Massive 8.9-magnitude quake hits Japan

[satoshi_matrix]

watching the news, hearing from friends in Japan it's all just so awful. I heard that the earthquake was upgraded from 8.9 to 9.0. Seeing all that destruction, there was no way I could stand by and do nothing for my beloved Japan. It's not much, but today I donated $60 (around 5000 yen) to the Japanese Red Cross. I'm hoping they'll use the money to get the victims aid. If you guys can donate even $5, I encourage you to lend a helping hand in this time of need.

[jpx72]

Can anyone recommend japanese news website that has the most recent informations?
I'm watching NHK - http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/

[senseiman]

watching the news, hearing from friends in Japan it's all just so awful. I heard that the earthquake was upgraded from 8.9 to 9.0. Seeing all that destruction, there was no way I could stand by and do nothing for my beloved Japan. It's not much, but today I donated $60 (around 5000 yen) to the Japanese Red Cross. I'm hoping they'll use the money to get the victims aid. If you guys can donate even $5, I encourage you to lend a helping hand in this time of need.

That is a nice gesture, Satoshi Matrix.  I'm donating some money too and I also encourage everyone to contribute whatever they can to help.

[Jedi QuestMaster]

I donated $50 - which just happens to come out to 4077 yen.

Yay, M*A*S*H! 4077 is also the address I was born at.

[tappybot]

Oh man, just about 5 minutes ago there was an Earthquake somewhere. My building was shaking, lasted about 30 seconds or so.

Yipes! 

[MasterDisk]

I heard reactors are a lot worst now. They are all 3 melting. Can anyone confirm this ?

[tonev]

Yes I heard it too hope everything is ok

[UglyJoe]

I heard reactors are a lot worst now. They are all 3 melting. Can anyone confirm this ?

The melting is not so bad as long as it can be contained.  The explosions that occurred only destroyed outer buildings that cover the containment vessels for those reactors.  There was a spike in radioactivity readings after the explosion in reactor #2, which may mean that the vessel was damaged and is leaking radioactive gasses (although there are also reports that the pressure level hasn't dropped, which would be expected if there was a leak). 

There is also now a fire in a pool covering spent rods in reactor #4.  This is a big deal because the water is evaporating and there is no containment vessel.  They're looking into ways to get more water there.

Wikipedia (yeah, I know) actually has a good recap of all the events:

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

[jpx72]

People here in europe are not taking it too seriously, but I'm beginning to be stressed out by the nuclear threat situation. Winds can carry the dangerous substances all over the world... I mean, I was very small when the Tchernobyl blowed, our goverment was keeping the incident secret so 3 days later my parents even  took me to the mountains for a "healthy walk" .  Now we know about the situation and still acting like nothing happens... (But what can be do?)

[tonev]

Yes... hope there is nothing dangerous  happening

[linkzpikachu]

People here in europe are not taking it too seriously, but I'm beginning to be stressed out by the nuclear threat situation. Winds can carry the dangerous substances all over the world...

im not trying to be arrogant but wouldnt that have happend with chernoybl?

[satoshi_matrix]

I think this video is relevant to this thread.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBvUtY0PfB8

[fredJ]

I would appreciate information from our friends in Japan....  In particular from Tokyo.

Are there power blackouts? Are people talking about evacuating? Or is it just business as usual.

[manuel]

I'm not from Tokyo, but there are systematic blackouts there to save power.

[jpx72]

http://www.forochicas.com/foro/cafeteria/26484-fotos-terremoto-japon.html