Japan hit by earthquake, tsunami

[Kowalski]

I'm surprised nobody posted this before:

Japan tsunami and earthquake: Road repaired SIX days after it was destroyed | Mail Online

The picture of gaping chasms in a Japanese highway demonstrated the power of the March 11 earthquake. Now the astonishing speed of reconstruction is being used to highlight the nation’s ability to get back on its feet. Work began on March 17 and six days later the cratered section of the Great Kanto Highway in Naka was as good as new. It was ready to re-open to traffic last night.

Just SIX days later and the motorway was good as a new. I salute the Japanese for their resilience.

 

[coolraoul]

Melodramatic? The official reports say the radioactivity level is around 8.5mSv at the site. Really? With all the damaged reactors, the core being exposed etc. Give me a break!

Even helicopters turned back several times due to extreme levels of radiation that mess the navigation systems in the aicrafts there. Also the no-flying zone was declared above the Fukushima. Mind that radiation levels has to be way over 1Sv to mess the navigation systems.

So, yes ... perhaps on the ground the radiation is low, but all the steame, smoke etc goes IN THE AIR. Nobody says anything about the radiation levels ABOVE the plant.

Also ... Currently the winds are blowing towards the ocean. They can turn otherwise, and change directions ... So, then the inland can be affected, perhaps even Tokyo.

Nuclear accidents has to be taken very seriously. Sure the meadia add a certain drama. But I'm more worried what the officials say - being that US, French, British. Sure Japanese officials are conservative since otherwise would spread total panic. Even now people don't believe the official data. Tokyo is partially deserted (compared to normal situation), people are extremely cautious.

Mind the plant owners has a history of giving the wrong data to the public, covering the things up. They did it before. Several times. Why do you think this time is different.

Not that some sort of nuclear explosion will happen. And even when / if meltdown occurs it's not necessary the melted core will breach the walls of the protective vessel. But either way - the radiation level will be extremely high.

The aftermath? OK, beside the direct impact on land & people? Not only Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was damaged - but also the others. And they are not working. They will need to be inspected - and this will take time & money. Not to mention the power grid is damaged. Japan is facing sever power reduction - and that will hurt it's economy badly. And as said: Japanese economy is not any economy.

Economical impact will be deep. In a negative way.

Am I pessimistic? Perhaps. I would rather say overly cautious: since having all the info (not just from the media) make you realize how fragile this global economic system has become. And how easily can be affected by such an event that happened in Japan few days ago.

Sure they will rebuild the cities. But they will need money - and Japan is deeply in debts already. Where will they get money? And then a lot of diesel will be needed for all that heavy machinery. And they will have to import much more food (vegetables, rice etc) since the affected area is an important Japanese agricultural area. Meaning: higher oil & fod prices in global market. Combine that with the unrests in ME / N Africa, other natural disasters affecting oil & food prices (drought, floods, hurricanes, ...).

Perhaps we are lucky, and everything goes well. Perhaps we won't be. I'm not saying the Armageddon is coming but the living will be more expensive. And that can cause even further unrests somewhere.

I'm worried because lately we are much more dependent on luck. Since the systems are so complex & complicated they can't be controlled anymore. And more: they are heavily connected & codependent. Meaning: if something goes wrong in one important country / region, the whole world will feel the consequences.

Not only trade & economy are globalized now ... now even troubles are globalized. Welcome to the World citizenship.

I still hope everything will go best way possible.

And the economy crisis was leaded to world war III, and so on.

Sure the situation is serious, but you're being, as always, overly pessimistic.

I agree that TEPCO cannot really be trusted, but independant experts are also measuring radioactivity, and the accident cannot be compared to Tchernobyl: power increase then shortages led to a excessive temperatures and steam production, the core of the reactor became instable and exploded, releasing huge amounts of radioactivity extremely high in the air, blowing out the protective walls. That radioactivity being very high in the sky, could spread via clouds throughout a great part of the world. That's a fission accident.

The Fukushima case will (if can't be cooled down) lead to a fusion accident, where the core will melt down due to insuficient cooling. Question is, will the thick underfloor wall keep the super-high core in or will it breach, leading to massive pollution of the soil on a large area.

I'm of course talking under the control of anybody knowing more on the subject and may have misunderstood some things, but the basic is:

where Chernobyl exploded and realeased radioactivity high in the sky, that could spread everywhere, Fukushima is melting down and will mostly pollute the soil as little radioactivity has been released on the air, and that not high enough to travel too far.

For the economic consequences... Well, we have the exploding situation in the Arabic countries, the increasingly worrying financial state of Europe, the Chinese internal struggles... Japan is only one more problem.

