Japan radiation: “serious situation”

Fukushima Nuclear Crisis “very serious”—IAEA

Japan food radiation “serious situation”—WHO

Engineers at Fukushima NPP have restored power to all six reactors, but have managed to start the cooling pump at only one reactor.

IAEA says the situation remains very serious, despite the progress. “There have been some positive developments in the last 24 hours but overall the situation remains very serious,” said a senior IAEA official.

Meanwhile, some of the engineers were evacuated from the plant after a gray plume of steam and smoke escaped from the Reactor 3. The incident was followed by a large plume of steam and smoke rising from Reactor 2.

“The crisis has still not been resolved and the situation at Fukushima [nuclear power plant] remains very serious,” Yukiya Amano, the IAEA boss has announced.

I have no doubt that this crisis will be effectively overcome.” He added.

Contaminated Water

Residents living near the plant have been told not to drink tap water because high levels of radioactive iodine has been detected.

Radioactive contamination detected in the water exceeds three times the legal safety limit, according to local reports.

Food Contamination

“The World Health Organization said it had no evidence of contaminated food reaching other countries. However, China, Taiwan and South Korea have announced plans to toughen checks of Japanese imports.” BBC reported.

However, a spokesman for the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) regional office for the Western Pacific told Reuters that the situation “it’s a serious situation.”

“It’s a lot more serious than anybody thought in the early days when we thought that this kind of problem can be limited to 20 to 30 kilometers … It’s safe to suppose that some contaminated produce got out of the contamination zone.”

The health officials in Tokyo earlier reported that abnormal levels of iodine were found in edible chrysanthemum flowers.

Rising Death Toll

The official death toll in the mega quake and tsunami twin disasters has now climbed to about 8,500, with up to 13,000 reported as missing.

The Humanitarian Crisis

Up to half a million people have been left homeless as a result of the Tohoku Megaquake and the ensuing deadly tsunami. Most of the surving victims are in thousands of emergency shelters, where there are still severe shortages of water, food, heating fuel, warm clothes and other basic essentials.

Up to a million homes are reportedly without water.

Related Links

• TEPCO FALSIFIED SAFETY RECORDS
• Japan Earthquakes: FIRE-EARTH Forecasts and Recent History

Tsunami-hit Sendai Coast – Satellite Images

Tsunami impact on Sendai, Japan

Flooded fields on the tsunami-hit Sendai coast. Some of the fields are still waterlogged a week after the deadly tsunami spawned by the 9.0Mw Tohoku Megaquake caused much destruction along Japan’s eastern coast of Honshu. Photo-like image taken by ALI on NASA’s EO-1 satellite on March 18, 2011. Click image to enlarge. Download larger image (7 MB, JPEG)

Death Toll

Death toll in Japan’s twin disasters has reached about 7,400 with up to 11,000 others still missing.

Less Love for the Japanese Victims?

US charitable organizations have raised $64 million for Japan since the Tohoku Megaquake struck last Friday, a report said.

Six days after the Haiti earthquake struck, however, the same charities had raised $210 million. And in a similar period after Hurricane Katrina hit the US Gulf Coast they had raised $457 million.

Canadians also donated far less money to Japan than they did Haiti, a report said.

In the week following Haiti’s devastating quake last year, the Humanitarian Coalition (CARE Canada, Oxfam Canada, Oxfam-Québec and Save the Children Canada) raised $3.5 million. In the last 7 days, however, they have only raised $450,000 for Japan.

One reason might be that donors no longer trust charity organizations. They are wising up to the money black hole created by the international charity mafia. The sad fact is a great number of charities eat up as much as 95% of the contribution dollars. [See also comments about Haiti donations posted on this blog.]

Related Links

• Japan Earthquakes: FIRE-EARTH Forecasts and Recent History

Tsunami and Megaquake Satellite Images:

• Japan Megaquake Shaking Intensity Posted on March 19, 2011
• Japan Tsunami Rikuzentakata Damage – Satellite Images Posted on March 18, 2011

• Japan Tsunami Floods Kitakami – Satellite Images Posted on March 17, 2011
• Tsunami Damage at Ishinomaki, Japan – Satellite Images Posted on March 15, 2011
• Japan’s Tsunami Floods – Satellite Images Posted on March 13, 2011
• JAPAN MEGA QUAKE UPDATE 3 – March 12

Japan Tsunami Rikuzentakata Damage – Satellite Images

Tsunami Damage to Rikuzentakata City, Japan

Click Image to enlarge. Download larger image (6 MB, JPEG)  — acquired March 14, 2011

Click Image to enlarge. Download larger image (6 MB, JPEG) — acquired March 1, 200

The city of Rikuzentakata (population: 24,000) in Japan’s Iwate prefecture was almost entirely obliterated after the 9.0Mw megaquake and ensuing deadly tsunami struck. The above false-color images were taken by the ASTER instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite before and after the disaster. Source: NASA-EO.

The Human Toll

The official death toll in the Megaquake and the tsunami disasters, which is based on names registered with the authorities, stands at 5,695 perished with 9,503 people listed as missing, as of posting. Fire-Earth has previously stated that the actual death toll could reach into tens of thousands due to the severity of the twin catastrophes, a fear that has now been echoed by the Kyodo News Agency.

