Comments on: Japan hit by catastrophic 8.9 magnitude quake, massive tsunami sweeps country http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 20 Jun 2013 05:32:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050886 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050886 BBC breaking news ticker tape is reporting that there is a state of emergency at a Nuclear Plant in Japan with a failed reactor cooling. BBC breaking news ticker tape is reporting that there is a state of emergency at a Nuclear Plant in Japan with a failed reactor cooling.

]]> By: andyroo2000 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050900 andyroo2000 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050900 Still feeling some major aftershocks in Tokyo. All the locals say to expect them for the next 3 days here. Still feeling some major aftershocks in Tokyo. All the locals say to expect them for the next 3 days here.

]]> By: toyg http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050913 toyg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050913 I have a friend working in Tokyo. She can't get home because trains are not running, and her company (a certain "red" database maker) basically told everyone to sleep at the office. Which is on the 26th floor of a humongous tower and has been shaking for more than an hour. Appalling. I have a friend working in Tokyo. She can’t get home because trains are not running, and her company (a certain “red” database maker) basically told everyone to sleep at the office. Which is on the 26th floor of a humongous tower and has been shaking for more than an hour. Appalling.

]]> By: Layne http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050922 Layne Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050922 How horrible for the people of Japan... The scope and scale of the destruction in these photos is just hard to comprehend. I only hope that loss of life is low and recovery efforts are rapid for those in need. How horrible for the people of Japan…
The scope and scale of the destruction in these photos is just hard to comprehend. I only hope that loss of life is low and recovery efforts are rapid for those in need.

]]> By: benher http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050927 benher Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050927 This has been a waking nightmare. We in Kansai (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto) have been relatively unaffected, but the northern region is in huge trouble. We felt it all the way down here - one of the largest quakes on record. Sendai has been leveled. Terrible news all day long. The Fukui nuclear reactor has been in danger of a meltdown, but it seems that the situation may be under control. For those of you who are unaware, the magnitude of this disaster is far greater than the Hanshin earthquake and has struck during the middle of the working day. The majority of news now is from Tokyo since it is the central location of the major media networks... but the northern areas have been terribly affected. I have a plea for everyone on boingboing: Please please keep things positive and lend us your support. I have a feeling that the real damage assessment has not yet begun. The Japanese are providing great examples already: Bic Camera has been handing out batteries for flashlights, restaurants handing out food, and vending machines (now that's Japan!) dispensing free drinks. Osaka has dispatched a 600 strong fire brigade and Kyoto several groups of doctors. My family was lucky, but tonight as midnight approaches so many here have lost so much. Please keep Japan and it's people in your thoughts today. This has been a waking nightmare.

We in Kansai (Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto) have been relatively unaffected, but the northern region is in huge trouble. We felt it all the way down here – one of the largest quakes on record.

Sendai has been leveled. Terrible news all day long. The Fukui nuclear reactor has been in danger of a meltdown, but it seems that the situation may be under control.

For those of you who are unaware, the magnitude of this disaster is far greater than the Hanshin earthquake and has struck during the middle of the working day.

The majority of news now is from Tokyo since it is the central location of the major media networks… but the northern areas have been terribly affected.

I have a plea for everyone on boingboing: Please please keep things positive and lend us your support. I have a feeling that the real damage assessment has not yet begun.

The Japanese are providing great examples already: Bic Camera has been handing out batteries for flashlights, restaurants handing out food, and vending machines (now that’s Japan!) dispensing free drinks. Osaka has dispatched a 600 strong fire brigade and Kyoto several groups of doctors.

My family was lucky, but tonight as midnight approaches so many here have lost so much.

Please keep Japan and it’s people in your thoughts today.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050937 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050937 Sometimes the Richter magnitude alone is not enough. It also depends on how deep the quake was generated. A shallow 5.0 can generate great damage, comparable to a deeper 7.0. I'm writing from Chile, my sympathies to everyone at Japan. Sometimes the Richter magnitude alone is not enough. It also depends on how deep the quake was generated. A shallow 5.0 can generate great damage, comparable to a deeper 7.0.

