Urgency Nuclear threat After Earthquake 9.0 and the Worst Tsunami
March 15, 2011
According to Yahoo news, March 15, 2011, Dangerous levels of radiation leaking from a crippled nuclear
plant forced Japan to order 140,000 people to seal themselves indoors Tuesday
after an explosion and a fire dramatically escalated the crisis spawned by a
deadly tsunami.
In a nationally televised statement, Prime Minister Naoto Kan said radiation
had spread from the four stricken reactors of the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear
plant along Japan's northeastern coast. The region was shattered by Friday's
9.0-magnitude earthquake (Confirmed 9.0 by USGS after preliminary magnitude 8.9 on March 11, 2011) and the ensuing tsunami that is believed to have killed
more than 10,000 people, plunged millions into misery and pummeled the world's
third-largest economy.
Japanese officials told the International Atomic Energy Agency that the
reactor fire was in a fuel storage pond — an area where used nuclear fuel is
kept cool — and that "radioactivity is being released directly into the
atmosphere." Long after the fire was extinguished, a Japanese official said the
pool might still be boiling, though the reported levels of radiation had dropped
dramatically by the end of the day.
Late Tuesday, officials at the plant said they were considering asking for
help from the U.S. and Japanese militaries to spray water from helicopters into
the pool.
That reactor, Unit 4, had been shut down before the quake for
maintenance.
If the water boils, it could evaporate, exposing the rods. The fuel rods are
encased in safety containers meant to prevent them from resuming nuclear
reactions, nuclear officials said. But they acknowledged that there could have
been damage to the containers. They also confirmed that the walls of the storage
pool building were damaged.
Experts noted that much of the leaking radiation was apparently in steam from
boiling water. It had not been emitted directly by fuel rods, which would be far
more virulent, they said.
"It's not good, but I don't think it's a disaster," said Steve Crossley, an
Australia-based radiation physicist.
Even the highest detected rates were not automatically harmful for brief
periods, he said. "If you were to spend a significant amount of time — in the
order of hours — that could be significant," Crossley said.
Less clear were the results of the blast
in Unit 2, near a suppression pool, which removes heat under a reactor vessel,
said plant owner Tokyo Electric Power Co. The nuclear core was not damaged but
the bottom of the surrounding container may have been, said Shigekazu Omukai, a
spokesman for Japan's nuclear safety agency.
According to IAEA report, Japan Earthquake Update (15 March 2011, 15:30 UTC)
An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude was reported today at 13:31 UTC in Eastern Honshu, Japan. The Hamaoka nuclear power plant is sited an estimated 100 kilometres from the epicentre.
IEC confirmed with Japan that the plant continues to operate safely.
Units 1 and 2 are decommissioned, Unit 3 is under inspection and not operational, and Units 4 and 5 remain in safe operational status after the earthquake.
On March 11, U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos declared a disaster due to
the effects of the earthquake and tsunami. In response, USAID/OFDA provided an
initial $100,000 through the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo to assist with local relief
efforts which was part of it support to start and additional millions dollars has been supported.
There are many Companies supporting for the worst earthquake and tsunami among those companies, The Boeing Company announced that Boeing employees will contribute 2 million dollars to support relief Efforts in Japan. "While all of us at Boeing are saddened by the loss of life and unimaginable
destruction of this tragedy, we are deeply moved by the strength and resolve of
the Japanese people," said Boeing Chairman, President and CEO Jim McNerney.
"Through the generosity of our employees and funds provided by the company, we
will support immediate needs for emergency supplies, food and medical care
through the American Red Cross and help ease the enormous task of longer-term
recovery and reconstruction."
Boeing directly employs more than 200 people in Japan and has long-standing
relationships with commercial and government customers, suppliers and industry
partners, and various universities and community organizations.
Also Amex has been also matching employee donations for relief efforts. Merchant
discount rates were also was rebated for charitable contributions made on the
American Express Card directly to the U.S. entity of non-profit organizations
listed on the USAID website for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief. The rebate
is effective retroactively from March 11 through May 15, 2011.”.
Continuation of support, In addition, USAID/OFDA activated a Response Management Team in
Washington, D.C. and deployed a Disaster Assistance Response Team
(DART)—including two urban search and rescue (USAR) teams from Fairfax County,
Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California—to Japan to coordinate the U.S.
Government response and support Japanese USAR efforts. The DART included four
technical experts from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the U.S.
Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. USAID continue to support what it's needed for Japan and other Pacific areas see the map.
.
Besides USAID and many other companies like Boeing, Alcoa, American Express , AT&T, Bank of America, Caterpillar, General Electric, IBM, Dow 30 Companies, the support is out pouring there are many other organizations and companies are helping to support Japan, you may browse thru that you are wish to support.