Homeless and Displaced

Up to 400,000 people are currently in temporary shelters, mostly school gymnasiums, enduring severe shortages of water food, warm clothing, heating fuel and all other basic essentials.

Aftershocks

The disaster zone is still bombarded with aftershocks, which are expected to continue for many weeks, possibly months. About 340 significant aftershocks (Magnitude ≥5.0) have swarmed the region since the Megaquake struck exactly a week ago.

Fukushima Nuclear Mess

An update will be posted later.

Related Links:

• Japan Earthquakes: FIRE-EARTH Forecasts and Recent History
• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar

Tsunami and Megaquake Satellite Images:

• Japan Tsunami Floods Kitakami – Satellite Images Posted on March 17, 2011
• Tsunami Damage at Ishinomaki, Japan – Satellite Images Posted on March 15, 2011
• Japan’s Tsunami Floods – Satellite Images Posted on March 13, 2011
• JAPAN MEGA QUAKE UPDATE 3 – March 12

FUKUSHIMA NPP: No 4 REACTOR ON FIRE, NEW EXPLOSION ROCKS No 2

BREAKING NEWS:

MAJOR FIRE AT NO 4 REACTOR CAUSES HIGHLY RADIOACTIVE LEAK AT FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICH NPP

A fire has broken out at the No. 4 Reactor at Fukushima No.1 Nuclear Power Plant and radiation levels are rising considerably as a result of a leak, Japanese PM Naoto Kan has just announced.

Mr Kan has advised people within the 30-km of the doomed nuclear power plant to stay indoors and await further instructions.

He has also asked anyone who has not already been evacuated from the 20-km radius of the two nuclear plants to leave the danger zone.

“I sincerely ask all citizens within the 20-km distance from the reactor to leave this zone,” he said in a televised bulletin.

The fire was reportedly caused by an explosion near a containment pool where spent fuel rods were kept.

Japanese govt has imposed a 30-km NO-FLY ZONE over the doomed Fukushima NPP.

Radiation Reports Tuesday

• About 400 milisievert detected near Fukushima NPP No1 reactor
• 100 milisivert near No 4 reactor
• 30 milisievert near No 2 and 3 reactors

Note: Exposure to 400 milisievert over a 1.5 to 2-hr period burns the skin and makes the victim very sick.

In Tokyo up 20 times the amount of background radiation was detected, though the elevated amount is not believed to cause any harm to humans.

Above background radiation have also been detected in all surrounding and nearby prefectures.

NEW EXPLOSION ROCKS FUKUSHIMA DAI-ICH NUCLEAR PLANT

Another explosion at No. 2 Reactor rocked the Fukushima Daiichi plant Tuesday

The latest explosion occurred at reactor 2 at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, as engineers were trying to pump sea water into the three partially destroyed reactors.

The radiation reading at 8:31am (JST) had climbed to 8,217 microsievert per hour from a previous level of 1,941 microsievert half an hour earlier earlier, TEPCO the plant operators said. The background radiation to which people are exposed to is about 1,000 to 2,400  microsievert per year.

The No.3 nuclear reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant at Minamisoma continues to burn after an explosion that occurred at  11:01 on Monday March 14, following the Sendai Megaquake and tsunami. Handout satellite image taken by Digital Globe/via Reuters.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear plants are located  about 240km (150 miles) north-east of Japan capital city, Tokyo.

Meanwhile, the U.S. 7th Fleet, operating about 160km (100miles) northeast of the nuclear plants, moved away its ships and aircraft carriers after detecting radioactive contamination on aircraft operating in the area.

Low levels of radiation were found on 17 air crew members, operating in three helicopters, when they returned to the USS Ronald Reagan, reports say.

The nuclear began after a 9.0Mw Megaquake followed by a deadly tsunami struck the eastern coast of Japan’s main island of Honshu Friday.

Up to 200,000 people have so far been evacuated from a 20-km radii of both Fukushima Plants Nos. 1 and 2. The quake and tsunami has left about 550,000 people homeless, as millions of people endure their fourth day without water, food, gas, fuel, electricity and adequate clothing in freezing temperatures.

Petrol has been rationed throughout the country.  Our colleagues in different Japan were only allowed to buy only 10 liters of gasoline this morning.

The mounting death toll stands at 2,000 to more than 10,000 depending on the source of different reports.

The Sendai Megaquake is now officially the world’s 4th strongest quake since 1900, and Japan’s largest recorded shock since records began 140 years ago.

Explosions Timline:

• The first explosion at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant occurred at 3:45.45 pm on Saturday, March 12, 2011
• The Second explosion occurred at reactor 3 at 11:01 on Monday, March 14.
• The third explosion occurred at reactor 2  just after 6:13 am on Tuesday March 15.

Japan has 55 nuclear reactors, 14 of which are in the quake and tsunami-hit areas.