We could gain control over the financial crisis, we'll get over this. Capitalism doesn't like crisis and tend to be more powerful than them...

The aftermath didn't happen in 2009, so I'm confident.

But 2011 is one hell of an awful year!!!!!!!!

The accumulation of problems in the world has on effect on me: rather than crying over the soon-to-come Armageddon, I'm inclined to enjoy the present even more. Carpe Diem is the best I can do. For the rest, well... I'll see later. No time for worrying like that (but still I make plans for the future, I'm not stupid).

What I'm really afraid of, is war. I'm lucky to live in a part of the world where it has been peaceful for 60 years, and I sure hope i won't know war...

 

[SCOTT27]

Yes I am amazed at that feat of engineering at the immediate repair of the highway especially if it happened in other parts of the world they would be standing deciding what to do.

I also seen on the news tonight at the amass of temporary homes that have been constructed within two weeks, again you have to take your hat off to the Japanese. They just get on with it.

 

[Padi]

Yep saw those pictures a while ago and my goodness these Japanese, everybody should really learn something from them, they love work and do their work always as good as they can. The workers have probably lost relatives and friends but they still have the strength to keep on working. Really admire these people.

 

[Gullwing]

Repairing a road with that much damage in six days! I hate you NDOT and Caltrans and every other state construction company. "We are widening the road from two to three lands for a section 10 miles long, it will be done in 18 months"

 

[Wolfgang]

an update from Putzmeister in Aichtal.




Quick-thinking executive pulled into midst of Japan nuclear crisis

March 24 (Reuters) - Watching TV images of workers frantically dousing the reactors of Japan's earthquake-wrecked nuclear plant with water, one man realised he was uniquely placed to help out: he had on hand a truck-mounted pump bigger than any other in the land.

By Wednesday this week a bright red Putzmeister pump normally used to pour concrete was towering 58 metres (190 feet) over the burnt-out remains of reactor No. 4 at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, filling its spent-fuel pool with sea water at a rate of 160 cubic metres (5,650 cubic feet) an hour.

Putzmeister - Putzmeister Holding GmbH


PS.


4 M70s (with 70 meter high arm) will be airlifted soon.

 

[Wolfgang]

Antonov to pick up first Putzmeister M70-5 in Stuttgart tomorrow.

Probably pumping water initially, but can also pump concrete lateron.

 

[Gullwing]

I wonder if he will want if back when they are done

 

[Patros]

They loaded the Antonov with the M 70 today... the team from Germany helped already in Tschernobyl a short time ago with some repair work at the Sarcophagus over there...

 

[Wolfgang]

more help from the Putzmeister team might be required in the future?



nuclear power plants currently under construction - aaronstraker.com

 

[Giannis]

 

[Wolfgang]

Daimler donates 50 vehicles to Japan

Stuttgart, Apr 12, 2011

Daimler provides trucks and off-road vehicles valued at about €4 million for rescue operations and reconstruction in Japan

• Vehicles to be handed over to the Nippon Foundation, a Japanese aid organization
• All-terrain passenger vehicles and trucks from Mercedes-Benz as well as Fuso trucks are ideal for clean-up operations in the devastated areas
• Fundraising effort of Daimler employees raises more than half a million Euro for Japan so far

Stuttgart– Shortly after the earthquake and the tsunami hit Japan, Daimler quickly provided emergency assistance in form of a €2 million cash donation. In addition Daimler is also sending 50 Daimler vehicles worth about €4 million to Nippon Foundation, a Japanese aid organization with headquarters in Tokyo, to support the rebuilding process. The vehicles are to be used primarily to support assistance and clean-up operations in the northeastern part of the country that was devastated by the tsunami.

Andreas Renschler, member of the Daimler AG Board of Management responsible for Daimler Trucks and Daimler Buses, said, “When we saw the images from Japan we immediately realized that we have to support the local population, our almost 13,000 employees in Japan, and the Japanese government as quickly as possible with heavy-duty equipment and other types of material assistance. We’re happy that with these support measures we can help the people of Japan. The global presence of Daimler is an advantage for us here, because we can access the locally produced Fuso trucks at short notice, besides sending Mercedes-Benz trucks and G-Class vehicles to Japan.”

Albert Kirchmann, CEO and President of Fuso and representative of the Daimler Group in Japan, commented, “As a globally operating company, we also feel at home in Japan, and we want to participate in the rescue and assistance measures following the devastating earthquake and the catastrophic tsunami. I’m proud that we will be able to hand over 50 urgently needed Mercedes-Benz and Fuso vehicles to the Japanese Nippon Foundation in such a short period of time. In this way we are helping to speed up the restoration of the infrastructure.”

