Devasting Earthquake And Tsunami In Japan

Filed in International by on March 11, 2011

A huge 8.9 earthquake hit Japan this morning (their afternoon) off the northeast coast. The quake was followed by a tsunami, reported to be 30 feet. The NYT is liveblogging and putting up videos as they get them. So far I’ve heard 60 fatalities and 56 missing, but that could change. The most worrying problem is a loss of cooling on a nuclear reactor. Our thoughts are with the people of Japan right now.

Tags: ,

About the Author ()

Opinionated chemist, troublemaker, blogger on national and Delaware politics.

Comments (11)

Trackback URL | Comments RSS Feed

  1. jason330 says:
    March 11, 2011 at 9:13 am

    The tsunami footage is incredibly chilling.

  2. El Somnambulo says:
    March 11, 2011 at 10:19 am

    At least 200 bodies found in the city of Sendai alone. Casualties certain to go much higher.

    Tsunami has already hit Hawaii, and apparently done some damage. West coast is next.

    Also, say what you want about their other coverage, but nobody does natural disasters better than CNN

  3. skippertee says:
    March 11, 2011 at 11:01 am

    Have we forgotten 5/21?
    Isn’t that our day of reckoning?

  4. Avagadro says:
    March 11, 2011 at 1:19 pm

    2 bullet trains and a cruise ship are missing.

    MISSING

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1365229/Japan-earthquake-tsunami-Fears-massive-death-toll.html

  5. jason330 says:
    March 11, 2011 at 3:36 pm

    Since Jesus is currently our most eminent scientist, I’m sure we’ll be well prepared if anything like this earthquake/tsunami happens here.

  6. jason330 says:
    March 11, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Calling Jesus, the seismologist ….

    “Congressional Republicans’ 2011 budget would slash funding for government agencies directly responsible for issuing tsunami warnings and severely reduce the government’s capacity to track and respond to these disasters,

    People who live by the ocean are liberals anyway, right?

    The House Republican budget, which was rejected by the Senate this week, would have cut funding to NOAA — the agency directly responsible for tsunami monitoring and warning — restricting the government’s ability to respond.”

    Just keep taxes low, or Dr. Jesus, the seismologist will get upset.

  7. Avagadro says:
    March 11, 2011 at 6:17 pm

    USS Reagan Headed To Help Tsunami Victims In Japan.

    KPBS March 11, 2011 Alison St John

    A San Diego-based, nuclear powered aircraft carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, is headed toward Japan today to stand ready to assist victims of the earthquake and tsunami. Commander Greg Hicks of the Navy in San Diego said the Reagan was already in the Western Pacific. The Reagan belongs to the San Diego-based 3rd Fleet, but was scheduled to join the Navy’s 7th fleet in Japan as part of her routine deployment. Hicks added that the hospital ship, the USS Mercy, is currently in San Diego Bay undergoing maintenance, but that she could be activated if necessary.

  8. Rwnj says:
    March 11, 2011 at 8:43 pm

    This is par for the course of liberal journalists. just like what happened after the Giffords’ shooting. never let a good disaster go to waste while at the same time blame the gop.

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/11/tsunami-relief-gop-budget-cuts_n_834479.html

  9. socialistic ben says:
    March 11, 2011 at 8:56 pm

    just because your tiny little conservative brain doesn’t like the truth, doesn’t make it any less true.

  10. Aoine says:
    March 11, 2011 at 11:51 pm

    @blatherring idiot AKA Rwnj:

    who you wanna blame for this:

    http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/sovereign_citizens_arrested_in_alaska_for_alleged_plot_to_kill_police_federal_judge.php?ref=fpb

«
»