Japanese govt has reportedly distributed about a quarter of a million units of stable iodine to evacuation centers near the damaged nuclear plants, as a precautionary measure. Iodine can help protect against thyroid cancer if a person is is exposed to low-levels of radiation.

Worst Disaster since WWII: Japan PM

WARNING: SEISMIC CHAIN REACTIONS MAY OCCUR IN JAPAN REGION

CONTINUED OCCURRENCES OF SIGNIFICANT AFTERSHOCKS COULD LEAD TO A SEISMIC CHAIN REACTION UNLEASHING MORE MEGA QUAKES IN JAPAN REGION AND/OR SURROUNDING REGIONS: FIRE-EARTH

[Time Period: Up to 18 months from now; probability ≥0.6]

March 14, 2011 at 00:48 UTC

The Aftermath of Japan’s Megaquake and the Unfolding Nuclear Crisis is Japan’s Worst Calamity since World War II:  Prime Minister Naoto Kan

This Page would be updated throughout today, as new information becomes available.

Japan’s  Nuclear Crisis:

The cooling system has failed at a third nuclear facility in Japan, following the M9.0 Mega Quake near Sendai.

The Tokai Nuclear Plant in Ibaraki prefecture is causing great concern. Two of its three diesel generators used to operate the cooling system have failed. The plant is located about 120km north of Tokyo.

Tokai 1 and 2 Nuclear Power Plants. Click image to enlarge and view licensing details.

Built in 1962, 1 was Japan’s first nuclear power plant. Having generated electricity for about 32 years it was decommission in 1998.  Tokai 2 was built in 1973 and commissioned in 1978,  Japan’s largest at the time with a generating capacity of  1,060 MW.

Meanwhile, a state of emergency has been declared at the Onagawa plant, where radiation readings have exceeded allowed limits, said Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency.

Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant is located in  Ishinomaki city, Miyagi Prefecture, and is operated by the Tohoku Electric Power Company.  Click image to enlarge and view licensing details.

The latest declaration is the third to be issued by the agency, with the first two still in force at Fukushima plant Nos 1 and 2.

• At Fukushima Plant No.1, at least two reactors may be experiencing partial meltdown.   As a last option, sea water is being pumped into reactors 1 and 3 to prevent them from total core meltdown.
• On May 12 an explosion said to have been caused by hydrogen buildup tore through the walls of containment building of reactor 1.
• Up to 4 other reactors face the threat of explosion, due to excessive pressure, and possibly meltdown.
• As of 10:00UTC Saturday  May 12,  up to 300 people had received varying degrees of radiation, including 60 students at high school in Fukushima located about 3.5km from Plant No. 1, who were waiting to be evacuated.
• UPDATE: Radiation at Onagawa plant has returned to operating background levels, Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency has announced.
• Up to 170,000 people have been evacuated from a 20-km radii of Fukushima Plants 1 and 2.
• Tens of thousands of people were due to be evacuated from a 20-km radius of  the Tokai plant.

People throughout Japan have been asked tio save electricity. About 1.8 million customers are currently without power.

In Tokyo area there’s a sever shortage of electricity, with only 75 percent of the demand currently being met. [Demand: 41 gigawatt;  supply: 31 gigawatt]

Second Round of Tsunami Warnings

Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA)  issued a new round of Tsunami Warnings for Japan Region at 03:20 JST, Saturday March 12. A Major Tsunami Warning covered the entire eastern seaboards of Honshu and Hokkaido islands.

See below for tsunami map and list of the prefectures under TSUNAMI WARNING.

Source: JMA. Click image to enlarge.

Maximum Tsunami Observation

The following Tsunami Observation Map (NUMBER 64) was issued at 18:05 JST 13 Mar 2011.

The Surviving Victims of the Mega Quake and Tsunami

The surviving victims are well and truly trapped. There are  severe shortages of water, food and fuel, as well as clothes, sanitation and other basic amenities. Large areas have had no electricity sine the Megaquake struck about 70 hours ago. Many people are attempting to leave the disaster zones; however, there are no plains, trains or any other form of transport.  Automobiles are not going anywhere, anytime soon.  There are long lines of vehicles outside gas stations waiting to be filled, some reportedly as long as 10-mile. Many people are sleeping in their car in order not to miss their turn.

Many roads have been destroyed or severely damaged in Miyagi prefecture, as far as in the Tokyo area, in northern Japan, and in the far-northern Iwate prefecture. The toll road highways are restricted to emergency vehicles only, according to reports.

The Aftershocks

As expected, the aftershock, some of them powerful quakes in their own right, continue to rattle the eastern seaboard of Japan’s main island of Honshu.

10-degree Map Centered at 40°N,140°E

Earthquake Location Map. Source: USGS. Click image to enlarge.

List of Significant Aftershocks (≥M5.0)

March 14 UTC

March 13 UTC

March 12 UTC

March 11 UTC

Source: USGS.  Click images to enlarge.

The Death Toll and the Number of Missing

More than 2,000 bodies have been found this morning on the shores of Miyagi prefecture, the area worst affected by the tsunami,  Kyodo news agency has just reported. The latest gruesome discovery brings the total death toll so far to about 4,000. At least 10,000 others are believed to be missing.