Our
prayers for comfort, peace, safe, healing, and quick recover for
those who affected by a disastrous Tsunamis will make the world
differences. The following web addresses to provide information
and handle donations for victims throughout the region. You may
choose one of these organizations to support Tsunami Relief (For 9.0 earthquake and the worst disasters in Japan).
Sources:
Boeing Company
Yahoo News
USAID
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, March 15th, 2011, Rev. March 16, 2011
9.0 Earthquake and Tsunami triggers the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant Hydrogen explosion at the Unit 3 reactor
After the tsunami struck the facility about one hour later, the generators used for emergency cooling stopped. The loss of power meant rises in temperature within the reactor systems as well as increases in pressure. Although backup power led to sufficient cooling in units 2 and 3, there was not sufficient cooling to unit 1, which resulted in falling water level and pressure increase. Elevated levels of nuclear radiation were measured inside and outside the facility. A hydrogen explosion destroyed the concrete weather cover of the reactor building (photographed), but left the steel reactor pressure vessel intact. Injection of seawater to the reactor vessel was used to provide cooling after the collapse.
On 13 March 2011, a partial meltdown at Unit 3 appeared also possible. As of 1pm 13 March, JST, both reactors 1 and 3 had been vented and were being filled with water and boric acid to both cool and inhibit further nuclear reactions. Unit 2 was reported to have lower than normal water level but to be stable, although pressure inside the containment vessel was high.
On 13 March 2011, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency announced that it was rating the Fukushima accidents at 4 (accident with local consequences) on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES). 170,000–200,000 people were evacuated after officials voiced the possibility of a meltdown.
On 14 March 2011, the reactor building for Unit 3 exploded as well, injuring eleven people. It appears there was no release of radioactive material and TEPCO has said it was contained within the reactor bunker. Unit 2 was also in danger of meltdown. The plant consists of six boiling water reactors designed by General Electric.[1] These light water reactors have a combined power of 4.7 GW, making Fukushima I one of the 25 largest nuclear power stations in the world. Fukushima I was the first nuclear plant to be constructed and run entirely by the Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO).
Unit 1 is a 439 MW boiling water reactor (BWR-3) constructed in July 1967. It commenced commercial electrical production on March 26, 1971, and was initially scheduled for shutdown in early 2011. In February 2011, Japanese regulators granted an extension of ten years for the continued operation of the reactor. It was damaged during the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami. Unit 1 was designed for a peak ground acceleration of 0.18 g (1.74 m/s2) and a response spectrum based on the 1952 Kern County earthquake.All units were inspected after the 1978 Miyagi earthquake when the ground acceleration was 0.125 g (1.22 m/s2) for 30 seconds, but no damage to the critical parts of the reactor was discovered.
Fukushima Unite one through 6 were planned with the type BWR-5 which the the first criticality was on October 24, 1979 and Electric power was 1,100 MW the Reactor supplier was provided by General elctric and architectured by Ebasco which the comapny name is now Raytheon located Cambridge, Massachusetts in United States and constructed by Kajima Construction Corporation, Ltd located in Tokyo, Japan. Fukushima nuclear power plant Unit one through seven which type name is ABWR (Advanced Boiling Water Reactor): General III boiling water reactor by GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy which the electrical power by using steam to power a turbine connected to a generator, the steamis boiled from water using heat generated by fission reaction within nuclear fuel. All of these planned in October 2016 with using 1,380 MW. See the Fkushima Nuclear Power Plant Condition in below: Source: wikipedia
IAEA report shows that Japan´s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) has provided the IAEA
with further information about the hydrogen explosion that occurred today at the
Unit 3 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. A hydrogen explosion
occurred at unit 3 on 14 March at 11:01 am local Japan time.
All personnel at the site are accounted for. Six people have been
injured.
The reactor building exploded but the primary containment vessel was not
damaged. The control room of Unit 3 remains operational.
The circle of nature disaster destructed the humankind of
hard workmanship including...the earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations along Japan's Pacific coast and in at least 20 countries, along the entire Pacific coast of North America and South America. Japanese engineers raced to prevent a meltdown at a stricken nuclear plant on
Tuesday, on the other side, as rescuers are still in working to help millions left without food, water or
heating by a devastating earthquake and tsunami.
On March 11th, 2011, President Obama stated that:
Japan Earthquake and Tsunami
"The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of
great trial. The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable,
and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they
overcome this tragedy."
-President Barack Obama
According to The White House report, USAID is coordinating the overall U.S. government efforts in support of the Japanese government’s response to the earthquakes and subsequent tsunami. Visit www.usaid.govfor information about supporting the response efforts.
On March 11th, 2011, The secretary said that although Japan is a very sophisticated country, “this
is a huge disaster and we will do … anything we are asked to do to help
out."
Gates joined President Barack Obama, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Navy Adm.
