Earthquake has hit Japan

[greg]

NTSC-J, I'm glad you're well. I've been watching NHK's live news feed for the past several hours. They announced a level 6+ earthquake in northern Nagano-ken. I'm not sure where you are, but my family lives in Iijima, between Ida and Ina. I just called my father in law. He said they're fine. The aftershocks were annoying, the walls shook a bit, but they're fine.

Where do you live again? Close to the Matsumoto/Shiojiri area?

[antron]

now they are reporting a "small" radiation leak from one of the reactors.

[NTSC-J]

I'm in Karuizawa, so kind of Northeastern area. This shit should stop so I can get some sleep.

[Vyxx]

now they are reporting a "small" radiation leak from one of the reactors.

That.... does not sound good.

[neorichieb1971]

Its not a leak according to UK TV.

There is pressure building up in one of the reactors boiling the water inside. They want to let relieve the pressure and let water/vapour out. Which may contain low traces of radioactivity.

[greg]

They've had to release the radioactive gasses into the air. It's only a little, and it's probably for the best. The diesel generators that cool the nuclear power plant are all non-functional. I think they've had to shut down the power plant.

[Smraedis]

I'm really sad for all of you guys over there, and I hope you are all okay. It is really terrible to hear about this and people in Japan.

[Elixir]

The Earthquake is 8000 times stronger than the one that hit Christchurch in NZ recently.

Not quite. Chch's quake was odd in that it produced ridiculously high shaking levels for its magnitude:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peak_ground_acceleration.

As we've been through both cases I can tell you I'd happily ride out the waves (Sept 4) over getting tossed around like a rag doll (Feb 22).

Code: Select all

2.2g	6.3	5km	166*	2011 Christchurch earthquake
0.82g	8.9	24km	1,000*	2011 Sendai Japan earthquake

Tsunami > Earthquake.

Anyway, glad to hear Yokohama and Shinagawa areas are safe. I have friends in both areas. My Yokohama friend had his work's third-story floor cracked.

[Van_Artic]

my prayers to all the people in japan
stay safe..

[Blackbird]

Glad to hear our Japanese board members checking in. I'm worried about Rancor though, he hasn't posted yet.

I'm praying for the people of Japan as we speak. Let's all hope that as many as possible are spared from the disaster, and that the survivors have adequate food and shelter.

[neorichieb1971]

The Christchurch EQ was more devastating because the town/city was on top of the epicenter. The Japanese quake was 150km off shore. Had it happened under Tokyo it would have been catastrophic. My prayers are with those affected.

[burgerkingdiamond]

no Rancor?

[Blackbird]

I've heard that many areas are still without power. It may be difficult for some to make contact for a while yet.

[maxlords]

Holy shit....only heard about this after I got to work early this AM. I'm glad you guys are checking in at least. Hope you guys and your friends and relatives come through unscathed!

*worries about Rancor and Magicknight*

The info I'm seeing says large scale power outages everywhere...hopefully it's just that...


EDIT: Just saw some of that NHK footage.....looks like Miyagi Prefecture is essentially GONE

[cmonig]

Let's all pray that they get the malfunctioning reactor under control before the core melts.
This would make a terrible disaster worse.

[GaijinPunch]

Thanks for inviting me to your gay party.

You're invited to our gay party in Tokyo next month, GP. Read the other thread.

If the country is still here, I just may attend!

Not quite. Chch's quake was odd in that it produced ridiculously high shaking levels for its magnitude:

I believe the one in Christchurch was also 2km deep, whereas this one was 26km deep. They first reported 7.9 @ 10km which probably would've sucked harder, but I don't know.

I slept through the night extremely hard, all things considered. Time to get up and see how shitty life is outside.

Does anyone have a phone number for Rancor or Magic Knight?

[maxlords]

Good luck man! Be careful out there!

[Skykid]

Does anyone have a phone number for Rancor or Magic Knight?

That would be a good idea, as it's been hours now. I know nerdy videogame forums don't really mean shit in the grand scheme of anything, but I figure they would have logged on by now to keep up with the chatter. Pretty worried about the dudes, all things considered.

