This is no joke, billion worth of damages will surely affect Japan's economy.
Repost from Yahoo News
TOKYO (Reuters) - – Japan's government said on Wednesday it estimated damage from the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit northeast Japan this month at about 16-25 trillion yen ($197-308 billion).
The estimate covers damage to roads, homes, factories and other infrastructure but excludes lost economic activity from power outages and costs arising from damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant, as well as the impact of swings in financial markets and business sentiment.
"The impact from the planned power outages is likely to be significant," Fumihira Nishizaki, director of macroeconomic analysis at the Cabinet Office, told reporters.
"Our estimates do not take into account impacts from the nuclear power incident including various rumors that are related to radiation."
He also said uncertainty surrounded the scope of the actual damage and how the government and private sector would respond.
In a monthly economic assessment compiled on the basis of data prior to the March 11 disaster the government also highlighted risk to the Japanese economy posed by swings in international financial markets, a rise in the price of oil and the performance of other major economies.
Showing posts with label Current Events. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Current Events. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Stricken Japan nuclear plant rocked by second blast
Even the US officials said that nuclear contamination if minimal, extra care is advised to everyone.
Repost from Yahoo News
SOMA, Japan – The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked a Japanese nuclear plant Monday, devastating the structure housing one reactor and injuring 11 workers. Water levels dropped precipitously at another reactor, completely exposing the fuel rods and raising the threat of a meltdown.
The morning explosion in Unit 3 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant was felt 25 miles (40 kilometers away), but the plant's operator said the radiation levels at the affected reactor were still within legal limits. Hours later, officials reported that the fuel rods at another reactor, Unit 2, were fully exposed, at least temporarily.
Authorities began pouring sea water into that unit to re-cover the rods — as they are at the plant's two other troubled reactors after cooling system failures in the wake of Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami, which killed at least 10,000 people. The latest explosion triggered an order for hundreds of people to stay indoors, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.
Operators knew the sea water flooding at Unit 3 would cause a pressure buildup in the reactor containment vessel — and potentially lead to an explosion — but felt they had no choice if they wanted to avoid a complete meltdown. In the end, the hydrogen in the released steam mixed with oxygen in the atmosphere and set off the blast.
The inner containment shell surrounding the Unit 3 reactor was intact, Edano said, allaying some fears of the risk to the environment and public. But the outer building around the reactor appeared to have been devastated, with only a skeletal frame remaining.
Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, said radiation levels at Unit 3 were well under the levels where a nuclear operator must file a report to the government.
A similar explosion occurred Saturday at the plant's Unit 1, injuring four workers, causing mass evacuations and destroying much of the outer building.
Shortly after Monday's explosion, Tokyo Electric warned it had lost the ability to cool Unit 2. Hours later, an indicator showed water briefly fell to the bottom of fuel rods, fully exposing them, according to a spokeswoman for the company, Takako Kitajima.
She said officials believe water levels have since recovered slightly as they continue to inject sea water into the reactor.
More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area in recent days, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation — pouring misery onto those already devastated by the twin disasters.
Japan's meteorological agency reported the prevailing wind in the area of the stricken nuclear plant was heading east — to the Pacific.
Seventeen U.S. military personnel involved in helicopter relief missions were found to have been exposed to low levels of radiation upon returning to the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier about 100 miles (160 kilometers) offshore.
U.S. officials said the exposure level was roughly equal to one month's normal exposure to natural background radiation in the environment, and after scrubbing with soap and water, the 17 were declared contamination-free.
But as a precaution, the U.S. said the carrier and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships involved in relief efforts had shifted to another area.
While Japan has aggressively prepared for years for major earthquakes, reinforcing buildings and running drills, the impact of the tsunami — which came so quickly that not many people managed to flee to higher ground — was immense.
By Monday, officials were clearly overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, with millions of people having spent three nights without electricity, water, food or heat in near-freezing temperatures.
Officials in one devastated town said they were running out of body bags.
Officials have declared states of emergency at six Fukushima reactors, where Friday's twin disasters knocked out the main cooling systems and backup generators. Three are at Dai-ichi and three at the nearby Fukushima Daini complex.
Most attention, though, has been focused on Dai-ichi units 1 and 3, where operators have been funneling in sea water in a last-ditch measure to cool the reactors. A complete meltdown — the melting of the radioactive core — could release radioactive contaminants into the environment and pose major, widespread health risks.
Edano said no Fukushima reactor was near that point, and he was confident of escaping the worst scenarios.
