# Large earthquake in Northeast Japan **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 11, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279 "2011-03-11T06:10:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![JpnDude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/838e76/32.png) [@JpnDude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JpnDude)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2011, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/361 "2011-03-13T23:53:24Z")
I live in the prefecture north of Tokyo. My wife and I use JR (Japan Railways) Lines to commute to work in central Tokyo. However, because of the planned power stoppages today, our trains are not operating all day. So, it’s an unexpected day off. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/362 "2011-03-14T00:10:53Z")
A day off? In Japan? Slacker! You still have your bicycle dontcha? Well at the very least I hope you are taking nenkyuu! ---
**Author:** ![BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bcef8e/32.png) [@BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellRungBookShut-CandleSnuffed)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/363 "2011-03-14T00:12:34Z")
> [@JpnDude](#): > > I live in the prefecture north of Tokyo. My wife and I use JR (Japan Railways) Lines to commute to work in central Tokyo. However, because of the planned power stoppages today, our trains are not operating all day. So, it’s an unexpected day off. Did Kan (or the subsequent official) give detail s about when and where and for how long the power would be shut down? I was watching, but I’m afraid my Japanese wasn’t good enough to understand it in detail. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/364 "2011-03-14T00:35:12Z")
From Facebook of all places: * * * Scheduled Blackout There will be a scheduled blackout (power outage) starting the morning of 3/14 in Tokyo, Tochigi, Ibaraki, Gunma, Chiba, Kanagawa, Saitama, Yamanashi, and Shizuoka. Areas will be divided into 5 groups and each group will experience about 3 hours of power outage. Please refer to the TEPCO Homepage (as of now, the list is only provided in Japanese) to find out which group you are in and what time the power outage will occur in your group. Train companies have announced that there will be irregular operation, including out of service hours. Summary here. JR | Tokyo Metro | Toei Subway/Bus | Tokyu | Odakyu | Keio | Tobu | Keikyu | Keisei Major out of services are: Tokaido Line (all day), Yokosuka Line (all day), Yokohama Line (all day), Odakyu will only operate between Kyodo to Shinjyuku (all day), Keio will only operate between Chofu and Shinjyuku (during morning and evening rush hours). The Facebook website will not be affected by this blackout. About this box: Facebook uses this box to provide information to foreigners and visitors in Japan for the duration of the current crisis. . * * * ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/365 "2011-03-14T00:38:36Z")
There are going to be rolling black outs for three hours at a time in designated Kanto areas but not the Tokyo "ku"s possibly till April. Because today is the first day and they couldn’t guarantee the safety of patients at home on machines, the first hours have been cancelled or delayed in some areas. I reckon a couple of days from now it will have settled into a clearer routine. My husbands GPS on his cellphone pinpointed him on a river bank in Kuji, Iwate prefecture at midnight last night. Since then I think his battery has died because I can’t get him now. I presume he was searching for bodies, as it is a coastal town and he was standing about 1 km up from the mouth of the estuary. ---
**Author:** ![Hokkaido\_Brit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/d26b3c/32.png) [@Hokkaido\_Brit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hokkaido_Brit)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/366 "2011-03-14T00:43:56Z")
A friend has just posted the latest TEPCO list of rolling blackouts. If you can find your area’s name then find the group number, you then need to go back to the TEPCO site to find out the blackout times for that group. Hope this helps a bit. > **[tokyo.pdf](https://www.tepco.co.jp/images/tokyo.pdf)** > > 151.31 KB ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/367 "2011-03-14T01:06:19Z")
It could have been worse. Kudlow was on TV when he was told the stock market was doing well after the quake. He said “the human toll looks worse than the economic toll. we can be grateful for that”. How much do they love money? ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/368 "2011-03-14T01:42:43Z")
Finished class. Now in the office. Was researching the power plant situation. To my elated surprise, it seems the situation is nothing to fear. Barring another huge quake or tsunami of course. > **[Fukushima Nuclear Accident – a simple and accurate explanation](https://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/)** > > Twitter updates: @BraveNewClimate New 15 March: Fukushima Nuclear Accident – 15 March summary of situation New 14 March: Updates and additional Q&A information here and Technical details here 福… ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/369 "2011-03-14T02:27:04Z")
3 metre high tsunami incoming right now. And explosion at reactor 3 ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/370 "2011-03-14T02:27:07Z")