Mike Mullen and other U.S. officials in offering condolences and aid to the
Japanese people for the massive disaster that struck near the coast of
Honshu.
“Japan is, of course, one of our strongest and closest allies and this
morning I spoke with Prime Minister [Naoto] Kan,” Obama said during a news
conference here. “On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest
condolences especially to the victims and their families, and I offered our
Japanese friends whatever assistance is needed.”
President Obama received a briefing this morning in the Oval Office on the earthquake
in Japan and the tsunami warnings across the Pacific from several senior U.S.
government officials. President Obama says that "Our
hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region and we’re going to
stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy".
On March 11th, 2011, The Boeing Company was sending condolences and Boeing Chairman, President
and CEO Jim McNerney. said that "The thoughts of Boeing employees around the world are with the people of
Japan as they endure a difficult, tragic time,"
"We have strong, long-standing relationships with
colleagues, customers and business partners there, and we stand ready to support
our friends," McNerney said, noting the strength and resolve of the Japanese
response in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.
Boeing informed with international agencies about support for earthquake
relief efforts.
Boeing has more than 200 employees in Japan. The majority have been accounted
for with no reports of serious injuries. The company is also monitoring the
earthquake's impact on facilities in Hawaii and along the U.S. Pacific Coast. So
far the only interruption has been the suspension of operations at a facility in
Hawaii, which is expected to resume normal operations by Monday.
U.S. is already prepared to support 9.0 earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan "Because of the longstanding and close working relationship between the U.S. military and its Japanese counterparts on a daily basis, the United States military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected regions that are ready to support emergency relief efforts and minimize human suffering," U.S. Ambassador to Japan John V. Roos said in a statement to the media yesterday, March 13, 2011.
Boeing C-17 Globemaster III carrying a team of Pacific Air Force Airmen departed here March 12 to support ongoing disaster relief efforts in Japan.
There are many others are supporting for the worst earthquake 9.0 and tsunami in Japan. After the rain, always there is a sunshine as the nature promised...The deepest condolences, sympathies and prayers for quick recoveries for those of who lost loved ones among 10,000 people, injured who are in evacuation situation more than 200,000 people in Japan and other countries those of who are affected by the circle of nature disaster.....
CORRECTED by IAEA (Incident and Emergency Centre of the International Atomic emergency Agency)
0235 CET, 13 March 2011
An earlier version of this release incorrectly described pressure venting
actions at Units 1, 2, and 4 at the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant. Venting
did not occur at these units.
Japanese authorities have informed the IAEA that Units 1, 2, and 4 at the
Fukushima Daini retain off-site power. Daini Unit 3 is in a safe, cold shutdown,
according to Japanese officials.
Japanese authorities have reported some casualties to nuclear plant workers.
At Fukushima Daichi, four workers were injured by the explosion at the Unit 1
reactor, and there are three other reported injuries in other incidents. In
addition, one worker was exposed to higher-than-normal radiation levels that
fall below the IAEA guidance for emergency situations. At Fukushima Daini, one
worker has died in a crane operation accident and four others have been
injured.
In partnership with the World Meteorological Organization, the IAEA is
providing its member states with weather forecasts for the affected areas in
Japan. The latest predictions have indicated winds moving to the Northeast, away
from Japanese coast over the next three days.
The IAEA continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities and is monitoring
the situation as it evolves.
Japan Earthquake Magnitude 9.0 caused Extensive Damages Two nuclear reactors are
Damaged and evacuated 200,000 People
March 12th, 2011,7:03 PM
The earthquake caused extensive damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.4 million without water. Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least two nuclear reactors were damaged, which prompted evacuations of the affected areas, and a state of emergency was established and evacuated about 175,000 people. The Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant experienced an explosion almost 24 hours after the initial earthquake; however, while the blast caused the collapse of the concrete outer containment building, it was reported that the integrity of the inner core-containment vessel was not compromised. Residents within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) radius of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) radius of the Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated.
The estimates of the Sendai earthquake's magnitude made it the largest earthquake to hit Japan and one of the five largest earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began. It is thought to have been the largest earthquake within the boundaries of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates in 1,200 years. March 11-12, 2011 - INES Level 4 or higher, Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, Japan - Explosion
After the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, the emergency power supply of the Fukushima nuclear power plant failed. This was followed by deliberate releases of radioactive gas from reactors 1 and 2 to relieve pressure.
On March 12, triggered by falling water levels, a hydrogen explosion occurred at the plant, resulting in the collapse of the concrete outer structure. Although the reactor containment itself was confirmed to be intact, the hourly radiation from the plant reached 1,015 microsievert (0.1015 rem) - an amount equivalent to that allowable for ordinary people in one year. Resident of the Fukushima area were advised to stay inside, close doors and windows, turn off air conditioning, and to cover their mouths with masks, towels or handkerchiefs as well as not to drink tap water. By the evening of March 12, the exclusion zone had been extended to 20 kilometres (12 mi) around the plan and more than 200,000 people had been evacuated from homes in northern Japan. Events are still developing.