International scientists say there are serious dangers but little risk of a Chernobyl-style catastrophe. Chernobyl, they note, had no containment shell around the reactor.
"The likelihood there will be a huge fire like at Chernobyl or a major environmental release like at Chernobyl, I think that's basically impossible," said James F. Stubbins, a nuclear energy professor at the University of Illinois.
And, some analysts noted, the length of time since the nuclear crisis began indicates that the chemical reactions inside the reactor were not moving quickly toward a complete meltdown.
"We're now into the fourth day. Whatever is happening in that core is taking a long time to unfold," said Mark Hibbs, a senior associate at the nuclear policy program for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "They've succeeded in prolonging the timeline of the accident sequence."
But despite official assurances, many residents expressed fear over the situation.
"First I was worried about the quake," said Kenji Koshiba, a construction worker who lives near the plant. "Now I'm worried about radiation." He spoke at an emergency center in Koriyama, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the most troubled reactors.
Overall, more than 1,500 people had been scanned for radiation exposure in the area, officials said.
The U.N. nuclear agency said a state of emergency was also declared Sunday at another complex, the Onagawa power plant, after higher-than-permitted levels of radiation were measured there. It said Japan informed it that all three of those reactors there were under control.
Four nuclear complexes in northeastern Japan have reported some damage from the quake or the tsunami.
Repost from Yahoo News
SOMA, Japan – The second hydrogen explosion in three days rocked a Japanese nuclear plant Monday, devastating the structure housing one reactor and injuring 11 workers. Water levels dropped precipitously at another reactor, completely exposing the fuel rods and raising the threat of a meltdown.
The morning explosion in Unit 3 of the Fukushima Dai-ichi plant was felt 25 miles (40 kilometers away), but the plant's operator said the radiation levels at the affected reactor were still within legal limits. Hours later, officials reported that the fuel rods at another reactor, Unit 2, were fully exposed, at least temporarily.
Authorities began pouring sea water into that unit to re-cover the rods — as they are at the plant's two other troubled reactors after cooling system failures in the wake of Friday's massive earthquake and tsunami, which killed at least 10,000 people. The latest explosion triggered an order for hundreds of people to stay indoors, said Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano.
Operators knew the sea water flooding at Unit 3 would cause a pressure buildup in the reactor containment vessel — and potentially lead to an explosion — but felt they had no choice if they wanted to avoid a complete meltdown. In the end, the hydrogen in the released steam mixed with oxygen in the atmosphere and set off the blast.
The inner containment shell surrounding the Unit 3 reactor was intact, Edano said, allaying some fears of the risk to the environment and public. But the outer building around the reactor appeared to have been devastated, with only a skeletal frame remaining.
Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the plant, said radiation levels at Unit 3 were well under the levels where a nuclear operator must file a report to the government.
A similar explosion occurred Saturday at the plant's Unit 1, injuring four workers, causing mass evacuations and destroying much of the outer building.
Shortly after Monday's explosion, Tokyo Electric warned it had lost the ability to cool Unit 2. Hours later, an indicator showed water briefly fell to the bottom of fuel rods, fully exposing them, according to a spokeswoman for the company, Takako Kitajima.
She said officials believe water levels have since recovered slightly as they continue to inject sea water into the reactor.
More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area in recent days, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation — pouring misery onto those already devastated by the twin disasters.
Japan's meteorological agency reported the prevailing wind in the area of the stricken nuclear plant was heading east — to the Pacific.
Seventeen U.S. military personnel involved in helicopter relief missions were found to have been exposed to low levels of radiation upon returning to the USS Ronald Reagan, an aircraft carrier about 100 miles (160 kilometers) offshore.
U.S. officials said the exposure level was roughly equal to one month's normal exposure to natural background radiation in the environment, and after scrubbing with soap and water, the 17 were declared contamination-free.
But as a precaution, the U.S. said the carrier and other U.S. 7th Fleet ships involved in relief efforts had shifted to another area.
While Japan has aggressively prepared for years for major earthquakes, reinforcing buildings and running drills, the impact of the tsunami — which came so quickly that not many people managed to flee to higher ground — was immense.
By Monday, officials were clearly overwhelmed by the scale of the crisis, with millions of people having spent three nights without electricity, water, food or heat in near-freezing temperatures.
Officials in one devastated town said they were running out of body bags.
Officials have declared states of emergency at six Fukushima reactors, where Friday's twin disasters knocked out the main cooling systems and backup generators. Three are at Dai-ichi and three at the nearby Fukushima Daini complex.