I’m writing from Chile, my sympathies to everyone at Japan.

]]> By: jtegnell http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050733 jtegnell Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050733 I was down in the subway tunnel waiting for a train when it hit. Everyone panicked and ran out!! In the end, though, it wasn't so bad here in Tokyo. Looks like it was a lot worse in Miyagi. The aftershocks continued forever, though. I was down in the subway tunnel waiting for a train when it hit. Everyone panicked and ran out!!

In the end, though, it wasn’t so bad here in Tokyo. Looks like it was a lot worse in Miyagi. The aftershocks continued forever, though.

]]> By: emmdeeaych http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050737 emmdeeaych Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050737 BBC News (US) has good coverage (with audio issues, at the moment) BBC News (US) has good coverage (with audio issues, at the moment)

]]> By: emmdeeaych http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050738 emmdeeaych Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050738 A fire is reported at the <a href="http://www.cosmo-oil.co.jp/eng/company/chiba.html">Chiba Refinery</a>. Sadly it is not yet the time to make that obvious joke. A fire is reported at the Chiba Refinery. Sadly it is not yet the time to make that obvious joke.

]]> By: apoxia http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050742 apoxia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050742 I am so sick of earthquakes. I'm so sorry Japan. We in Christchurch feel for you. I am so sick of earthquakes. I’m so sorry Japan. We in Christchurch feel for you.

]]> By: bat21 http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050745 bat21 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050745 There is a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific until 8am Eastern US time (5am West coast). Brace yourselves, Hawaiians. There is a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific until 8am Eastern US time (5am West coast). Brace yourselves, Hawaiians.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050748 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050748 And I was just reading about the (much smaller) Earthquake today in Yunnan. Are the two possibly related? And I was just reading about the (much smaller) Earthquake today in Yunnan. Are the two possibly related?

]]> By: rebdav http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050749 rebdav Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050749 They should get the help they need, and hoping that earthquake code compliant buildings and tsunami warning training was common in this area. This type of emergency is why there should be more widespread satellite communication access. Hams like myself can use HF radio to get a message out but even the current amateur radio sats are fast pass low orbit toys good for experimentation but not real communications. Our last good satellite AO-40 went down due to a combination of battery issues and a orbital maneuver rocket engine explosion damage it had a great molinya orbit nearly as useful as a geostationary. You could use portable gear to get real health and welfare traffic out as well as coordinating other emcom traffic on the multiple user transponder. The next generation Eagle and Phase3E will be able to do far more with many transponders, one mode discussed was even a 100Mb/s router on C-band, that is quite a few concurrent emails and IM's telling family who is OK and what assistance is required. At this point we cant stop earthquakes, but we can work harder to provide the tools to pick up the pieces. They should get the help they need, and hoping that earthquake code compliant buildings and tsunami warning training was common in this area.

This type of emergency is why there should be more widespread satellite communication access. Hams like myself can use HF radio to get a message out but even the current amateur radio sats are fast pass low orbit toys good for experimentation but not real communications. Our last good satellite AO-40 went down due to a combination of battery issues and a orbital maneuver rocket engine explosion damage it had a great molinya orbit nearly as useful as a geostationary. You could use portable gear to get real health and welfare traffic out as well as coordinating other emcom traffic on the multiple user transponder.

The next generation Eagle and Phase3E will be able to do far more with many transponders, one mode discussed was even a 100Mb/s router on C-band, that is quite a few concurrent emails and IM’s telling family who is OK and what assistance is required.

At this point we cant stop earthquakes, but we can work harder to provide the tools to pick up the pieces.