Takao Suzuki, Chairman of Mitsubishi Fuso Truck and Bus Corporation (MFTBC), added: “Daimler and MFTBC have always maintained strong ties over the years and their German-Japanese collaboration has proven its worth. As we face one of our country’s most difficult crises, we are glad that we have a partner like Daimler at our side, who can quickly and unbureaucratically provide us with know-how, financial support, and vehicles.”

And Nicholas Speeks, Head of Mercedes-Benz Japan Co., Ltd (MBJ), said: “Mercedes-Benz has a strong and lasting relationship with Japan and MBJ is a responsible member of this society. With deep respect and appreciation to the Japanese people who have supported us over the years, we are determined to overcome the difficulties together by doing whatever we can do to assist in the recovery effort.” Further more Mercedes-Benz Japan and Mercedes-Benz Finance will contribute a part of their sales revenue to Japanese Red Cross.

Daimler believes that this situation calls for its expertise in transport mobility. That’s why it’s supporting the rescue operations by donating 50 Daimler vehicles from Fuso and Mercedes-Benz. The vehicles include eight Mercedes-Benz Zetros trucks, four Mercedes-Benz Unimogs, and eight Mercedes-Benz G-Class off-road vehicles. Thirty Fuso Canter trucks from Japan are also included. The vehicles will be serviced in Japan by the respective Mercedes-Benz and Fuso service workshops.

The Mercedes-Benz vehicles will be freight forwarded tomorrow (April 13, 2011) at the Stuttgart Airport in two cargo aircraft type Antonov-124. All 50 vehicles will begin operating in this area in two weeks at the latest.

Thanks to their large payloads, Mercedes-Benz and Fuso vehicles are ideal for the distribution of aid materials and the support of clean-up operations. And because of their very high agility and good off-road performance the vehicles will be able to travel reliably to all locations.

The management, the General Works Council and the executives' committee of Daimler are together organizing a fundraising campaign in response to the willingness of employees to donate money for their Japanese colleagues and the Japanese people in general. So far more than 10,000 Daimler employees in Germany have participated and donated more than half a million Euro. The collected money goes to the German Red Cross, which will forward the donations to the Japanese Red Cross.

Source: Daimler

 

[Wolfgang]

Fotos: Petra Weiberg, Stuttgarter Nachrichten
​

 

[Wolfgang]

For help with decontamination, a team of experts is on call, if needed in Japan.

Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH

A 20 min video showing capabilites: Kerntechnische Hilfsdienst GmbH

 

[Centurion]

What a happy sight it is, the G-Wagon still doing service.

 

[Cashmere]

Japan: three months after the quake

http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/201...ter_the_q.html

Quote:
Japan continues to deal with the enormous task of cleaning up and moving forward three months after the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami that devastated the northeast coast. Local authorities are still dealing with the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, and now the rainy season, which could increase the risk of disease as workers clear away the debris, is approaching. Collected here are images from this past weekend marking the three-month point, as well then-and-now images of the destruction shot by Kyodo News via the Associated Press. -- Lloyd Young (29 photos total)

Vehicles drive through the tsunami-hit area, three months and two days after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on June 13, 2011 in Natori, Miyagi, Japan. Japanese government has been struggling to deal in the aftermath of the disaster and the problems affecting the damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Authorities are preparing for an increased risk of viral and infectious disease as delays in the clearing the debris combine with the arrival of Japan's humid, rainy season. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images)

2
Kaisei Kubota and his grandmother Yae pray for victims in an area devastated by a tsunami in Miyako, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on Saturday June 11. Kaisei's father, a voluntary firefighter manning a water gate of a coastal levee, was killed after being swept away by a tsunami on March 11. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

3
A man walks through the debris as the Japanese national flag flies on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

4
Debris is scattered on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

5
A resident, evacuated from Namie town, right, undergoes a screening test for possible nuclear radiation after a brief visit to her home in the 20-kilometer exclusion zone around Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, in Minami Soma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Minami Soma was among the worst-affected when a tsunami that followed a magnitude-9 earthquake knocked out power at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, sending three reactors into meltdown and causing radiation to leak ever since. About 80 percent of the city is within a 30-kilometer restriction zone around the plant, while 4,100 households lived in a full evacuation zone set up by the government within 20 kilometers of the plant. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg) #

6
A broken picture frame is left in the tsunami-hit Arahama area, three months and two days after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on June 13, 2011 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

7
People sit on the ground amongst the debris on June 11, 2011 in Minamisanriku, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

8
The remaining destroyed buildings stand in the tsunami-hit area on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