Most attention, though, has been focused on Dai-ichi units 1 and 3, where operators have been funneling in sea water in a last-ditch measure to cool the reactors. A complete meltdown — the melting of the radioactive core — could release radioactive contaminants into the environment and pose major, widespread health risks.
Edano said no Fukushima reactor was near that point, and he was confident of escaping the worst scenarios.
International scientists say there are serious dangers but little risk of a Chernobyl-style catastrophe. Chernobyl, they note, had no containment shell around the reactor.
"The likelihood there will be a huge fire like at Chernobyl or a major environmental release like at Chernobyl, I think that's basically impossible," said James F. Stubbins, a nuclear energy professor at the University of Illinois.
And, some analysts noted, the length of time since the nuclear crisis began indicates that the chemical reactions inside the reactor were not moving quickly toward a complete meltdown.
"We're now into the fourth day. Whatever is happening in that core is taking a long time to unfold," said Mark Hibbs, a senior associate at the nuclear policy program for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "They've succeeded in prolonging the timeline of the accident sequence."
But despite official assurances, many residents expressed fear over the situation.
"First I was worried about the quake," said Kenji Koshiba, a construction worker who lives near the plant. "Now I'm worried about radiation." He spoke at an emergency center in Koriyama, about 40 miles (60 kilometers) from the most troubled reactors.
Overall, more than 1,500 people had been scanned for radiation exposure in the area, officials said.
The U.N. nuclear agency said a state of emergency was also declared Sunday at another complex, the Onagawa power plant, after higher-than-permitted levels of radiation were measured there. It said Japan informed it that all three of those reactors there were under control.
Four nuclear complexes in northeastern Japan have reported some damage from the quake or the tsunami.
Friday, March 11, 2011
Flashback on Major Earthquake TriggeringTsunamis
Looking back, major earthquake and tsunamis that rocks the world as early as 1868. This only tells us that we have to be careful and prepare at all times.
Repost from Yahoo News
Repost from Yahoo News
A look at other earthquakes that have triggered tsunamis in previous years:
— October 2010: A volcanic eruption and a tsunami kill more than 500 people in Indonesia.
— February 2010: A 8.8-magnitude quake shakes Chile, generating a tsunami and killing 524 people.
— September 2009: A magnitude-8.0 earthquake unleashes tsunamis of up to 40 feet (12 meters) and killing 194 people in the South Pacific, including 34 in American Samoa.
— September 2007: A 7.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Sumatra island, triggering regional tsunami alerts and damaging scores of buildings.
— September 2007: An earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.4 near Sumatra triggers a wave in the coastal city of Padang. The tremor kills at least 25 people and injures around 50.
— April 2007: At least 28 people in the Solomon Islands die in a tsunami and earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.1.
— July 2006: A magnitude-6.1 earthquake triggers a tsunami off Java island's southern coast, killing at least 600 people.
— December 2004: An Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake, kills 230,000 in a dozen countries.
— August 1976: A magnitude-8.0 earthquake hits near the islands of Mindanao and Sulu in the Philippines, generating a tsunami and leaving at least 5,000 dead.
— March 1964: An 9.2-magnitude earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, kills 131 people, including 119 from a tsunami.
— April 1946: An earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.1 near Unimak Islands, Alaska, triggers a tsunami, killing 165 people, mostly in Hawaii.
— April 1868: A 7.9-magnitude earthquake strikes the Big Island, Hawaii, leaving 77 people dead, including 46 from a tsunami.
— October 2010: A volcanic eruption and a tsunami kill more than 500 people in Indonesia.
— February 2010: A 8.8-magnitude quake shakes Chile, generating a tsunami and killing 524 people.
— September 2009: A magnitude-8.0 earthquake unleashes tsunamis of up to 40 feet (12 meters) and killing 194 people in the South Pacific, including 34 in American Samoa.
— September 2007: A 7.8-magnitude earthquake rattles Sumatra island, triggering regional tsunami alerts and damaging scores of buildings.
— September 2007: An earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.4 near Sumatra triggers a wave in the coastal city of Padang. The tremor kills at least 25 people and injures around 50.
— April 2007: At least 28 people in the Solomon Islands die in a tsunami and earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.1.
— July 2006: A magnitude-6.1 earthquake triggers a tsunami off Java island's southern coast, killing at least 600 people.
— December 2004: An Indian Ocean tsunami, triggered by a magnitude-9.0 earthquake, kills 230,000 in a dozen countries.
— August 1976: A magnitude-8.0 earthquake hits near the islands of Mindanao and Sulu in the Philippines, generating a tsunami and leaving at least 5,000 dead.
