Japan Hit by Major Snowstorm

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
MAJOR SNOWSTORM
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Major Snowstorm leaves 5 dead, 500 injured across Japan

A major snowstorm, said to be the worst to hit japan in two decades, has left at least 5 people dead and more than 500 others injured in snow-related incidents, according to reports.

Up to 22 cm (8.7 inches) of snow fell over Tokyo on Saturday, breaking the previous record of 20 cm set in 1994, according to reports citing the meteorological agency.

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) has issued a severe storm warning for the capital Tokyo, and the suburb of Tama, advising people stay at home.

The agency forecast heavy snow for Saturday through Sunday morning, for the Greater Tokyo Area.

Heavy snow forced airport authorities  to cancel up to 1,000 flights into, within or out of Japan late Friday through Saturday. Many train  services were  suspended and dozens of major roads closed, especially in the Kanagawa prefecture, a part of Greater Tokyo Area.

More than 3,200 snow-related accidents were reported across the country, many caused by vehicles skidding on icy roads, said NHK.

Radiation Levels at Fukushima Hugely Underestimated: TEPCO

NOTE: Many of the links posted below have previously been blocked or buried by Google, WordPress and others

“NEVER-ENDING” NUCLEAR DISASTER
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TEPCO admits serious flaws in its Fukushima radiation readings

The operator of the nuked Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant said it will review its radiation data because their initial readings may be seriously flawed.

Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) says it detected radiation levels of 5 million becquerels per liter of radioactive strontium in groundwater samples collected last July from one of its wells near the ocean.

The radioactivity level is more than 160,000 times the regulatory maximum  for radioactive wastewater allowed to be released into the sea.

A team [of well-paid observers]  from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) holding hands singing kumbaya at Fukushima, December 2013. “The team has praised Japan for making progress in stabilizing the Fukushima nuclear plant,” reported BBC. Image IAEA handout via Reuters/BBC.

Based on the latest admission, TEPCO now estimates with that level of radioactive strontium present, the count for beta-emitting radioactive substances must be 10 million becquerels per liter, or 11 times their initial estimate of 900,000 becquerels per liter, reported NHK.

The plant operator attributes the error to incorrect measuring methods that were in place until last October.

TEPCO says it will review other data acquired using the old, improper method, including the radiation level of more than 300 tons of toxic waste water that leaked from a storage tank in August 2013.

The initial reading for the leaked radioactive water showed up to 80-million becquerels per liter of beta ray-emitting substances, including strontium, said the report.

On October 18, 2013 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

• Fukushima Potentially More Disastrous Than Hiroshima

On November 7, 2013 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

• Scale of potential catastrophe at Fukushima could dwarf a limited nuclear war.

On January 13, 2014 FIRE-EARTH said [but was censored by Google, WordPress and others]:

THE TEPCO REPORT, QUOTED BY JAPAN’S ASAHI SHIMBUN, MAY BE SERIOUSLY FLAWED.

ACCORDING TO http://new.atmc.jp/ THE RADIATION LEVEL AT OR NEAR FUKUSHIMA PLANT IS ≥ 40 MICROSIEVERT PER HOUR (OR ~ 350 mSv/yr)

NOTES:

1. Radiation dose of about 2,000 millisieverts (200,000 millirems) cause serious illness.

2. Average background radiation in the US is about 3 mS/yr.]

3. The average annual radiation dose per person in the U.S. is currently 620 millirem (6.2 mSv), according to EPA. “Half of our average dose comes from natural background sources: cosmic radiation from space, naturally occurring radioactive minerals in the ground and in your body, and from the radioactive gases radon and thoron, which are created when other naturally occurring elements undergo radioactive decay. Another 48 percent of our dose comes from medical diagnostics and treatments.”

Related Links

• Look for the Cracks!  January 21, 2014
• “Radioactive River” Flowing at Fukushima No. 3 Reactor January 20, 2014
• Fukushima Radiation Level 8 Times* Govt Standard: TEPCO January 13, 2014
• Record Radiation Detected at Fukushima [AGAIN] December 22, 2013
• Japan Renews Nuke Ambitions Despite Fukushima, Common Sense December 14, 2013
• Record Outdoor Radiation Level Detected at Nuked Fukushima Plant December 9, 2013
• TEPCO Continues to Contaminate the World October 3, 2013
• 80 Percent Chance of Major Catastrophe at Fukushima NPP November 7, 2013
• Crimes Against Nature: Water Overflows from 12 Fukushima Barriers October 21, 2013
• Fukushima Potentially More Disastrous Than Hiroshima October 18, 2013
• Fukushima Fatal Farce Turns Deadlier September 1, 2013

For additional links to the never-ending nuclear disaster at Fukushima, search blog content, where they have not been hacked.

Massive Storm Striking Ireland, Britain

EXTREME WEATHER AND CLIMATIC EVENTS
CATASTROPHIC SUPERSTORMS
NINTH CONSECUTIVE WEEK OF EXTREME RAIN EVENTS
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Potentially devastating superstorms lining up in Atlantic to batter Ireland next week

Met Éireann has issued a status orange weather warning, the highest in Ireland, for the southern counties as well as Wexford and Galway, with winds of 130-km/hr forecast as storm RUTH strikes the country.

A status yellow weather warning is in effect for counties Dublin, Louth, Wicklow and Meath, according to reports.

Flood alerts and wind warnings have been issued as Ireland braces itself for a series of  potentially devastating Atlantic superstorms and the ninth week of extreme rain events.

Screenshot from a video taken by the Irish Gov. via Independent.ie

Massive Storm System Impacting UK

Some 482 Flood Warnings and Flood Alerts, including 3 Severe Flood Warnings [“danger to life,”] remain in effect throughout Britain as a massive storm system continues to batter the country with strong winds and persistent rain.

Visible Satellite image timed at 12:00 on Saturday February 8, 2014. © Copyright EUMETSAT/Met Office

The UK Environment Office has issued the following Flood Risk Assessment (Excerpts)

In Somerset there is a HIGH flood risk from river flooding on the Somerset Levels for today (Sat 8 Feb) and Sunday, with a high likelihood of severe impacts. River flooding in this area has been made worse by recent rainfall. Significant impacts are expected to continue in this area through the next week. In Chiswell in Dorset where the beach is degraded there is a HIGH flood risk from coastal flooding due to large waves and strong winds during this evening and during Sunday.

State of Emergency Declared in OK due to Risk of Bridge Collapse

FAILING INFRASTRUCTURE
STATE OF EMERGENCY
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Fallin declares State of Emergency after Purcell-Lexington bridge closure

Gov Fallin declared a State of Emergency in Cleveland and McClain counties, Okla., due to the closure of James C. Nance Memorial Bridge.

“The bridge we just went and saw was at risk of collapsing and still is at risk of collapsing,” said Fallin.

The bridge, which facilitates flow of commerce and trade between portions of six counties, was shut down by ODOT on January 31 due to major structural damage. Some 22 cracks were detected in the truss system.

Lexington and Purcell are less than two miles apart. However, since the bridge closure, the 40-mile detour takes about 50 minutes to drive, dramatically increasing commute times and fuel expenses.

“This bridge is a safety hazard and is at risk of collapse,” said Fallin. “Keeping it open would have threatened lives. It had to close. Unfortunately, that has created an economic hardship, not to mention a severe inconvenience, for the people of Lexington and Purcell.”

The bridge is said to be “similar” to the Minnesota I-35W bridge that collapsed in 2007.

Opened in 1938, the 1,110-meter (3,642 ft) long bridge crosses the Canadian River and is one of the longest in the Sooner State. The cost of rebuilding could top $40 million.