[Pyramid*]

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has confirmed the explosion at Fukushima-Daiichi. "We are looking into the cause and the situation and we'll make that public when we have further information," From Reuters.

Radiation leakage has also been confirmed.



Now in the 'cold light of day' we can see not only the destruction, but of the complete devastation, the size of area affected, people stranded, infastructure totally wiped out - no access to really get to those poor stranded beleagured souls. It's simply horrible.

[Benjamin]

I just hope another earthquake doesn't hit that area in the next few weeks.

[Lee.]

They're expecting even more aftershocks today!

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ukturtle

I just hope another earthquake doesn't hit that area in the next few weeks.

I think that's one of the fears. The area is still unstable as is the sea plate. I couldn't even imagine the fear, terror and sense of hopelessness that those affected must be feeling. Puts all of our pathetic whinges on here right into perspective doesn't it.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I think that's one of the fears. The area is still unstable as is the sea plate. I couldn't even imagine the fear, terror and sense of hopelessness that those affected must be feeling. Puts all of our pathetic whinges on here right into perspective doesn't it.

Morning Pyramid.. it certainly does! I don't even know where people start to rebuild their lives after something like this, I mean there must be millions who have literally lost everything!

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by happyland

Morning Pyramid.. it certainly does! I don't even know where people start to rebuild their lives after something like this, I mean there must be millions who have literally lost everything!

good morning to you Happy!

In the tsunami in 2004, I had friends holidaying who lost some of their relatives in Thailand. 3 years later, I visited on of the areas in Phuket, place called Kamala Beach - tiny little place - and 3 years on, they were still recovering - and were just finishing rebuilding the local primary school - which was literally 300 mtrs away from the beachfront.

There were still heaps of debris lying around - as well as the strange mixture of buildings not affected - it really was a weird experience. Little place called the Papa Crab hotel that I stayed in had just managed to get itself fully rebuilt and operational again ...... as I say, that was a few years later.

Latest from the BBC

0957: From Richard Black, BBC environment correspondent: "Although Japan has a long and largely successful nuclear power programme, officials have been less than honest about some incidents in the past, meaning that official re-assurances are unlikely to convince everyone this time round."



0948: Hirofumi Yokoyama, an official at Japan's Meteorological Agency, says people living along the Pacific Coast should remain on alert: "The possibility of tsunami with a height of 10m or higher is getting slimmer but we're still calling on people living along the coast of Tohoku region to be cautious because tsunami as high as three metres or more could still hit the area."

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

good morning to you Happy!

In the tsunami in 2004, I had friends holidaying who lost some of their relatives in Thailand. 3 years later, I visited on of the areas in Phuket, place called Kamala Beach - tiny little place - and 3 years on, they were still recovering - and were just finishing rebuilding the local primary school - which was literally 300 mtrs away from the beachfront.

There were still heaps of debris lying around - as well as the strange mixture of buildings not affected - it really was a weird experience. Little place called the Papa Crab hotel that I stayed in had just managed to get itself fully rebuilt and operational again ...... as I say, that was a few years later.

Yeah, it must take a while to clear that sort of devastation. I really feel for all these people

[Lee.]

Is this latest footage from Kamaichi that I'm weatching on Sky news just happened or is it from yesterday?

[ILoveTRW]

Japan has had its turn, now its San Fran's.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by ILoveTRW

Japan has had its turn, now its San Fran's.

Don't say that.. Exactly the same thought popped into my head last night.

[Pyramid*]

Not sure... I've looked at the Sky news website and it's reporting much on the situ at the fear of a meltdown - but reports seem to be contradictory...

on the bbc website: a chap has reported that he thinks this is similar to Chernobyl, then a short while later, his story changes to it possibly not being that bad unless there is fire or further explosion giving rise to any radiation leaks being exposed to the air and thus having the potential to be airborne and spread...... seems it may all just be speculation at this point.

Mind you, I remember Chernobyl and watching all that unfold.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ILoveTRW

Japan has had its turn, now its San Fran's.

Mmm... I'm not too sure.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Not sure... I've looked at the Sky news website and it's reporting much on the situ at the fear of a meltdown - but reports seem to be contradictory...

on the bbc website: a chap has reported that he thinks this is similar to Chernobyl, then a short while later, his story changes to it possibly not being that bad unless there is fire or further explosion giving rise to any radiation leaks being exposed to the air and thus having the potential to be airborne and spread...... seems it may all just be speculation at this point.

Mind you, I remember Chernobyl and watching all that unfold.

Yeah, it's bloody scary isn't it??

I really hope they manage to get them under control soon and that there are no further quakes.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Mmm... I'm not too sure.

Tokyo and San Fran are the two cities that are always talked about as being way over due a huge earthquake.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ILoveTRW

Tokyo and San Fran are the two cities that are always talked about as being way over due a huge earthquake.

I'm aware of that - what I'm saying is that I'm not too sure that it will happen. SF, like Japan lies in belts that are notorious for earthquakes...... but I'm not sure SF will ever feel the same wrath from mother nature.

[Pyramid*]

See....this is where my cynical natures comes on board:-

1023: Japanese authorities are extending the evacuation zone around the two Fukushima nuclear plants from 10km to 20km, according to local media.

Yet a BBC reporter trying to get closer - was turned away by Police via roadblocks.... 60kms from the plant.

So the Japanese authorities are saying one thing, but a reporter on the ground and reporting - cannot get more than 60kms before finding roads are closed off and patrolled by police.

