Japan Earthquake
 

You guys in Japan okay?
 

Those of you who are in Japan, how about letting us know if you're okay? It seems pretty bad from early reports and from friends there. Stay safe...

Ditto. My condolences to anybody there right now. This is the real deal, it's a sad day in the world. :(

I live right on the Oregon coast. We are due for a 4 foot wave in about 4.5 hours. Should be pretty crazy.

My thoughts and prayers with anyone caught up in this disaster

This is clearly a very severe event that is going to be playing out throughout the Pacific region for some time to come. Condolences to the families and friends of those who have been lost, and good luck to those who have the tsunami coming at them.

I say the same as above. god speed

This year is full of catastrophes. What's wrong with our planet.

Terrible. First time in 2004, now 2011. How many will there come?

The whole area is affected down there

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/image...7_51636832.jpg

Lets hope they quickly get help.

I'm just learning of this 8.9 earthquake now...... and reports of Hawaii being hit by a tsunami are now on line.

Reading now.......

Thought and prayers for the best out come.


8.9. I can't remember the last time I heard of an earthquake that big..........

hoping for the best
 

In view of this tragedy let us hope for the best for our Japanese brothers and sisters, and also hope for the best in our international aid response. Also best hopes for all who are or will be effected by the roving tsunami. Hawaii is bracing now. I've heard that the wave is moving at 500mph.

Japan has informed the international community that is carefully monitoring it's nuclear power plants, and has issued an evacuation to a three mile radius as a precaution. I heard this on CNN.
Flyby out

Nothing. This is another reminder that we do not own this planet.

My thoughts are with those in the pacific islands.

urmmm Chille last year? They still have aftershocks.

and the pacific room in 2004 :(

And:
- that this planet is in a constant process of change
- plus, it doesn't give a crap about the tings living on surface

I'm fine with that.

Some incredible footage so far and the reports of people losing their lives are still coming. I wish them them well... Very sad stuff.

Exactly. When you realise how old the earth is and what many changes it has been though in its life you can understand that this earthquake is equivalent to us having a nice stretch and when the planets end comes it would think of the entire existence of life just like an old man would remember once, when he was much younger, having crabs.

Of course on our timescale this earthquake is a big thing and is no joke. I'm hoping lots of missing people are ok.

I thought they were 8.6. My bad.

Condolences from the country with the largest japanese community for the brave and never giving up people of Japan.

I just got woke up today by my ma saying about the quake.Still don't know anything about it.Heard it affected the northeast.Hokkaido?
Hope it didn't affect great urban areas.

Also,I believed they are so prepared,that the casualties would be the lowest.

Ive heard Japan is very good prepaired for earthquakes.
Their biggest problem is the tsunami.

Sad news.

Godspeed and courage to all of those affected and their relatives and friends.

My thoughts are with all of you.

~S~

Flatspinman lives in Japan I think? Hope he is ok if that is the case.

Condolences from Turkey.

Our thoughts and best wishes to all touched by this horrible event.

The pacific rim is a dangerous place to live these days. My prayers for the survivors in the rough days coming.

Insofar as Nations go, Japan is the best prepared with building codes designed to withstand even this catastrophe. It could have been MUCH, much worse in any other major city.

If anything, they're probably too lulled by the frequent tremors. -Look at some clips showing employees trying too limit product damage instead of seeking personal safety.

Nothing you can do about the Tsunami except not stand around looking at the incredible destruction going on around you and hope you're not in it's path. Both difficult and unpredictable.

..And I reflect all the above concerns to Japan and it's People as well.

The last time I heard Flat Spin was way south, so he should be fine.

Hi
FlatSpinMan checking in. As Flying Nutcase kindly informed, I live a long way from the affected area (which is huuuge). Luckily Kobe is sheltered from the Pacific tsunamis and typhoons by geography. Shikoku island and the smaller Awaji island break the back of anything trying to come this way.
Obviously this city is far from immune to earthquakes though - 5000 died here in 1995 (that was before I arrived).

Life here is completely normal, albeit a bit depressed ans tense. My wife and I have updated our earthquake packs, planned our rally points 1, 2, and 3.
This last earthquake has made us unsure though. Previous wisdom was to head for open land after a quake but footage of that terrible, terrible tsunami has made us think otherwise. We live in a very strongly built apartment building on the 4th floor, built only 2 years ago. Our current thinking is to sit the quake out here, then climb up a few floors until the tsunami threat is over. Seems counter-intuitive, especially when there is a great big park just across the road, but nothing stood a chance in the face of that killer wave.

Our biggest fear is that it happens while we are at work. Our kids' daycare is a 2-floor building on Rokko Island, just a kilometre or so from the sea (in a very sheltered part of the sea thankfully) and 2 days a week I teach in a huge machinery factory in a steel works on an artificial island. If there is a quake near here then I am in trouble. It'll probably be okay, but recently, with earthquakes in my hometown of Christchurch and now, this disaster here in Japan, I realise that we deceive ourselves about how safe we really are. It is a necessary deception I think, as you couldn't live a sane life considering the possible risk constantly, but the risk, however improbable, exists nonetheless.

Glad to hear you and your family are safe and well Flat

Condoleances to the family.

It's good to hear that you're okay Flat Spin. Your perspective on the situation makes an interesting read. Good luck over there.

Sorted