[Josy]

JAPAN QUAKE:Nearly 10,000 people unaccounted for in port of Minamisanriku, more than half the town's population, says national news agency.

[Mystic Mock]

poor japan.

[Shaun]

wow, just saw the explosion... wasn't as bad as I immediately thought when you're prone to think "nuclear explosion" and at least they'd evacuated nearby :/

[BB_Eye]

Originally Posted by Shaun

wow, just saw the explosion... wasn't as bad as I immediately thought when you're prone to think "nuclear explosion" and at least they'd evacuated nearby :/

The core is still stable. The explosion from the reactor was a hydrogen explosion due to low water levels. But there was a radiation leak.

If they are unable to prevent a core meltdown, it wouldn't materialise as a nuclear explosion, but we would most definitely know about it. Unbelievable levels of radiation could get released into the atmosphere. About 32 years ago, the Three Mile Island accident (a partial meltdown) came dangerously close to this. This guy eloquently explains what might have happened.

Youtube video

[Shaun]

'Pearl Harbour' is trending on Twitter at the moment, the gist seems to be some Sun readers saying this is karma...

they must have forgot about Nagasaki then.

[MTVN]

Originally Posted by Shaun

'Pearl Harbour' is trending on Twitter at the moment, the gist seems to be some Sun readers saying this is karma...

they must have forgot about Nagasaki then.

Christ, what idiots, just googled it and it's happening on facebook too apparently http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runnin...ook_imbeci.php

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

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.

Any radiation can be dangerous.

Its always better to have specialist assistance close at hand until all potential for danger has passed.

The reactor and its core may still be intact, but because it wasnt cooled quickly enough at the original incident it may be "hot".

The reactor could be ruptured but safety measures have dealt or are containing the problem. In which case repair teams may have to go in and work on it. In which case International regualtions require special medical teams to be on hand.

The extension of the safety area could simply have been following written guidelines for this sort of incident. In the event of a possible breach of the reactor they need to evacuate a minimum distance arond the plant.

However there will be different safety areas depending on the type of breach, actual, suspected type of contaminant released etc. If the wind speed picks up the safety area is automatically increased. Its dependant on how far particles will travel driven by the wind.

Its always safer to evacuate further consequently they may have initially decided on imposing the minimum required distance which is set to affect the minimum area while providing the maximum safety.

The safety distance will also take in minimum disruption to the local populace, autorities may have decided given the circumstances and current disruption to increase it.

[Angus]

What I find interesting is the way in which such natural disasters can be used to validate the beliefs of totally opposed factions. For example in the bible's Book of Revelations it states that towards the end of the world, there will be an increase in the scale and severity of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tidal waves, volcanoes etc., so religious folk can point to these incidents as "proof" that the prophecies are coming true. On the other hand we have the environmentalists telling us that these disasters are manmade and a result of global warming, environmental damage etc.

Whatever the reason, these disasters do seem to be becoming more and more frequent, and damage done to life and property seems ever more catastrophic and immense. It does sometimes seem that Mankind is being harshly "punished". It makes you realise that despite all our marvellous technological advances we are still at the complete mercy of Nature.

[Pyramid*]

1012pm. Some clarification: It is the number three reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 plant where officials have just announced that the cooling system has failed.

This morning's blast took place at the number one reactor at the same plant. "All the functions to keep cooling water levels in No. 3 reactor have failed at the Fukushima No. 1 plant," a spokesman for the operator said.

Doesn't sound like it's panning out as well as they had hoped.

Reuters: The number of people exposed to radiation near Fukushima No. 1 nuclear plant could reach 160, an official from the Japan Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has said. Nine people have shown signs of possible exposure

The blast this morning was from Number 1 reactor at the same plant... this number 3 reactor is now causing problems.

[Josy]

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/ja...eforeafter.htm

^ Before and after pics.

[Iceman]

The Earthquake was upgraded to a magnitude 9.0 and they said it wasnt just one but a series of strong earthquakes....

[Lee.]

God, Josy, those before and after pics are shocking!

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Josy

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/ja...eforeafter.htm

^ Before and after pics.

omg, that's horrific

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Josy

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/ja...eforeafter.htm

^ Before and after pics.

OMG. Those are unbelievable - the scale of utter devastation and destruction.

How on earth do these people who have survived ever rebuilt their lives or come back from that sort of complete carnage.

[Benjamin]

Those pictures are awful.

[Benjamin]

Video footage of the moment the wave hit.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12725646

[Smithy]

The weird thing is it doesnt even look like a tsunami

[Shasown]

Originally Posted by Smithy

The weird thing is it doesnt even look like a tsunami

What does a tsunami look like?

You expected to see a high wave front with a crest?

[Kerry]

10,000 now? Jeeze

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Shasown

What does a tsunami look like?

You expected to see a high wave front with a crest?

Pretty much That's what the Boxing Day Tsunami looked like

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by Smithy

The weird thing is it doesnt even look like a tsunami

I'd be interested to know how much you actually know about tsunami's and 'what they look like'. It's not the type of thing that you see surfer's riding on.

[Kerry]

Just watching some more footage of it on the news. Terrifing stuff They just said theres expected to be another aftershock of about 7 which could trigger another

[Pyramid*]

Originally Posted by ~Kerry~

Just watching some more footage of it on the news. Terrifing stuff They just said theres expected to be another aftershock of about 7 which could trigger another

It's seems unrelenting, and it must be terrifying for those in the areas affected and beyond. Awful, just awful.

[Smithy]

Originally Posted by Pyramid*

I'd be interested to know how much you actually know about tsunami's and 'what they look like'. It's not the type of thing that you see surfer's riding on.

Well what do you want me to do, write you an essay

[Benjamin]

The Tsunami starts off as a wave with a crest but then will break into a wall of water when it reaches a certain point.