liresius: (Default)
2011-03-12 06:25 pm

Explosion at Fukushima plant

Explosion at Fukushima vid We are not sure if it is the reactor or another building but 1015 micro sieverts per hour recorded at time of explosion - about the same amount as the human limit for one year (NHK).
liresius: (Japan Tsunami)
2011-03-12 02:26 pm
Entry tags:

Earthquake

Wow, devastation is almost indescribable! I woke from the 6- shock at 4:36 this morning but haven't felt any of the other hundreds of aftershocks.

Some interesting science-y facts about this quake from the Vancouver Sun and the USGC.

Earth's axis has reportedly shifted ten inches as a result of the quake, and Japan's coast is said to have permanently shifted 2.4 metres.

Nice to see DH on Twitter being positive about Japan in response to a follower's nuclear-related criticisms.
liresius: (Japan Tsunami)
2011-03-11 08:24 pm
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I'm okay!

Just popping into Lj to say I am fine. The earthquake was a long way up north, although it is the longest earthquake I have ever experienced - it went for 3-4 long minutes (or so) and I was kind of stunned and scared about that. I checked the Jpn meteorological site for the details and then went to the loo and it was STILL going! I kept anticipating it stopping - but No! It didn't! ... for what seemed like an incredibly long time I kept looking outside and watching the lamp post sway madly and my building was doing the same, which is a good sign.

Swaying means rubber in the foundations or some such high-tech building thingy. Japan has excellent earthquake- resistant tech, building codes and much better responses since the Great Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) quake. It wasn't hugely strong where I am (just looong) and nothing shook loose. Nagoya is also protected by peninsulas, so we didn't get tsunami either.

Hope everyone is well!