The following is .civilian nuclear accidents, criteria have been followed:
There must be well-attested and substantial health damage, property damage
or contamination.
The damage must be related directly to radioactive material, not merely (for
example) at a nuclear power plant.
To qualify as "civilian", the nuclear operation/material must be principally
for non-military purposes.
The event should involve fissile material or a reactor.
For Environmental waste management, you may visit IAEA.org,
President Obama Responses Japan's Earthquake Magnitude 8.9 (Later Confirmed 9.0 by USGS) on March 11th, 2011
March 11th, 2011,9:31 PM
President Obama Received Briefing on the Earthquake in Japan and the Tsunami Preparedness and Response Actions in the United States: see the following more detail:
WASHINGTON—President Obama received a briefing this morning at 9:30 a.m. in
the Oval Office on the earthquake in Japan and the tsunami warnings across the
Pacific from a number of senior US government officials including Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency
Administrator Craig Fugate via phone, and in the Oval Office with Chief of Staff
Bill Daley, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan,
National Security Advisory Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis
McDonough, Senior Advisor David Plouffe, Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa
Mastromonaco, National Security Staff Senior Director for Resilience Richard
Reed and National Security Staff Director Asian Affairs Daniel Russel.
The senior officials provided the President with an update on the evolving
situation stemming from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan
early this morning including the actions being taken to assist U.S. states and
territories that could be affected by the tsunami, as the President directed
earlier this morning – as well as the work being done to be prepared to assist
the people of Japan.
The US government continues to monitor the situation closely throughout the
Pacific region. To support potentially impacted areas in the United States, the
federal government remains in close contact and coordination with state and
local officials, and stands ready to support them. The government’s message to
the public is simple: listen to the instructions of state and local officials.
We urge everyone in the regions who could be impacted to listen to a NOAA
Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and directions
provided by their local officials.
UPDATE: The President again spoke again on the situation during the opening
of his press conference:
Good morning, everybody. Before I begin, I want to say a few words about the
terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan earlier today.
First
and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. This is
a potentially catastrophic disaster and the images of destruction and flooding
coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking. Japan is, of course, one of our
strongest and closest allies, and this morning I spoke with Prime Minister Kan.
On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest condolences, especially
to the victims and their families, and I offered our Japanese friends whatever
assistance is needed.
We currently have an aircraft carrier in Japan,
and another is on its way. We also have a ship en route to the Marianas Islands
to assist as needed. The Defense Department is working to account for all our
military personnel in Japan. U.S. Embassy personnel in Tokyo have moved to an
offsite location. And the State Department is working to account for and assist
any and all American citizens who are in the country.
Tsunami warnings
have been issued across the Pacific, and we’ve already seen initial waves from
the tsunami come ashore on Guam and other U.S. territories, in Alaska and
Hawaii, as well as on -- along the West Coast. Here in the United States, there
hasn’t been any major damage so far. But we're taking this very seriously, and
we are monitoring the situation very closely. FEMA is fully activated and is
coordinating with state and local officials to support these regions as
necessary. And let me just stress that if people are told to evacuate, do as you
are told.
Today’s events remind us of just how fragile life can be. Our
hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region and we’re going to
stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy.
According the latest news media reports indicated that over 1000 people have died and more than 1400 are missing in six different prefectures.
Estimates of magnitude range from 9.0 to 9.1 MW making it the largest earthquake to hit Japan and one of the four largest earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations for Japan's Pacific coast and at least 20 countries, including the entire Pacific coast of North and South America from Alaska to Chile. The tsunami warning issued by Japan was the most serious on its warning scale, implying that the wave was expected to be at least 10 meters (33 ft) high. A wave that high was observed at 3:55 pm JST flooding Sendai Airport, which is located near the coast of Miyagi prefecture, with waves sweeping aside cars and flooding various buildings as they traveled inland.The impact of the tsunami in and around Sendai Airport was filmed by an NHK News helicopter, showing a number of vehicles on local roads trying to escape the approaching wave and being engulfed by it. A four-meter-(13 ft) high tsunami hit Iwate Prefecture. A 0.5-meter (20 in)-high wave hit Japan's northern coast. Reports indicate that the wall of water was higher than some Pacific islands and the danger of tsunami flooding prompted warnings for almost the entire Pacific basin.
The United States West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Conception, California, to the Oregon-Washington border.
Wikipedia also reported that Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) has confirmed approximately 400 dead and approximately 700 missing in six different prefectures (also reported as over 1100 dead/missing combined).
Officials in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, which was heavily damaged by tsunami waves, stated that they had found the dead bodies of 200–300 victims.
