Toyota announced that not only is it halting operations in Japan (due to the Fukushima disaster), but in the United States as well.
This is because most of the parts used in U.S. factories come from Japan, and parts production has come to a halt.
Japanese Fire Chief regrets doing his job
A volunteer fire chief in one of the towns hit by the tsunami, says he regrets doing his job. He and others had gone to re-enforce a sea wall, which proved futile.
When he returned home he found that his wife and children had been swept away by the tsunami.
South Korea agrees to send Boric Acid to Japan
South Korea is willing to send Japan 53 tons of Boric Acid to Japan, to help fight the nuclear disaster.
That amount of boric acid is almost all that South Korea has.
Boric acid is an antiseptic, insecticide, flame retardant, and it’s used in nuclear power plants to control the fission rate of uranium.
TEPCO officials want […] Continue Reading…
Airlines adjusting to Japan disaster
Airlines from around the world are adjusting to the situation in Japan.
Many airlines are shifting to airports that are further away from Tokyo.
A photographer who flew to Tokyo from London said “I’ve never been on such an empty flight. It was a (300-seat Boeing) 777 with barely 20 people on board.”
Flights out of Japan […] Continue Reading…
Official says Japan’s Economic situation now a matter of National Security
NHK interviewed an economic official (analyst?) who said the economic situation in Japan is now a matter of national security, as a result of the Fukushima disaster.
Some Japanese companies have announced plans to re-start operations, but that is contingent upon the ongoing situation with aftershocks, infrastructure issues and nuclear problems.
Toyota announced that its Japanese […] Continue Reading…
Foreign Embassies Closing or Moving away from Tokyo
A number of countries are closing their embassies in Tokyo, due to fears of radiation exposure. Other countries are moving their embassy staff away from the Tokyo area. Travel bans and warnings have also been issued.
Iraq, Bahrain and Angola are closing their embassies. Austria and Panama are moving their staff.
The Japanese government is asking […] Continue Reading…
JSDF stops helicopter water drops, U.S. sending water trucks
Japanese Self Defense Forces stopped dropping water by helicopter because radiation levels above the plant are too high, exceeding 50 millisieverts.
The United States military said it was sending two water trucks to help spray water on the reactors from the ground.
Can Not Cool 514 Spent Fuel Rods
NHK reporting that Fukushima Daiichi officials say 514 spent fuel rods at reactor 3 overheated, and they can not cool them down. This is why they asked the JSDF to use helicopters to dump water on them.
Plant officials said they would prefer to pump sea water from the ground, but they do not have […] Continue Reading…
Active Rods stored with Spent Rods
NHK reporting that officials said reactor 4 active rods had been temporarily stored with spent rods, while reactor 4 underwent maintenance, before the 9.0 quake. Earlier officials admitted reactor 4 exploded.
JSDF Helicopters Dropping Water on Reactor 3
Japanese Self Defense Forces helicopters dropping water on reactor 3, Fukushima Daiichi.
Reactor 3 is the source of the white smoke that has been coming from the plant.