— March 1964: An 9.2-magnitude earthquake in Prince William Sound, Alaska, kills 131 people, including 119 from a tsunami.
— April 1946: An earthquake measured at a magnitude of 8.1 near Unimak Islands, Alaska, triggers a tsunami, killing 165 people, mostly in Hawaii.
— April 1868: A 7.9-magnitude earthquake strikes the Big Island, Hawaii, leaving 77 people dead, including 46 from a tsunami.
Major Earthquake, Tsunami Hit Japan
Our prayers that tsunami will not affect the Philippines and other countries in the pacific brought by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan.
Repost from VOA News
A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off Japan's northeastern coast, triggering a 10 meter tsunami that swept away boats, homes and cars along the coastline. At least five people were reported dead but officials warn the toll is expected to rise.
Video footage showed widespread inundation as mud waves carried tons of debris over farmland in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi prefecture. Large-scale damage could be seen in various locations along the coast. In Chiba prefecture, a massive oil refinery fire has broken out.
Addressing the nation, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the government would do anything it can to minimize the effects of the disaster.
The powerful quake struck Friday about 125 kilometers off the eastern coast, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami warning was in effect for Russia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia. The warning has been extended across the Pacific to the U.S. state of Hawaii and includes Central and South American countries on the Pacific.
Authorities in many of the areas bracing for the tsunami have issued evacuation orders for residents in coastal areas.
The massive quake was felt in Tokyo, where it shook buildings and caused several fires. The Tokyo metro system says all train and subway traffic in the city has been stopped. Tokyo's Haneda airport has reopened its four runways to accommodate traffic from other airports, including Narita. Aftershocks have also been reported in Tokyo.
Repost from VOA News
A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off Japan's northeastern coast, triggering a 10 meter tsunami that swept away boats, homes and cars along the coastline. At least five people were reported dead but officials warn the toll is expected to rise.
Video footage showed widespread inundation as mud waves carried tons of debris over farmland in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi prefecture. Large-scale damage could be seen in various locations along the coast. In Chiba prefecture, a massive oil refinery fire has broken out.
Addressing the nation, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the government would do anything it can to minimize the effects of the disaster.
The powerful quake struck Friday about 125 kilometers off the eastern coast, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami warning was in effect for Russia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia. The warning has been extended across the Pacific to the U.S. state of Hawaii and includes Central and South American countries on the Pacific.
Authorities in many of the areas bracing for the tsunami have issued evacuation orders for residents in coastal areas.
The massive quake was felt in Tokyo, where it shook buildings and caused several fires. The Tokyo metro system says all train and subway traffic in the city has been stopped. Tokyo's Haneda airport has reopened its four runways to accommodate traffic from other airports, including Narita. Aftershocks have also been reported in Tokyo.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Magnitude-4.7 quake hits NCR, Luzon--Philippines
This is probably not an aftershock of the powerful earthquake in New Zealand? Or it probably is?
Re posting from Yahoo News Philippines:
Several residents in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon were jolted Tuesday morning when a magnitude-4.7 quake hit the area. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr. said the quake was initially recorded at 10:10 a.m.
“May reports na Intensity IV sa Manila at Intensity III sa Quezon City (We received reports indicating the quake measured Intensity IV in Manila and Intensity III in Quezon City)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio.
A Phivolcs bulletin said the epicenter was 26 km northwest of Nasugbu, Batangas.
It added the quake measured magnitude 4.7 and was tectonic in origin.
Phivolcs said the quake was felt at:Intensity IV- Manila; Dasmarinas, Cavite Intensity III- Quezon City; Pasay City; Pasig City Intensity II -Looc, Lubang, Occ. Mindoro Intensity I - San Fernando, PampangaNo damage or aftershock was expected from the quake, Phivolcs said.
The United States Geological Survey initially recorded the quake at magnitude 5.3.
USGS said the epicenter was at 65 km southwest of Manila; 65 km northwest of Batangas; 80 km south-southeast of Olongapo; or 110 km northwest of Calapan, Mindoro.
On the other hand, radio dzBB cited text messages indicating the quake was felt in Manila, Quezon City and Pasig City; and in Olongapo City (Zambales).
Under Phivolcs’ scale, an Intensity IV quake is “moderately strong," or felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors.
“Light sleepers are awakened. Vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck. Hanging objects swing considerably. Dinner, plates, glasses, windows and doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers oscillate strongly. Rumbling sound may sometimes be heard," it said.
An Intensity III is “Weak" or felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings.