By 09:30 March 11 UTC, Google Person Finder, which was previously used in the Haitian, Chilean, and Christchurch earthquakes, was collecting information about survivors and their locations. The Next of Kin Registry NOKR is assisting the Japanese government to locate next of kin for those missing or deceased.
It was reported that four passenger trains containing an unknown number of passengers disappeared in a coastal area during the tsunami. Two of the trains were on the Senseki Line. One of the Senseki Line trains was found derailed in the morning, and all passengers were rescued by a prefectural police helicopter.
A 25-year-old man who was taking pictures of the tsunami waves in coastal Del Norte County, California, was swept out to sea and later found dead.
Yahoo news reported that the Oil floating on water burns as a tsunami hits Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture March 11, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coaston Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
NTD H Asia Brief reported that Nuclear Power Plant in Japan Fire broke out the world biggest Nuclear Plant located in Northern Japan Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant, Fukushima I, Fukushima II and Tokai nuclear power stations were automatically shut down following the earthquake. Higashidori, also on the northeast coast, was already shut down for a periodic inspection. The Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing plant, also on the coast, was being powered by emergency diesel generators.
Separately, a fire broke out at the Onagawa plant. The blaze was in a building housing the turbine, which is sited separately from the plant's reactor.
The White House Immediate Release, March 11th, 2011, shows that During the News conference by the President Obama says that President Obama already told Prime Minister Kan that "we will provide whatever assistance that they need. My understanding is that the main assistance that we’re going to be able to provide them is *lift capacity, the ability for us to I think help in the cleanup."
Per IAEA (International International Atomic Energy Agency) reported that Japanese authorities have informed the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) that, starting at 9:00AM local time, they have started the preparation for the venting of the containment of the Unit 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant through a controlled release of vapour. The operation is intended to lower pressure inside the reactor containment. Evacuation of residents living within ten kilometres of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is reported to be under way. An area with a radius of three kilometres around the plant had already been evacuated.
The evacuation of residents living within three kilometres of the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant is also under way. The IAEA’s IEC continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities, and is in full response mode to monitor the situation closely around the clock as it evolves.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano expressed that “I would like to express my condolences and sympathies to the people of Japan who have suffered from this earthquake and to the Government of Japan,”
All IAEA staff in Japan, both in the Tokyo office and in nuclear facilities, are confirmed to be safe.
The following map shows that The areas affected by the quake provided by USGS:
.
USAID Report shows that a major emergency response operation is underway in NorthEast Japan following Friday's devastating tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit a t 1446 local time(0546 GMT), 120 km off the northeastern coast, at a depth of 20 km was followed by 10-metre high tsunami, casuing widespread destruction. Large coastal areas have been submerged and entire villages washed away. The vast majority of casualities are likely to be as a result of the tsunami rather than the earthquake.
Japan's government established an emergency Response Team, headed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
Since the earth quake in Sendai city, March 11, 2011, there have been after shock 6 times different Magnitude on a same places with the slightly different epic center locations which caused death toll more than 1000 and more than 1,400 people were missing, see the following:
You can see the Aftershock magnitude trends after the major 9.0 earthquake within short period time.
USAID responded immediately to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Also The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) Urban Search and Rescue
(USAR) component concluded two weeks of operations in Christchurch on March 8.
The USAID/DART commenced demobilization of the USAR component on March 9, with
the final USAID/DART member scheduled to depart New Zealand on March 12.
Deepest Sympathy and condolences those of who lost loved ones and families from the Earth quake and Tsunami also prayers for quick recoveries for those of who injured through the disastrous nature disaster.
------------------------------------------------- Earthquake Report by USGS Confirmed Magnitude 9.0 for near the east coast of
Honshu, Japan on March 11th, 2011 Preliminary Magnitude 8.9
March 11th, 2011,
According to the USGS, The 03/11/2011 earthquake (preliminary magnitude 8.9) near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, occurred as a result of thrust faulting on or near the subduction zone interface plate boundary between the Pacific and North America plates. At the latitude of this earthquake, the Pacific plate moves approximately westwards with respect to the North America plate at a velocity of 83 mm/yr. The Pacific plate thrusts underneath Japan at the Japan Trench, and dips to the west beneath Eurasia. The location, depth, and focal mechanism of the March 11 earthquake are consistent with the event having occurred as thrust faulting associated with subduction along this plate boundary. Note that some authors divide this region into several microplates that together define the relative motions between the larger Pacific, North America and Eurasia plates; these include the Okhotsk and Amur microplates that are respectively part of North America and Eurasia.
The March 11 earthquake was preceded by a series of large foreshocks over the
previous two days, beginning on March 9th with an M 7.2 event approximately 40
km from the March 11 earthquake, and continuing with a further 3 earthquakes
greater than M 6 on the same day.