> [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](#): > > I only have a facebook video link for this, but the footage in it is just jaw-dropping. > > [19K reactions · 963 shares | I want to show everyone the news media we are being presented with here in Japan. I think it's quite different from what you see on CNN and other Western news outlets. Due to the popularity of this video, I have started a new page to collect my personal experiences as well as release Japanese news reports about the Tsunami. Please like it to keep up to date! http://www.facebook.com/ThroughWesternEyes Note: This video was not shot by me. Although I am a cameraman, I live in Tokyo 180 miles from the disaster zone. I recorded this video from TV to pass on. It is copyrighted by Asahi TV and can't be posted on YouTube or other sites. I technically shouldn't be able to post it here, but I'll leave it up as long as I get away with it! Google streets view of where this video was shot: http://bit.ly/for0zS | James MacWhyte](http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=1605260179420&comments) Does someone have a link that isn’t through Facebook? ---
**Author:** ![Asimovian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asimovian/32/172_2.png) [@Asimovian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asimovian)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/371 "2011-03-14T02:28:44Z")
> [@mutantmoose](#): > > 3 metre high tsunami incoming right now. And explosion at reactor 3 Where are you seeing this? ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/372 "2011-03-14T02:29:59Z")
bbc breaking news > **[Home - BBC News](https://www.bbc.co.uk/news)** > > Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news. apparently the tide has sucked out indicating an incoming tsunami and a helicopter has filmed it coming ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/373 "2011-03-14T02:34:40Z")
CNN reporting the similar news. And [ABC.au](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/14/3163383.htm?section=world) > [@](#): > > A three-metre tsunami has reportedly been spotted by a helicopter off the Pacific coast of north-eastern Japan, local media is reporting. > > A five-metre change in sea level has been reported off the coast and the tsunami is expected to hit land within minutes. > > Residents have been told to evacuate to higher ground. > > At the same time, there are reports of sounds of a fresh explosion and smoke billowing from one of the reactors at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plants. > > More to come. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/374 "2011-03-14T02:41:31Z")
I’ve asked the guy who uploaded the clip to FB for an alternate link. Where the heck did this other wave come from? ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/375 "2011-03-14T02:41:36Z")
And now [they](http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/14/3163383.htm?section=world)say: > [@](#): > > There are reports of a fresh explosion at Japan’s crippled Fukushima nuclear plant, amid conflicting reports about the chance of a fresh tsunami hitting already devastated areas of the north-east coast. > > Japan’s meteorological agency said there was no data to support claims that a fresh tsunami was about to hit the coast, despite local press reports that an estimated 3-metre tidal wave had been spotted by a helicopter out to sea. > > At the same time, there are reports of sounds of a fresh explosion and smoke billowing from one of the reactors at the crippled Fukushima nuclear plants. It’s worth noting that the [Pacific Tsunami Waning](http://ptwc.weather.gov/) site says there is no active warning. -D/a ---
**Author:** ![Shayna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shayna/32/17976_2.png) [@Shayna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shayna)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/376 "2011-03-14T02:45:22Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > Finished class. Now in the office. Was researching the power plant situation. To my elated surprise, it seems the situation is nothing to fear. Barring another huge quake or tsunami of course. > > [BraveNewClimate - BraveNewClimate](http://bravenewclimate.com/2011/03/13/fukushima-simple-explanation/) Fascinating and informative article that even _I_ could understand. Thanks for sharing it, and I’m very relieved to know that you guys over there aren’t in any danger from this (at least for now). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/377 "2011-03-14T02:59:25Z")
BBC TV is saying the new 3-metre-high tsunami was spotted by helicopter pilots and that the sea level has dropped by 5 metres. They’re expecting the new wave to hit at any time now. ---
**Author:** ![rocking\_chair](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocking_chair/32/2918_2.png) [@rocking\_chair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rocking_chair)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/378 "2011-03-14T02:59:51Z")
to sum up, thus far there has been: big earthquakes on both sides of the island. a big tsunami after the big quake on the ocean side. 2 explosions at a nuclear facility. volcano going off in the south. strong aftershocks that are testing everyone’s last nerve. 2,000 people reported dead in miyagi prefecture. i’d say that’s a fairly full plate. siam sam, cnn is saying that as well. sanjay and solidad are in sendai and are getting conflicting signals. the helo is saying “incoming” officials are saying “maybe not”. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/379 "2011-03-14T03:02:25Z")
I have no desire to look, but I can already predict the fundies are saying it’s god’s punishment for being heathens or some such nonsense. ---
**Author:** ![mutantmoose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a87d85/32.png) [@mutantmoose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mutantmoose)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2011, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279/380 "2011-03-14T03:04:52Z")
Looks like the tsunami is a false alarm. Would’ve hit by now and there’s been no earthquake to trigger it. Looks like there’s just the explosion at a nuclear reactor to contend with, so not so bad. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/large-earthquake-in-northeast-japan/574279.md?page=20)