“Vibration is felt like one passing of a light truck. Dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people. Hanging objects swing moderately. Still water in containers oscillates moderately," it said.
An Intensity II quake is "Slightly felt" while an Intensity I quake is "scarcely perceptible." — LBG, GMA News
Re posting from Yahoo News Philippines:
Several residents in Metro Manila and nearby provinces in Luzon were jolted Tuesday morning when a magnitude-4.7 quake hit the area. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) director Renato Solidum Jr. said the quake was initially recorded at 10:10 a.m.
“May reports na Intensity IV sa Manila at Intensity III sa Quezon City (We received reports indicating the quake measured Intensity IV in Manila and Intensity III in Quezon City)," Solidum said in an interview on dzBB radio.
A Phivolcs bulletin said the epicenter was 26 km northwest of Nasugbu, Batangas.
It added the quake measured magnitude 4.7 and was tectonic in origin.
Phivolcs said the quake was felt at:Intensity IV- Manila; Dasmarinas, Cavite Intensity III- Quezon City; Pasay City; Pasig City Intensity II -Looc, Lubang, Occ. Mindoro Intensity I - San Fernando, PampangaNo damage or aftershock was expected from the quake, Phivolcs said.
The United States Geological Survey initially recorded the quake at magnitude 5.3.
USGS said the epicenter was at 65 km southwest of Manila; 65 km northwest of Batangas; 80 km south-southeast of Olongapo; or 110 km northwest of Calapan, Mindoro.
On the other hand, radio dzBB cited text messages indicating the quake was felt in Manila, Quezon City and Pasig City; and in Olongapo City (Zambales).
Under Phivolcs’ scale, an Intensity IV quake is “moderately strong," or felt generally by people indoors and by some people outdoors.
“Light sleepers are awakened. Vibration is felt like a passing of heavy truck. Hanging objects swing considerably. Dinner, plates, glasses, windows and doors rattle. Floors and walls of wood framed buildings creak. Standing motor cars may rock slightly. Liquids in containers are slightly disturbed. Water in containers oscillate strongly. Rumbling sound may sometimes be heard," it said.
An Intensity III is “Weak" or felt by many people indoors especially in upper floors of buildings.
“Vibration is felt like one passing of a light truck. Dizziness and nausea are experienced by some people. Hanging objects swing moderately. Still water in containers oscillates moderately," it said.
An Intensity II quake is "Slightly felt" while an Intensity I quake is "scarcely perceptible." — LBG, GMA News
6.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits New Zealand
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand -- One of the biggest cities was hit by a powerful earthquake living 65 people dead and toppled buildings and left scores trapped beneath chunks of concrete.
According the New Zealand Prime Minister Jonh Key, ""This is just heartbreaking." "This may be New Zealand's darkest day."
The quake even shook a massive chunk of ice from New Zealand's biggest glacier, some 120 miles to the east of Christchurch, where most of the damage was reported.
It was the second major quake to hit Christchurch, a city of 350,000, in five months, though Tuesday's 6.3-magnitude temblor caused far more destruction than a stronger September quake that struck before dawn on a weekend.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Floods, Deaths in Sri Lanka, Brazil, Australia and The Philippines
The year is just starting but for some the year has just ended. Deaths have been reported in different parts of the world due to flooding and landslide. La Niña phenomenon, as forecasted last year has been affecting big countries such as Australia, Brazil, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines.
APEC Climate Center forecast from Janauay-March states that the continuous cool condition in the northern part of North America will cause La Nina. The maps below is the result of the simulated precipitation and temperature models conducted by APEC Climate Center.
The map shows that large part of Australia, Asia and South America will receive above normal rainfall. Consequently, as early as now flooding and deaths are reportedly increasing simultaneously in Australia, Brazil, Philippines and Sri Lanka. Below are some links of the recent news updates.
Sri Lanka
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9452426
Brazil
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703959104576081921876479848.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_MIDDLETopNews
Philippines
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/210130/flooding-affects-21-provinces-from-bicol-to-caraga
Australia
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2011/01/16/16906731.html
APEC Climate Center forecast from Janauay-March states that the continuous cool condition in the northern part of North America will cause La Nina. The maps below is the result of the simulated precipitation and temperature models conducted by APEC Climate Center.
 |
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9452426
Brazil
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703959104576081921876479848.html?mod=WSJEUROPE_hpp_MIDDLETopNews
Philippines
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/210130/flooding-affects-21-provinces-from-bicol-to-caraga
Australia
http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/World/2011/01/16/16906731.html
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)