The Japan Trench subduction zone has hosted 9 events of magnitude 7 or
greater since 1973. The largest of these was an M 7.8 earthquake approximately
230 km to the north of the March 11 event, in December 1994, which caused 3
fatalities and almost 700 injuries. In June of 1978, an M 7.7 earthquake 75 km
to the southwest caused 22 fatalities and over 400 injuries. In December of
2008, a sequence of 4 moderate earthquakes (M 5.3-5.8) occurred within 20 km of
the March 11 event. In the first 12 hours following the March 11 earthquake, the
region has experienced over a dozen aftershocks of M 5 or greater, the largest
being M 5.7.
Here is detailed Preliminary Earthquake info via USGS
Originally the earthquake was a 7.9 on the Moment magnitude scale, it was upgraded to an 8.8, then finally to Preliminary 8.9 by the United States Geological Survey making it the largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history.
Based upon data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, it is estimated the town of Kurihara has been completely destroyed and at least 4 people dead as of today's report from 2011 Sendai Earthquake. It is already twice happened for earthquake for this year. The last earth quake was on December 31, 2010 7.4 magnitude and March 9, 2011, 7.2 Magnitude for Honshu Earthquake. Preliminary 8.9 earth quake is the biggist magnitude report.
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, March 11th, 2011. 1:30 AM
The earthquake caused extensive damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse. Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.4 million without water. Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least two nuclear reactors were damaged, which prompted evacuations of the affected areas, and a state of emergency was established and evacuated about 175,000 people. The Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant experienced an explosion almost 24 hours after the initial earthquake; however, while the blast caused the collapse of the concrete outer containment building, it was reported that the integrity of the inner core-containment vessel was not compromised. Residents within a 20-kilometre (12 mi) radius of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and a 10-kilometre (6.2 mi) radius of the Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated.
The estimates of the Sendai earthquake's magnitude made it the largest earthquake to hit Japan and one of the five largest earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began. It is thought to have been the largest earthquake within the boundaries of the North American and Pacific tectonic plates in 1,200 years. March 11-12, 2011 - INES Level 4 or higher, Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, Japan - Explosion
After the 2011 Sendai earthquake and tsunami of March 11th, the emergency power supply of the Fukushima nuclear power plant failed. This was followed by deliberate releases of radioactive gas from reactors 1 and 2 to relieve pressure.
On March 12, triggered by falling water levels, a hydrogen explosion occurred at the plant, resulting in the collapse of the concrete outer structure. Although the reactor containment itself was confirmed to be intact, the hourly radiation from the plant reached 1,015 microsievert (0.1015 rem) - an amount equivalent to that allowable for ordinary people in one year. Resident of the Fukushima area were advised to stay inside, close doors and windows, turn off air conditioning, and to cover their mouths with masks, towels or handkerchiefs as well as not to drink tap water. By the evening of March 12, the exclusion zone had been extended to 20 kilometres (12 mi) around the plan and more than 200,000 people had been evacuated from homes in northern Japan. Events are still developing.
The following is .civilian nuclear accidents, criteria have been followed:
There must be well-attested and substantial health damage, property damage
or contamination.
The damage must be related directly to radioactive material, not merely (for
example) at a nuclear power plant.
To qualify as "civilian", the nuclear operation/material must be principally
for non-military purposes.
The event should involve fissile material or a reactor.
For Environmental waste management, you may visit IAEA.org,
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, March 12th, 2011 7:02 PM Pacific time
President Obama Responses Japan's Earthquake Magnitude 8.9 (Later Confirmed 9.0 by USGS) on March 11th, 2011
March 11th, 2011,9:31 PM
President Obama Received Briefing on the Earthquake in Japan and the Tsunami Preparedness and Response Actions in the United States: see the following more detail:
WASHINGTON—President Obama received a briefing this morning at 9:30 a.m. in
the Oval Office on the earthquake in Japan and the tsunami warnings across the
Pacific from a number of senior US government officials including Homeland
Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency
Administrator Craig Fugate via phone, and in the Oval Office with Chief of Staff
Bill Daley, Assistant to the President for Homeland Security John Brennan,
National Security Advisory Tom Donilon, Deputy National Security Advisor Denis
McDonough, Senior Advisor David Plouffe, Deputy Chief of Staff Alyssa
Mastromonaco, National Security Staff Senior Director for Resilience Richard
Reed and National Security Staff Director Asian Affairs Daniel Russel.
The senior officials provided the President with an update on the evolving
situation stemming from the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan
early this morning including the actions being taken to assist U.S. states and
territories that could be affected by the tsunami, as the President directed
earlier this morning – as well as the work being done to be prepared to assist
the people of Japan.
The US government continues to monitor the situation closely throughout the
Pacific region. To support potentially impacted areas in the United States, the
federal government remains in close contact and coordination with state and
local officials, and stands ready to support them. The government’s message to
the public is simple: listen to the instructions of state and local officials.
