Posted on 03/15/2011 8:13:35 AM PDT by SE Mom
Latest news from Japan:
From the BBC-
1456: Tepco says it may start pouring water from a helicopter over Fukushima Daiichi's reactor four in the next few days, to cool the spent-fuel pool.
1439: A 30km (18 mile) no-fly zone is in place around Fukushima, says the IAEA.
1436: The IAEA says Monday's blast at Fukushima may have affected the integrity of the containment vessel - there are fears of more serious radioactive leaks if happen.
1435: Following earlier reports, it appears there has been more than one strong aftershock in Japan - AP reports two tremors measuring over 6.0 within three minutes of each other.
Twitter-
-US Geological Survey counts 451 aftershocks since the initial earthquake struck Japan Friday. 238 of them registered magnitude 5.0 or more.
-Despite situations in Japan & Libya, spksmn Jay Carney says Pres Obama's 5-day trip to Brazil, Chile & El Salvador starting Fri night is on.
-FLASH: More U.S. military personnel in Japan testing positive for low-levels of radiation, relief missions to continue - Navy 18 minutes ago via web
I saw a video or two where you could see the water rushing over berms and through channels.
In one video, there were two buildings that stood across the street from each other and were about 4 stories high and sitting relatively close to the ocean. There were no taller buildings between them and the ocean.
Early in the video, you could see water wrapping around the buildings at street level and channeling down the street. A minute later, the camera panned back and the water now channeling around the buildings was passing through the oceanside corner window of one building and flowing out the side corner window... on the 3rd floor!
I also saw a video of what looks like a tsunami channel with berms on either side and a road running parallel to the channel and about 10 or 15 feet below the top of the berm. The video starts just as the water is busting over the top of the berm and hitting the street below. There are two large boats (the second looked to be a private yacht about 60 to 70 feet long) and both are being swept over the berm to the street below and crashing into the underside of a bridge.
The other remarkable shot was of a bus in a low-lying area scrambling to get up a hill and just manages to make it up the street just as the water comes rushing in behind it. It’s a little unclear, but I think the back end of the bus actually gets pushed sideways by the water before he gets traction back and scoots up the hill to safety. Either way, there’s bound to be a few stains on those seat cushions.
Not to be morbid and all but I wonder how much the TEPCO suits are contemplating Hari Kari right around now?
I know should not have said it but it’s on my mind.
Well, they flipped to the page in the Operating Manual for "9.1 quake, 30 foot tsumani and loss of generator power" and found:
I’m sorry but Jones and Infowars are quacks preying on sensationalism to draw a crowd.
Thanks again for the live thread. Yesterday, there were so many threads all over the place, and it was hard to keep up.
This is much easier to keep up with the news.
Thank you!!
:) It’s waaaay too hard to keep up otherwise!
Question to all
How much radiation would have to leak into the atmosphere for that map posted showing US crops affected?
Thanks. In such a grim situation, that sure did make me smile.
Those poor people need a break.
AEA Update on Japan Earthquake
Staff Report
IAEA Flag
Japan Earthquake Update (15 March 2011, 15:30 UTC)
An earthquake of 6.1 magnitude was reported today at 13:31 UTC in Eastern Honshu, Japan. The Hamaoka nuclear power plant is sited an estimated 100 kilometres from the epicentre.
IEC confirmed with Japan that the plant continues to operate safely.
Units 1 and 2 are decommissioned, Unit 3 is under inspection and not operational, and Units 4 and 5 remain in safe operational status after the earthquake.
Japan Earthquake Update (15 March 2011, 14:10 UTC)
The IAEA Incident and Emergency Centre (IEC) continues to monitor the status of the nuclear power plants in Japan that were affected by the devastating earthquake and consequent tsunami.
All units at the Fukushima Daini, Onagawa, and Tokai nuclear power plants are in a safe and stable condition (i.e. cold shutdown).
The IAEA remains concerned over the status of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, where sea water injections to cool the reactors in Units 1, 2 and 3 are continuing. Attempts to return power to the entire Daiichi site are also continuing.