I don't like the sound of this, the Japanese authorities seem to be playing this down........................ hopefully with good intent if they are working to actual information known..... but they've not been the most truthful in the past. Time will tell. They are saying it's a steam explosion (good thing) and nothing to do with the core of the reactor (bad). fingers crossed.

[ILoveTRW]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I'm aware of that - what I'm saying is that I'm not too sure that it will happen. SF, like Japan lies in belts that are notorious for earthquakes...... but I'm not sure SF will ever feel the same wrath from mother nature.

Fair enough, all I know is TRW is probably going to go back to San Fransisco in the next few seasons and it'd be a crazy story if they collided.

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

See....this is where my cynical natures comes on board:-

1023: Japanese authorities are extending the evacuation zone around the two Fukushima nuclear plants from 10km to 20km, according to local media.

Yet a BBC reporter trying to get closer - was turned away by Police via roadblocks.... 60kms from the plant.

So the Japanese authorities are saying one thing, but a reporter on the ground and reporting - cannot get more than 60kms before finding roads are closed off and patrolled by police.

I don't like the sound of this, the Japanese authorities seem to be playing this down........................ hopefully with good intent if they are working to actual information known..... but they've not been the most truthful in the past. Time will tell.

Exactly what I was thinking when I justheard of the reporter being turned back at 60kms.

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by happyland

Exactly what I was thinking when I justheard of the reporter being turned back at 60kms.

What I don't like the sound of : if it's not a threat -why are the Japanese authorities extending their 'official' evacuation zone from 10 to 20kms. (never mind the fact a reporter is turned back at 60kms).

Why extend - it's either safe or not. It's alright saying it's a precautionary measure, but if there is no immediate danger or concern - why this need to widening the evacuation zone at this stage.

I think there's more to this than what we are being told. This particular reactor is an old one, built in 1971 I believe - the 2 generators that were in place to cool down the reactor in such an emergency didn't kick in.......... there is a certain amount of residual dead heat still being generated which will by the hours that pass, cool down naturally. That's on the premise that no further aftershocks (that are expected) happen.

I'm not convinced. Not at all. Why? The Japansese initially said it was not an explosion, but that the roof collapsed. then they admitted it was an explosion......... I understand they don't want to create unneeded panic, but lying right from the start, is going to have an adverse effect - and no one will trust official reports. Especially when you have people on the ground who are giving info completely contradictory to official reports.

added:- just saw this on the BBC website

1052: Neil McKeown in Nakameguro, Tokyo writes: "The evacuation zone has been extended to 20km by the government. However TepCo [the Tokyo Electric Power Company] appeared in a news conference and promised to release new radioactivity readings after 6pm. It is now 7.30pm and they have not done so. People are getting extremely frustrated at the lack of news coming from TepCo and the government - they have yet to confirm if the building that suffered an explosion housed a reactor, and we have no indication how much radiation has been released or in what direction winds are blowing

[Pyramid*]

1110: An attempt to explain the risk to the Fukushima nuclear plants following the earthquake: The plants are designed to shut down automatically, which halts the main nuclear fission reaction, but there is a residual amount of intense heat within the system. Back-up generators should kick in to power the cooling mechanisms needed to dissipate that heat - but if they fail, as appears to have happened here, temperatures rise. If this isn't stopped, the reactor vessel itself could eventually melt and leak.


mmmmmmmm............................

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano has confirmed the explosion at Fukushima-Daiichi. "We are looking into the cause and the situation and we'll make that public when we have further information," From Reuters.

Radiation leakage has also been confirmed.



Now in the 'cold light of day' we can see not only the destruction, but of the complete devastation, the size of area affected, people stranded, infastructure totally wiped out - no access to really get to those poor stranded beleagured souls. It's simply horrible.

This is terrible. I didn't expect things to get this bad. What on Earth were they thinking building a nuclear fission reactor on such a tumultuous part of the world anyway?

[Lee.]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

This is terrible. I didn't expect things to get this bad. What on Earth were they thinking building a nuclear fission reactor on such a tumultuous part of the world anyway?

Not just 1, but 5! All 5 are on emergency alert and there are 11 reactors in total. It's scary stuff

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by BB_Eye

This is terrible. I didn't expect things to get this bad. What on Earth were they thinking building a nuclear fission reactor on such a tumultuous part of the world anyway?

Seems the info now is that it shouldn't be 'too bad' and fears are dissipating that reactor could go into meltdown.

Seems at odds with what was reported earlier in respect of radiation levels - being in the area for one hour would equate to being exposed to radiation for one year.

Story has gone from roof collapse with no confirmation of building housing a reactor - to confirming it was an explosion in a building that did indeed house a reactor but allegedly, the containers protecting (encasing) the rods are secure, and it's residual dead heat that will naturally cool down.

Just heard that radioactive leakage is not at 'dangerous' levels.

[Pyramid*]

1330: A magnitude 6 earthquake hit Fukushima at 2215 (1315GMT) on Saturday, Japan's NHK reports.

I wonder what effect this will have .......

1349: A team from the National Institute of Radiological Sciences has been despatched to Fukushima as a precaution, reports NHK. It is reportedly made up of doctors, nurses and other individuals with expertise in dealing with radiation exposure, and has been taken by helicopter to a base 5km from the nuclear plant.

Mmmmmm..... thought the levels of radiation were very low and not dangerous. Precaution or not - this would seem unnecessay if the truth is as they say, no leaks to cause concern. If that be true, if they are so sure, why the precautionary measures so quickly in place... unless they are expecting problems.

[Marc]

This is devastating

#prayforjapan