9
Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan attends the Lower House special committee on reconstruction from the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Tokyo June 14, 2011. Japan's cabinet approved a draft law to help Tokyo Electric Power pay billions of dollars in compensation to its radiation refugees, kicking off lawmaker wrangling that may take weeks to decide the fate of Asia's largest utility. However, Kan's track record in winning lawmaker approval for his post-quake policies suggest a bitter parliamentary battle will ensue. (Kim Kyung-Hoon/Reuters) #

10
Debris is scattered, three months and two days after the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on June 13, 2011 in Sendai, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

11
Anti-nuclear demonstrators shout slogans during a march in Tokyo, Saturday, June 11, 2011. The protesters held mass demonstrations against the use of nuclear power, as Japan marked the three-month anniversary of the powerful earthquake and tsunami that killed tens of thousands and triggered one of the world's worst nuclear disasters. (Koji Sasahara/Associated Press) #

12
A local fisherman clear debris on June 11, 2011 in Minamisanriku, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

13
Heavy machinery is used to clear the debris, three months and two days after the Magnitude 9.0 Earthquake And Tsunami on June 13, 2011 in Natori, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

14
Miyuki Saito, 47, who lost her mother and older brother in the earthquake and tsunami, digs to collect plants from what remains of her parents' garden, three months and two days after the disaster, on June 13, 2011 in Natori, Miyagi, Japan. ( #

15
Children pick up donated stationery during an event organized by volunteers on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

16
A construction worker works on temporary houses for evacuees who suffered from March 11th earthquake and tsunami, on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

17
Sakiko Yamaguchi (left), 47, takes shelter with her son Maya Yamaguchi, at the back of her car in a parking area at Ando Elementary School used as an evacuation center on June 12, 2011 in Otsuchi, Iwate, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

18
A man looks at the remaining frame of the destroyed Minamisanriku City Hall Disaster Prevention Center on June 11, 2011 in Minamisanriku, Miyagi, Japan. (Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images) #

19
Residents, evacuated from the 20-kilometer exclusion zone around Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear power station, including Nao Yoshida, center, lit candles during an event marking three months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, in Minami Soma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, on Saturday, June 11, 2011. Minami Soma was among the worst-affected when a tsunami that followed a magnitude-9 earthquake knocked out power at Tokyo Electric Power Co.'s Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant, sending three reactors into meltdown and causing radiation to leak ever since. (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Bloomberg) #

20
In this combo of two photos, a ship swept away by tsunami sits amid debris-covered residential area March 12, 2011, left, while the ship stays in the same position in the area getting cleaned up June 3, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Saturday, June 11. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

21
In this combo of two photos, a sea coast is filled with destroyed houses and debris at Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 12, 2011, one day after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, top, and the same area, bottom, with the houses and debris cleared as photographed on June 3. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

22
In this combo of two photos, a shinto torii, or gateway, leading to Kozuchi shrine stands among the debris in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 14, 2011, days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, top, and the same area, bottom, with the debris almost cleared as photographed on June 3. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

23
In this combo of two photos, damaged cars are submerged in flooded residential area with other debris swept away by tsunami March 12, 2011, left, while a car goes by a cleared street in the same area June 3, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

24
In this combo of two photos, damaged houses stand amid debris swept away by tsunami March 23, 2011, top, while those debris are almost cleared in the same area June 3, 2011 in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

25
In this combo of two photos, a ship swept away by tsunami lies among other debris March 12, 2011, left, while a man on a bicycle pedals past a pedestrian on the same road June 4, 2011 in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

26
In this combo of two photos, a sightseeing boat sits on a building in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on April 6, 2011, after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, top, and the same area, bottom, with the boat gone as photographed on June 3. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

27
In this combo of two photos, tsunami survivors walk with plastic containers and kettles to carry drinking water through a street blocked by a fallen tank and other debris March 14, 2011, top, and only one damaged house, center, stands along the same street June 3, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

28
In this combo of two photos, destroyed houses and debris fill a parking lot of a shopping center in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 13, 2011, two days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, top, and the same area, bottom, with the houses and debris cleared as photographed on June 3. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

29
In this combo of two photos, tsunami waves surge over a residential area March 11, 2011, top, and power shovels are in reconstruction work in the same area June 3, 2011 in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Saturday, June 11. (Kyodo News/Associated Press) #

 

[Cashmere]

A bit old but just came across this today and thought it was heart warming news.

 

[Cashmere]

DeDe posted this earlier on, thought it was worth a share:

11 Months Later

 

[Kowalski]

If you want to know what resilience is all about just take a good look at these pictures. Japanese resilience =

 

[Tarek]

^Totally agree.Amazing nation.