]]> By: AirPillo http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050751 AirPillo Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050751 I have a close friend in Honshu. There are power and phone service outages and I have no idea when I'll hear from her :/ I have a close friend in Honshu. There are power and phone service outages and I have no idea when I’ll hear from her :/

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050752 Antinous / Moderator Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050752 Today's 5.4 earthquake in Yunnan severely damaged 18,000 houses and apartment buildings. That's pretty shocking when you consider that we regularly have quakes that big in Southern California with no damage at all. Today’s 5.4 earthquake in Yunnan severely damaged 18,000 houses and apartment buildings. That’s pretty shocking when you consider that we regularly have quakes that big in Southern California with no damage at all.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050755 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050755 I'm in Saitama prefecture - we're still getting aftershocks. I was at my elementary school when it hit. I dispensed a lot of hugs and reassurances that Mommy and Daddy are safe and sound. I’m in Saitama prefecture – we’re still getting aftershocks. I was at my elementary school when it hit. I dispensed a lot of hugs and reassurances that Mommy and Daddy are safe and sound.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050759 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050759 Alert Leve2 were just issued by the National Disaster Board in the Philippines. We pray that the Tsunami will spare our country. May GOD BLESS the WORLD. Alert Leve2 were just issued by the National Disaster Board in the Philippines. We pray that the Tsunami will spare our country. May GOD BLESS the WORLD.

]]> By: apoxia http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050762 apoxia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050762 As we've come to know in Christchurch, the distance from the quake and the depth make a big difference. That's the reason the recent 6.3 quake here caused much more carnage than the 7.1 quake back in September. Of course property damage is largely dependent on building codes of which we're pretty good with here in Chch. But then again you can get more modern buildings built on liquifiable land that collapse when other older and less well built ones survive. It's so regional it's scary. At our new house one half of the street has liquifaction from the quake and other other half has none. In some streets filled with liquefaction there are single houses with none whatsoever. There's so much we don't know about how these quakes affect the land. As we’ve come to know in Christchurch, the distance from the quake and the depth make a big difference. That’s the reason the recent 6.3 quake here caused much more carnage than the 7.1 quake back in September. Of course property damage is largely dependent on building codes of which we’re pretty good with here in Chch. But then again you can get more modern buildings built on liquifiable land that collapse when other older and less well built ones survive. It’s so regional it’s scary. At our new house one half of the street has liquifaction from the quake and other other half has none. In some streets filled with liquefaction there are single houses with none whatsoever. There’s so much we don’t know about how these quakes affect the land.

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050763 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050763 Were still feeling the after shocks, even in Niigata. The Japanese Met website gives great up to the minute information about what is happening and where. http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/20110311145125453-111446.html Rich Were still feeling the after shocks, even in Niigata.

The Japanese Met website gives great up to the minute information about what is happening and where.

http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/20110311145125453-111446.html

Rich

]]> By: Ian V http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050765 Ian V Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050765 It's expected to hit here in Honolulu around 3:00 am, last I heard. It’s expected to hit here in Honolulu around 3:00 am, last I heard.

]]> By: Melted Crayons http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1051021 Melted Crayons Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1051021 Don't worry everybody, Disaster Capitalism is on the way to save the day! Don’t worry everybody, Disaster Capitalism is on the way to save the day!

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050778 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050778 What makes this event kinda odd is http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10704 The link is to an anime made recently named "Tokyo Magnitude 8.0," though the timeline was set for 2012, and was made back in 2009. Hopefully those that watched it are able to use some of the info that was in the anime...never know when something like that can end up saving your life. What makes this event kinda odd is http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=10704

The link is to an anime made recently named “Tokyo Magnitude 8.0,” though the timeline was set for 2012, and was made back in 2009. Hopefully those that watched it are able to use some of the info that was in the anime…never know when something like that can end up saving your life.

]]> By: adamnvillani http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050783 adamnvillani Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050783 Yunnan is nearly 3,000 miles from Sendai. Just a coincidence; there are earthquakes around the globe every day. 8.9s, though, are obviously very rare. The tsunami really looks devastating --- let's hope that the low-lying atolls in the Pacific stay safe. Yunnan is nearly 3,000 miles from Sendai. Just a coincidence; there are earthquakes around the globe every day. 8.9s, though, are obviously very rare. The tsunami really looks devastating — let’s hope that the low-lying atolls in the Pacific stay safe.

