excited and breathless as he talked about the amazing sucking power of these things and how the ship almost certainly went right to the bottom.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:35 pm

I was just about to post a thread asking: "SMOOTH! ARE YOU FLARKIN' ALIVE?!!"

I'm glad to see you're still in one piece, man.

8.9 on the Richter-scale.... damn! That's almost a 9, and that's some scary sh*t!

( quakes over 9 hardly ever occur, only a few documented in history)

So... what's happening? What will be next for you? What about your job? Are you going to be checking up on friends?

Let us know how you're taking all of this, mate.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 12:01 am

My friends are all fine, but a few of them are stranded in different places. In a weird turn of events, my boss called me last night. They were busy at the office, but he wanted an update on the earthquake. Immediately afterwards, he offered me a renewed contract. So, that's one worry out of the way.

Traditionally, when something like this happens, there's a small group that lends a hand. I was out all night talking with these people to see what I can do to help. Sadly, at the moment, there's very little that we can do.

My phone was ringing off the hook this morning. I had to explain that the reason I hadn't posted any updates in the last few hours was because I was sleeping. (It's 9am right now)

At the moment, we're all very concerned about damaged nuclear power plants. Which is a complete reversal from last night.

The death toll is now estimated at 1,000. Which I can't comprehend.

Aaron Hong · Post by **Aaron Hong** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:32 am

Good to hear you're all right, man.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:00 am

The news is reporting that the nuclear reactor North East of Tokyo has gone into meltdown.

They say that because it's a water-cooled operation the effect isn't as bad as the immediate mental image of a meltdown may convey, since the plant won't explode, just collapse.

The bad news just keeps on coming. Is this ever going to end?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:44 am

Massive explosion reported at that nuclear plant.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:51 am

Reports are not a nuclear explosion, but a conventional one. I hope they're true.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 9:57 am

I dont trust these reports anymore. It went from "absolutely no chance of any danger," to this in 24 hours.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:05 am

One would hope there's only so much misfortune can happen in two days, but the world seems to have other ideas.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 11:46 am

What'll happen if the plant "collapse"? What are the consequences?

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:50 pm

Karl wrote:Reports are not a nuclear explosion, but a conventional one. I hope they're true.

Unless the plant imploded, which it didn't, and the core material approached critical mass, which it wouldn't have, there's no chance of it being a nuclear explosion.

A conventional explosion involving radioactive material is possible, but that's more of a dirty bomb, and could still lead to widespread contamination of the local area.

Obfleur wrote:What'll happen if the plant "collapse"? What are the consequences?

Worst case: something similar to Chernobyl, possibly. But I doubt that Japan would take anything less than all possible precautions to prevent a nuclear incident occurring.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:58 pm

Rebis wrote:
Karl wrote:Reports are not a nuclear explosion, but a conventional one. I hope they're true.
Unless the plant imploded, which it didn't, and the core material approached critical mass, which it wouldn't have, there's no chance of it being a nuclear explosion.

A conventional explosion involving radioactive material is possible, but that's more of a dirty bomb, and could still lead to widespread contamination of the local area.

Wouldn't that be an implosion?

My knowledge on this is limited, I'm gleening it from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219

Specifically this section:

"Analysts say a meltdown would not necessarily lead to a major disaster because light-water reactors would not explode even if they overheated."

Hence my saying it should 'collapse' rather than 'explode' and that the explosion seen was unlikely to be related to an event in the core of the reactor.

Though to reiterate my knowledge is limited, I'm regurgitating what I've read from other sources.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 3:51 pm

Karl wrote:
Rebis wrote:
Karl wrote:Reports are not a nuclear explosion, but a conventional one. I hope they're true.
Unless the plant imploded, which it didn't, and the core material approached critical mass, which it wouldn't have, there's no chance of it being a nuclear explosion.

A conventional explosion involving radioactive material is possible, but that's more of a dirty bomb, and could still lead to widespread contamination of the local area.
Wouldn't that be an implosion?

My knowledge on this is limited, I'm gleening it from the BBC: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12720219

Specifically this section:

"Analysts say a meltdown would not necessarily lead to a major disaster because light-water reactors would not explode even if they overheated."

Hence my saying it should 'collapse' rather than 'explode' and that the explosion seen was unlikely to be related to an event in the core of the reactor.

Though to reiterate my knowledge is limited, I'm regurgitating what I've read from other sources.

TBH, 'imploded' probably should have been 'collapsed' however an implosion would be when material is sent inwards, rather than outwards, which is what occurs in fusion-fission detonations. The initial implosion drives the material together causing a critical mass which then explodes with more energy than a fission detonation would alone.

And there is no contradiction between what I said and what that article said. You hoped it was a conventional explosion, and I just reasoned why it wouldn't have been a nuclear one, but could possibly have had radioactive content, which apparently it didn't.

Post by **Kaylee** » Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:15 pm

I didn't mention a contradiction or try to disprove you, just reprinted my source so you didn't think I was making it up. I'd happily take your input as fact, I was just confused by the possibility of an implosion.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:40 am

So according to the CTV, a meltdown is supposedly underway (they aren't sure. *rolleyes*)and there ar already two patients in a "nearby hospital" showing signs of radiation poisoning.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 12:09 pm

Today's news is reporting the estimated death toll at over 10,000. Getting my charity donations ready. Toys and books, it would seem.

Yaya · Post by **Yaya** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:04 pm

Going from bad to worse. What's the latest on the nuclear reactors?

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:58 pm

Yaya wrote: Going from bad to worse. What's the latest on the nuclear reactors?

Latest news is that they're coming under control. That can change at any minute, though.

I need to get away from the damn news.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:21 am

So, I turned off the news. Then just this moment, I got a phone call from my old friend Ryan (Seibertron.com's owner) asking how far away I was from the volcano erupting in Kyushu (Southern Japan).

VOLCANO!?!?!

So, let's get this straight. Massive Earthquake (now said to be 9.0) and nuclear problems in Northern Japan. Tsunamis destroying/threatening the coats, and now an erupting volcano in Southern Japan.

Is it wrong that I'm seriously considering packing a suitcase and catching a ride to the airport? I could be back in Chicago for dinner on Tuesday.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 12:39 am

It's probably not erupting. It's just gotten a little excited at all the activity in the north and wanted some attention of its own.

Alternatively, it's not that unexpected for an active volcano near an earthquake to experience an increase in its activity. Tectonics and all that.

Or were you surprised to find yourself within the Pacific Ring of Fire?

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 1:35 am

Is that really the point, though?

Like I've said like three times to Anglo over at TFA- stay safe, Smooth.

Professor Smooth · Post by **Professor Smooth** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 3:03 am

Rebis wrote:
Or were you surprised to find yourself within the Pacific Ring of Fire?

I fell into the Pacific Ring of Fire...and it burns, burns, burns, the ring fire. The ring of fire.

Post by **Best First** » Mon Mar 14, 2011 10:11 am

jesus - you can see why these people have a thing for giant monsters ****ing sh*t up.

Horrific stuff.

Stay safe smooth.

And no it's not wrong at all to think that. I'd be home to my mum and the quaintness of English weather.