After explosions at both Units 1 and 3, the primary containment vessels of both Units are reported to be intact. However, the explosion that occurred at 21:14 UTC on 14 March at the Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 may have affected the integrity of its primary containment vessel. All three explosions were due to an accumulation of hydrogen gas.
A fire at Unit 4 occurred on 14 March 23:54 UTC and lasted two hours. The IAEA is seeking clarification on the nature and consequences of the fire.
The IAEA continues to seek details about the status of all workers, reactors and spent fuel at the Fukushima Daiichi plant.
An evacuation of the population from the 20-kilometre zone around Fukushima Daiichi is in effect. The Japanese have advised that people within a 30-km radius shall take shelter indoors. Iodine tablets have been distributed to evacuation centres but no decision has yet been taken on their administration.
A 30-kilometre no-fly zone has been established around the Daiichi plant. Normal civil aviation beyond this zone remains uninterrupted. The Japan Coast Guard established evacuation warnings within 10 kilometres of Fukushima Daiichi and 3 kilometres of Fukushima Daini.
The IAEA and several other UN organizations held a meeting at 11:00 UTC today to discuss recent developments and coordinate activities related to consequences of the earthquake and tsunami. The meeting was called under the framework of the Joint Radiation Emergency Management Plan of the International Organizations, and this group expects to work closely together in the days ahead.
http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/03/15/drug-stores-report-sudden-increase-potassium-iodide-sales/
Run on potassium iodide pills.
Even on the Drudgereport the main headline is called “Nuclear Snow”.
Unbelievable.
THANKS for doing this....it was getting crazy trying to follow the various threads...
What’s TEPCO?
THANKs for reminding us (Northwestern US residents)/s
I understand the scale of the disaster. But there's a God made problem here, well a couple of them, and a man-made problem here.
I guess I'm just hard-pressed to understand why at the start they couldn't get the pumps activated. Your generators are screwed? Fine, fly in some replacements. You need to get water into the plants? Fine, FLY in some heavy duty pumps to do the job.
I know I'm second guessing here, but from day one I've wondered why they couldnt fly in generators to keep those pumps running.
From the Ticker Forum, one of the best places to get updates from Japan and not idiotic know-nothings.
http://tickerforum.org/akcs-www?post=182121&page=67#new
Status of quake-stricken reactors at Fukushima nuclear power plants
TOKYO, March 16, Kyodo
The following is the known status as of Tuesday evening of each of the six reactors at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant and the four reactors at the Fukushima No. 2 plant, both in Fukushima Prefecture, crippled by Fridays magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami.
Fukushima No. 1
Reactor No. 1 - Cooling failure, partial melting of core, vapor vented, hydrogen explosion, seawater pumped in.
Reactor No. 2 - Cooling failure, seawater pumped in, fuel rods fully exposed temporarily, vapor vented, damage to containment system, potential meltdown feared.
Reactor No. 3 - Cooling failure, partial melting of core feared, vapor vented, seawater pumped in, hydrogen explosion, high-level radiation measured nearby.
Reactor No. 4 - Under maintenance when quake struck, fire caused possibly by hydrogen explosion at pool holding spent fuel rods, pool water level feared receding.
Reactor No. 5 - Under maintenance when quake struck, temperature slightly rising at spent fuel pool.
Reactor No. 6 - Under maintenance when quake struck, temperature slightly rising at spent fuel pool.
Fukushima No. 2
Reactor No. 1 - Cooling failure, then cold shutdown.
Reactor No. 2 - Cooling failure, then cold shutdown.
Reactor No. 3 - Cold shutdown.
Reactor No. 4 - Cooling failure, then cold shutdown.
==Kyodo
FoxNews is also showing an unrealistic dose map. They are showing 400 mSv/hr up to 30 miles from the Fukushima site, and 30 mSv/hr up to 80 miles away. 10mSv is equivalent to 1 rem, so they are showing 40 Rem/hour up to 30 miles away and 3 Rem/hour 80 miles away. Impossible! If the spent fuel pool was completely drained down, exposing every fuel assembly, you might have 40 Rem/hour by the gate, but dose rates would be in the few millirem/hour rate a few miles down the road.
Yes, Barry Brook is doing a great job on that site.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.