[RNGmaster]

Worried Seattle might be next - we're far overdue for a big quake, and what with all the recent tectonic shenanigans there's a chance we could be the next to go.

[Ixranin]

If I'm reading this correctly, a second nuclear plant is having pressure issues too...

[emphatic]

I'm really sad for all of you guys over there, and I hope you are all okay. It is really terrible to hear about this and people in Japan.

+1. This is really terrible.

[Observer]

I really think people over here don't value how freaking lucky we are. There is just too much political shit going on but Buenos Aires (the literal english translation is "Good Airs") is a place with no tornadoes, no hurricanes, no earthquakes, no tsunamis, no nothing. If anything, it's insecurity or thievery what is going to kill you...

Keeping the serious tone, I just hope things settle down soon and that the death toll doesn't increase even more. I have a friend in Fukushima right next to the fucking nuclear plant. He's kind of trapped in there and the water supply has been cut. But, really, I heard the aftershocks still continue or something.

I hope he can get out or at least get back the basic services, if limited a bit.

[Blackbird]

In reality, any one of us could be injured, slain, or made homeless at any time by an unforeseen disaster. A rogue meteor, for example. All we can do is hope that, if the worst does happen, then decent folk will be there to help pick us up after we get knocked down.

I fully intend to render whatever assistance I can to these people.

[GaijinPunch]

I always found it ironic that I've spent the majority of my adult life in the most Earthquake prone part of the world, yet there has been far more devastation from Earthquakes in other places: NZ, China, Turkey, and Haiti all come to mind as household massive Earthquakes that did massive damage. Other than the NZ, killing tens of thousands.

With my luck I'll probably get mugged and shot in Japan then.

[neorichieb1971]

You are a blessing to everyone then GP.

[Skykid]

With my luck I'll probably get mugged and shot in Japan then.

What goes around comes around.

[rancor]

Holy shit

Checking in... 18 hours after the earthquake and I finally get home. I spent the night outside last night, and it was REALLY cold. Transportation is a nightmare. Trains dont work and the roads are ridiculous because the highways have been shut down.My house is a disaster.. Everything is covering the floor. I'm completely speechless. Everyone I know is OK, but that was a REALLY big earthquake.. Like I've never felt before. In fact the ground is still shaking as I write this. I haven't slept in exactly 30 hours now, so I'm gonna turn in for a bit and check back in later. Good to hear that the rest of you (GP, Originalz, JapJac, etc.) are all Ok.. We can share our stories later. I saw two factories explode and a temple collapse.. I was in Chiba.. Oh well, more later. zzzzzz..

[Blackbird]

Cheers man. Sorry to hear about your stuff getting wrecked. But I'm glad that you're alive.

[CMoon]

Cheers man. Sorry to hear about your stuff getting wrecked. But I'm glad that you're alive.

Seconded. Does that just leave Magic Knight?

If Rancor is any indicator, hopefully people are making it home now (somehow.) I'm assuming he made it home by taxi or something.

I assume the food and clean water crisis come next? (*gulp*)

[greg]

My future brother-in-law finally made it back home. He was missing overnight in Tokyo. With no cell phone service, my sister in Chiba was worried. It took him 11 hours to drive from Tokyo to Chiba (they live next to Tokyo Disneyland). Then he turned around and went back to work. That's crazy, but they're pretty broke, I guess.

If the country is still here, I just may attend!

Well, neat. I'm glad you, Charlie, and Rancor are all fine, because I was gonna hit you guys up for a free drink or something when I get there.

My wife is flying to Japan on the 30th, but that's 3 weeks away and I'm sure the transportation system will get all sorted out by then. I'll be going a month later.

With my luck I'll probably get mugged and shot in Japan then.

Can you imagine if this was Los Angeles that got clobbered instead of Sendai? You'd have looting galore, people getting killed, you name it. I was watching NHK and saw one taxi stand where 480 people were patiently waiting their turn to take a taxi to get home in the morning. If that was in America, there'd be pushing and shoving or worse.