We urge everyone in the regions who could be impacted to listen to a NOAA
Weather Radio and their local news to monitor for updates and directions
provided by their local officials.
UPDATE: The President again spoke again on the situation during the opening
of his press conference:
Good morning, everybody. Before I begin, I want to say a few words about the
terrible earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan earlier today.
First
and foremost, our thoughts and our prayers are with the people of Japan. This is
a potentially catastrophic disaster and the images of destruction and flooding
coming out of Japan are simply heartbreaking. Japan is, of course, one of our
strongest and closest allies, and this morning I spoke with Prime Minister Kan.
On behalf of the American people, I conveyed our deepest condolences, especially
to the victims and their families, and I offered our Japanese friends whatever
assistance is needed.
We currently have an aircraft carrier in Japan,
and another is on its way. We also have a ship en route to the Marianas Islands
to assist as needed. The Defense Department is working to account for all our
military personnel in Japan. U.S. Embassy personnel in Tokyo have moved to an
offsite location. And the State Department is working to account for and assist
any and all American citizens who are in the country.
Tsunami warnings
have been issued across the Pacific, and we’ve already seen initial waves from
the tsunami come ashore on Guam and other U.S. territories, in Alaska and
Hawaii, as well as on -- along the West Coast. Here in the United States, there
hasn’t been any major damage so far. But we're taking this very seriously, and
we are monitoring the situation very closely. FEMA is fully activated and is
coordinating with state and local officials to support these regions as
necessary. And let me just stress that if people are told to evacuate, do as you
are told.
Today’s events remind us of just how fragile life can be. Our
hearts go out to our friends in Japan and across the region and we’re going to
stand with them as they recover and rebuild from this tragedy.
According the latest news media reports indicated that over 1000 people have died and more than 1400 are missing in six different prefectures.
Estimates of magnitude range from 9.0 to 9.1 MW making it the largest earthquake to hit Japan and one of the four largest earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings and evacuations for Japan's Pacific coast and at least 20 countries, including the entire Pacific coast of North and South America from Alaska to Chile. The tsunami warning issued by Japan was the most serious on its warning scale, implying that the wave was expected to be at least 10 meters (33 ft) high. A wave that high was observed at 3:55 pm JST flooding Sendai Airport, which is located near the coast of Miyagi prefecture, with waves sweeping aside cars and flooding various buildings as they traveled inland.The impact of the tsunami in and around Sendai Airport was filmed by an NHK News helicopter, showing a number of vehicles on local roads trying to escape the approaching wave and being engulfed by it. A four-meter-(13 ft) high tsunami hit Iwate Prefecture. A 0.5-meter (20 in)-high wave hit Japan's northern coast. Reports indicate that the wall of water was higher than some Pacific islands and the danger of tsunami flooding prompted warnings for almost the entire Pacific basin.
The United States West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami warning for the coastal areas of California and Oregon from Point Conception, California, to the Oregon-Washington border.
Wikipedia also reported that Tokyo Broadcasting System (TBS) has confirmed approximately 400 dead and approximately 700 missing in six different prefectures (also reported as over 1100 dead/missing combined).
Officials in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, which was heavily damaged by tsunami waves, stated that they had found the dead bodies of 200–300 victims.
By 09:30 March 11 UTC, Google Person Finder, which was previously used in the Haitian, Chilean, and Christchurch earthquakes, was collecting information about survivors and their locations. The Next of Kin Registry NOKR is assisting the Japanese government to locate next of kin for those missing or deceased.
It was reported that four passenger trains containing an unknown number of passengers disappeared in a coastal area during the tsunami. Two of the trains were on the Senseki Line. One of the Senseki Line trains was found derailed in the morning, and all passengers were rescued by a prefectural police helicopter.
A 25-year-old man who was taking pictures of the tsunami waves in coastal Del Norte County, California, was swept out to sea and later found dead.
Yahoo news reported that the Oil floating on water burns as a tsunami hits Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture March 11, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coaston Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
NTD H Asia Brief reported that Nuclear Power Plant in Japan Fire broke out the world biggest Nuclear Plant located in Northern Japan Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant, Fukushima I, Fukushima II and Tokai nuclear power stations were automatically shut down following the earthquake. Higashidori, also on the northeast coast, was already shut down for a periodic inspection. The Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing plant, also on the coast, was being powered by emergency diesel generators.
Separately, a fire broke out at the Onagawa plant. The blaze was in a building housing the turbine, which is sited separately from the plant's reactor.
The White House Immediate Release, March 11th, 2011, shows that During the News conference by the President Obama says that President Obama already told Prime Minister Kan that "we will provide whatever assistance that they need. My understanding is that the main assistance that we’re going to be able to provide them is *lift capacity, the ability for us to I think help in the cleanup."
