Tag Archives: japan

International

Japan quake bigger than 9.0

Ocean researchers say the March 11 earthquake off the coast of north east Honshu, believe the quake was more powerful than 9.0.

The Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, studied the sea floor at the epicenter of the March 11 quake, using a deep sea research vessel named “Kairei”.  They determined that the sea floor rose 7 meters (23 feet), and moved 50 meters (164 feet).

The scientists say that the earthquake had to be more powerful than 9.0, in order to raise the sea floor 23 feet.

 

International, U.S.

U.S. Red Cross investigating where donations for Japan are going

“We are completely committed at the American Red Cross to make sure that they would feel proud about how the money is being spent.”-Gail McGovern, President American Red Cross

McGovern admits that inspecting how U.S. donations are being spent was a key reason for her trip to Japan. The American Red Cross was criticized for its handling of gifts after the 9/11 terror attacks, and Hurricane Katrina.

McGovern claims $100 million of the $187 million collected has been handed over to the Japanese Red Cross.  The donations will help the Japanese Red Cross provide medical care for thousands of people, and relief items like blankets and helped people find missing loved ones.

 

International

Japan warns of major flooding

The north eastern areas of Honshu, devastated by the March 11 disasters, will suffer major flooding.

The Land Ministry says the 9.0 earthquake caused a huge portion of the coast off Miyagi Prefecture, to sink.  Many parts are now at or below sea level.

The ministry used lasers to check ground height on the Sendai Plain, of Miyagi Prefecture.  Before March 11, only 3 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) were below sea level, now 16 square kilometers (9.9 square miles) are below sea level.

Areas known as full tide areas, have increased from 32 square kilometers (19.8 square miles) to 56 square kilometers (34.7 square miles).  Areas that could be affected by record high tides (set by 1980 record high tide) increased from 83 square kilometers (51.5 square miles) to 111 square kilometers (68.9 square miles).

Because the typhoon season is here, the Japanese government is asking locals to start sandbagging, now.

International

Japanese volcano evacuation warnings

A volcano that erupted in January this year, is causing more problems for the people of Miyakonojo, Japan.

The southern island of Kyushu is home to some powerful volcanoes.  In January, 2011, the Shinmoedake volcano threw ash more than 3,000 meters high, covering the Kyushu prefectures.  Now there is another warning.

People in the city of Miyakonojo are being told to prepare to evacuate, due to possible mudslides.  This is not the first time.  Ever since the volcano started spewing ash, heavy rains have created a muddy mess, resulting in periodic evacuations.

 

Fukushima

School 50km from Nuke Plant must remove top soil!

The city of Koriyama is 50km (31 miles) away from Fukushima Daiichi, well out of the evac zones, yet the soil at their schools are so contaminated they have get rid it.

Starting this weekend, they will remove the top 2 centimeters (.78 inches) of soil from 28 schools.  Even after the soil removal, school officials say they will not allow the children to play in the yards for more than one hour per day.

 

 

 

Fukushima

Female TEPCo employee contaminated 3 times safe limit!

A female employee, working at the Fukushima Daiichi nuke plant, is contaminated with three times the safe limits for women.  She was working at the damaged plant, directing emergency crews.

Tokyo Electric Power Company thinks she was contaminated when taking off the protective suit.  They say most of her contamination is internal, so they think she inhaled the radiation. TEPCo is now testing all female employees at the nuke plant.  Safe exposure limits for women are set lower than men.

International

Quake activity jumped prior to March 11

The Japanese Coordinating Committee for Earthquake Prediction, said seismic activities started to increase off eastern prefectures, from Miyagi to Ibaraki, three years before the massive 9.0 quake.

Professor Koshun Yamaoka added that research shows that the focus of small quakes two days before March 11, moved closer to what became the epicenter of the massive earthquake.

Japan’s Geospatial Information Authority of Japan says not only did coastal areas of Miyagi and Chiba prefectures sink during the quake, but some rose five to eight centimeters after the quake. This is a sign the tectonic plates are still shifting.

Officials at the meeting stated that while “big” earthquakes are always predicted for Japan, no one expected a 9.0 quake.

 

 

International, Opinion

Iranian Vice President shows ignorance of History

First Vice President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi has shown his ignorance of world history, in statements made regarding Japan.

Rahimi said Japan should not bow to imperialist countries.  Hello, Japan is an imperialist country, they have an Emperor!

Rahimi also said Japan “…should not pursue the wrong policies of the bullying governments because the same powers hindered the progress of the Japanese nation by conducting atomic bombings against the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.” Hello, it’s called the Second World War! Japan bombed Pearl Harbor first. By the way what Japan was doing in World War 2 was attempting to expand its Empire (reference above).