]]> By: Ugly Canuck http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1051040 Ugly Canuck Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1051040 You joke, but it's not so malicious as you may think. There is today much more work to be done in Japan than there was yesterday,and that work can be an opportunity to rebuild an even better, even finer existence than was present prior to this tragedy. For an example of this, consider the town of Napier, New Zealand, devastated by a quake on 3 February 1931: they rebuilt, all of it in the art deco style of the day, and it's all still there.... http://www.artdeconapier.com/default.aspx I also take this opportunity to express my hopes and wishes that Japan recover fully and quickly from this terrible disaster. i am also very happy to see that their efforts at earthquake education and preparedness have apparently served to prevent the loss of life from being greater than it is. You joke, but it’s not so malicious as you may think.

There is today much more work to be done in Japan than there was yesterday,and that work can be an opportunity to rebuild an even better, even finer existence than was present prior to this tragedy.

For an example of this, consider the town of Napier, New Zealand, devastated by a quake on 3 February 1931: they rebuilt, all of it in the art deco style of the day, and it’s all still there….

http://www.artdeconapier.com/default.aspx

I also take this opportunity to express my hopes and wishes that Japan recover fully and quickly from this terrible disaster.

i am also very happy to see that their efforts at earthquake education and preparedness have apparently served to prevent the loss of life from being greater than it is.

]]> By: Ubernostrom http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050794 Ubernostrom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050794 The NOAA and WCATWC have put out a warning for most of the coastal western United States, including California, Alaska, etc. Here's some links. http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/04/messagelhvpd9-04.htm http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/energylhvpd9-04.jpg The NOAA and WCATWC have put out a warning for most of the coastal western United States, including California, Alaska, etc. Here’s some links.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/04/messagelhvpd9-04.htm

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/energylhvpd9-04.jpg

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050795 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050795 Goose bumps!!!Honestly I can focus on taking in calls after watching the video... Goose bumps!!!Honestly I can focus on taking in calls after watching the video…

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1051054 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1051054 has 756-2 Noda, Noda-shi, Noda City beeen hit? has 756-2 Noda, Noda-shi, Noda City beeen hit?

]]> By: Stooge http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050803 Stooge Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050803 Obviously building codes, compliance, etc play their part but it's worth bearing in mind that the Richter scale measures the quake's total power, not how much it shakes the ground. The best indicator is peak ground acceleration, but you can't measure that remotely. As apoxia said, epicentre depth is an important factor in causing damage, and the Yunnan quake was very shallow indeed (0.5 km according to the USGS). By comparison, the 6.3 Christchurch quake was at 5km depth which is also considered shallow. Obviously building codes, compliance, etc play their part but it’s worth bearing in mind that the Richter scale measures the quake’s total power, not how much it shakes the ground. The best indicator is peak ground acceleration, but you can’t measure that remotely.

As apoxia said, epicentre depth is an important factor in causing damage, and the Yunnan quake was very shallow indeed (0.5 km according to the USGS). By comparison, the 6.3 Christchurch quake was at 5km depth which is also considered shallow.

]]> By: catgrin http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050807 catgrin Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050807 Here's the tsunami arrival time forecast for the west coast of North America courtesy WCATWC. http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/05/webetalhvpd9-05.txt Here’s the tsunami arrival time forecast for the west coast of North America courtesy WCATWC.

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2011/03/11/lhvpd9/05/webetalhvpd9-05.txt

]]> By: Anonymous http://boingboing.net/2011/03/10/japan-hit-by-89-magn.html#comment-1050811 Anonymous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-1050811 pray for safety let's call all nation to unite to help japan pray for safety let’s call all nation to unite to help japan

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