by ceebs
Sun Mar 13th, 2011 at 07:19:07 PM EST
For the second time the japanese disaster thread has become too unwieldy
An earthquake estimated at between 8.8 and 9.0 and tsunamis it triggered hit northern Japan yesterday. Among the massive damage caused, given European Tribune's special attention to energy, those affecting installations of the energy industry are of special relevance here. In addition to major fires at LNG terminals, the quake damaged a number of nuclear reactors, and emergency cooling systems didn't work properly, leading to an explosion.
BBC News - LIVE: Japan earthquake
- The government has warned of a possible explosion at a second reactor building at the earthquake-damaged Fukushima 1 power station. But it says the reactor, which contains plutonium as well as uranium, should be protected by its metal casing
- More than 200,000 people are being evacuated from the area around Fukushima 1 and its sister plant, Fukushima 2 (both are in Fukushima prefecture)
- At least 1,300 people are thought to have died, but police have warned that the death toll in tsunami-hit Miyagi prefecture alone could exceed 10,000
- Nationwide, more than 300,000 people have been evacuated
- Three US warships are off the coast to help in the Japanese government's huge relief effort
Previous links
European Tribune - Japan disasters open thread
European Tribune - Japanese Earthquake Diary