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chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

It appears to be that the Tokyo Electric Power nuclear plant is the one that has exploded. This was the same plant that the Japanese PM was assuring everyone that "everything was under control."

Good info from the UK tabloid 'Telegraph', but bear in mind British tabloids are notorious for sensationalizing news stories:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8377506/Japan-earthquake-nuclear-disaster-feared-after-power-plant-explosion.html

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Just to attempt clarifying, this is my understanding of the 2 nuclear reactors causing concern:

1/ Daiichi (Tokyo Electric Power Company) This is the one that exploded & the one authorities were downplaying that everything was under control.

2/ Daini (Tohoku Electric Power's Onagawa facility) Also causing concern but as far as I know it hasn't yet exploded.

Also noticed from the 'Telegraph' link in my previous post that an entire bullet train is missing with several hundred passengers aboard. This is the 2nd train reported missing.

Edit: 4 (four) trains are now missing.

visitorq · Joined: 11 Jan 2008

Although the gov't is still downplaying it, it's pretty much official that a meltdown has occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. Levels of radiation (incl. Cesium) of 1000 times higher than usual have been detected (1,015 microsieverts per hour), the evacuation area has been doubled to a 20 km radius, and a radioactive emergency team has been dispatched. The real question is whether it can be contained as a small event, or whether it still has the potential to become something like Chernobyl (which is apparently quite unlikely, due it being a different type of reactor). Still quite worrisome...

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 4:18 am Post subject:

This is a horrible event. I hope that the people of the affected area are getting as much help as possible.

The nuclear issue is worrisome and could escalate.

Japan is however well equipped to deal with earthquake and tsunami relief, still this will stretch them.

My brother in Tokyo is starting to worry. They still have not reached his wifes mother who lives in the affected area.

visitorq · Joined: 11 Jan 2008

I think the plants were unaffected by the tsunami. It was the tremor that did the damage (which I suppose begs the next question: why build in such a quake prone country)...

I'm not a big fan of nuclear plants in Japan for the above reason. But I'm not sure there's a viable alternative there...

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

"Snap analysis: Japan may have hours to prevent nuclear meltdown":

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/us-japan-quake-nuclear-us-analysis-idUSTRE72B04C20110312

Junior · Joined: 18 Nov 2005 Location: the eye

Died By Bear · Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 6:36 am Post subject:

CNN reporting there are 9500 people missing in Miyagi - that's half the population.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Touche, Junior!

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2011/03/massive_earthquake_hits_japan.html

It just keeps getting worse: "10,000 people missing in Japanes