Per IAEA (International International Atomic Energy Agency) reported that Japanese authorities have informed the IAEA’s Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) that, starting at 9:00AM local time, they have started the preparation for the venting of the containment of the Unit 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi plant through a controlled release of vapour. The operation is intended to lower pressure inside the reactor containment. Evacuation of residents living within ten kilometres of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant is reported to be under way. An area with a radius of three kilometres around the plant had already been evacuated.
The evacuation of residents living within three kilometres of the Fukushima Daini nuclear power plant is also under way. The IAEA’s IEC continues to liaise with the Japanese authorities, and is in full response mode to monitor the situation closely around the clock as it evolves.
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano expressed that “I would like to express my condolences and sympathies to the people of Japan who have suffered from this earthquake and to the Government of Japan,”
All IAEA staff in Japan, both in the Tokyo office and in nuclear facilities, are confirmed to be safe.
The following map shows that The areas affected by the quake provided by USGS:
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USAID Report shows that a major emergency response operation is underway in NorthEast Japan following Friday's devastating tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan. The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit a t 1446 local time(0546 GMT), 120 km off the northeastern coast, at a depth of 20 km was followed by 10-metre high tsunami, casuing widespread destruction. Large coastal areas have been submerged and entire villages washed away. The vast majority of casualities are likely to be as a result of the tsunami rather than the earthquake.
Japan's government established an emergency Response Team, headed by Prime Minister Naoto Kan.
Since the earth quake in Sendai city, March 11, 2011, there have been after shock 6 times different Magnitude on a same places with the slightly different epic center locations which caused death toll more than 1000 and more than 1,400 people were missing, see the following:
You can see the Aftershock magnitude trends after the major 9.0 earthquake within short period time.
USAID responded immediately to Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. Also The USAID Disaster Assistance Response Team (USAID/DART) Urban Search and Rescue
(USAR) component concluded two weeks of operations in Christchurch on March 8.
The USAID/DART commenced demobilization of the USAR component on March 9, with
the final USAID/DART member scheduled to depart New Zealand on March 12.
Deepest Sympathy and condolences those of who lost loved ones and families from the Earth quake and Tsunami also prayers for quick recoveries for those of who injured through the disastrous nature disaster.
------------------------------------------------- Earthquake Report by USGS Confirmed Magnitude 9.0 for near the east coast of
Honshu, Japan on March 11th, 2011 Preliminary Magnitude 8.9
March 11th, 2011,
According to the USGS, The 03/11/2011 earthquake (preliminary magnitude 8.9) near the east coast of Honshu, Japan, occurred as a result of thrust faulting on or near the subduction zone interface plate boundary between the Pacific and North America plates. At the latitude of this earthquake, the Pacific plate moves approximately westwards with respect to the North America plate at a velocity of 83 mm/yr. The Pacific plate thrusts underneath Japan at the Japan Trench, and dips to the west beneath Eurasia. The location, depth, and focal mechanism of the March 11 earthquake are consistent with the event having occurred as thrust faulting associated with subduction along this plate boundary. Note that some authors divide this region into several microplates that together define the relative motions between the larger Pacific, North America and Eurasia plates; these include the Okhotsk and Amur microplates that are respectively part of North America and Eurasia.
The March 11 earthquake was preceded by a series of large foreshocks over the
previous two days, beginning on March 9th with an M 7.2 event approximately 40
km from the March 11 earthquake, and continuing with a further 3 earthquakes
greater than M 6 on the same day.
The Japan Trench subduction zone has hosted 9 events of magnitude 7 or
greater since 1973. The largest of these was an M 7.8 earthquake approximately
230 km to the north of the March 11 event, in December 1994, which caused 3
fatalities and almost 700 injuries. In June of 1978, an M 7.7 earthquake 75 km
to the southwest caused 22 fatalities and over 400 injuries. In December of
2008, a sequence of 4 moderate earthquakes (M 5.3-5.8) occurred within 20 km of
the March 11 event. In the first 12 hours following the March 11 earthquake, the
region has experienced over a dozen aftershocks of M 5 or greater, the largest
being M 5.7.
Here is detailed Preliminary Earthquake info via USGS
Originally the earthquake was a 7.9 on the Moment magnitude scale, it was upgraded to an 8.8, then finally to Preliminary 8.9 by the United States Geological Survey making it the largest earthquake to hit Japan in recorded history.
Based upon data from the Japan Meteorological Agency, it is estimated the town of Kurihara has been completely destroyed and at least 4 people dead as of today's report from 2011 Sendai Earthquake. It is already twice happened for earthquake for this year. The last earth quake was on December 31, 2010 7.4 magnitude and March 9, 2011, 7.2 Magnitude for Honshu Earthquake. Preliminary 8.9 earth quake is the biggist magnitude report.
catch4all.com,
Sandra Englund, March 11th, 2011. 1:30 AM
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