Earthquakes, Tsunami's & Radiation

japan tsunami and radiation 

On March 11, a 9.0 magnitude earthquake occurred off the east coast of Japan. A subsequent tsunami struck the coast, killing thousands of people and causing serious, widespread damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant and to buildings, roads, and power lines, particularly along the east coast of the Tohoku region.
At this time, the US Department of State urges US residents to avoid nonessential travel to Japan.
Damage to the Fukushima nuclear power plant following the earthquake and tsunami has resulted in an ongoing leak of radiation from this facility. The Japanese government has evacuated hundreds of thousands of residents of Fukushima Prefecture living within 20 km (12 miles) of the nuclear power plant. The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission recommends that all Americans remain a minimum of 80 km (50 miles) away from the plant. At this time, the risk of exposure to radiation and the risk of contamination from radioactive materials are believed to be low, especially for anyone outside a 50-mile radius of the nuclear power plant.
Hundreds of aftershocks have been felt since the earthquake, and the risk of aftershocks will continue for several weeks. Because of the risk of aftershocks, there is a continued risk of tsunamis. Travelers should also avoid coastal areas in the event of further aftershocks and tsunamis.
As of March 16, commercial flights have resumed at all airports except Fukushima, Hanamaki, and Sendai. Most public transportation in Tokyo is operating. Many roads, however, have been damaged in Tokyo and northern Japan, particularly in Miyagi Prefecture. Several seaports have reopened.
CDC recommends that travelers to Japan take precautions to protect their health. Floodwaters, downed power lines, wet electrical outlets, interrupted gas lines, and debris all pose health risks. Food and water shortages and disruptions in electricity and telephone service may be problems in affected areas. Rolling power outages are scheduled for the Tokyo Metropolitan Area and northern and central Honshu. For information on these health issues, visit the Tsunamis page on the CDC emergency site.

Seeking Care Abroad and Evacuation Planning

Health care resources in affected areas may be nonexistent or may be strained treating patients injured in the earthquake or tsunami. You can avoid straining these resources further by following the precautions above; however, in the event that you need care, locate a local health care provider and confirm that the facility is operational. It is best to identify a health care provider before you leave the United States.
Your insurance may not cover care you receive overseas, so check with your insurance company and, if necessary, consider purchasing supplemental travel health insurance. Because of the continued risk of earthquakes and tsunamis and the possibility that the damaged nuclear power plant may release increasing amounts of radiation and radioactive material, evacuation may be necessary, and you may also consider purchasing evacuation insurance. For more information on travel health and evacuation insurance, see

source: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/content/travel-health-precaution/2011-earthquake-tsunami-radiation-japan.aspx

apan earthquake: Radiation tests Jin Fukushima schools

Officials in the Fukushima region of Japan have started an emergency programme to measure radiation levels in school playgrounds.

More than 1,400 schools and nurseries will be tested over two days amid anxiety among parents over leaks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant.

The plant was crippled by last month's earthquake and tsunami.

Officials say there should be no risk to children if they keep outside a 30km (19mile) exclusion zone.

"A lot of parents are very concerned and at the local authority offices we've been flooded by queries, so we are collecting data that is objective and easy to understand, in the hope that this will allay some of those concerns," said Hiroyuki Aratake of the Fukushima Disaster Emergency Centre.

Meanwhile, workers at the nuclear plant are continuing to discharge water with low levels of contamination into the sea to free up room to store more highly radioactive water leaking at the site.

They have been pumping water into reactors to cool fuel rods after the quake knocked out cooling systems, but must now deal with waste water pooling in and below damaged reactor buildings.
'Another burden'

Discharge work began late on Monday, with about 11,500 tonnes of water to be released in all.

"Even though it was an inevitable step to prevent contaminated water with higher levels [of radiation] from flowing into the sea, the fact that we had to intentionally release water contaminated with radioactive substances is very regrettable and we are very sorry," said top government spokesman Yukio Edano.

Officials have said that the water being released does not pose a significant threat to human health.

But at a news conference, an official from the plant operator Tepco (Tokyo Electric Power Company) appeared close to tears as he apologised for imposing "another burden" on local residents.

Once the water is discharged, highly radioactive water leaking from the No 2 reactor can be contained in waste storage buildings.

Efforts to stem the leak in a concrete pit at the No 2 reactor with a polymer mix are continuing.

"We tried pouring sawdust, newspaper and concrete mixtures into the side of the pit, but the mixture does not seem to be entering the cracks," said Hidehiko Nishiyama of Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (Nisa).

Tepco said seawater samples taken on 2 April close to the sluice gate of the No 2 reactor contained 7.5 million times the legal limit for radioactive iodine.

It said that the figure had dropped to 5 million by 4 April and that measurements several hundred metres further offshore had fallen to about 1,000 times the legal limit, the Associated Press news agency reported.

Russia says Japan has asked it to send a radiation treatment ship used to dispose of liquid nuclear waste from decommissioned submarines.

The ship, called Suzuran, treats radioactive liquid and stores it. Russia was considering the request, a spokesman for its nuclear agency said.
Compensation

Farm Minister Michihiko Kano says he will increase inspections of marine products because of the leaks, focusing on areas to the south of the nuclear plant.

Elevated levels of radioactive iodine had been found in young launce (a small fish) caught off the coast of Ibaraki prefecture south of Fukushima, Kyodo news agency reported, citing the health ministry.

Levels of 4,080 becquerels per kg - a measurement of radioactivity - had been detected, the ministry said. The limit for vegetables is 2,000 becquerels per kg - officials said there was no fixed limit for fish but they would seek to apply the same limit.

Tepco, meanwhile, says it will begin paying money to residents and farmers who live and work around the plant by the end of this month.

Some 80,000 residents have had to evacuate, while restrictions on sales have hit farmers.

Tepco has already begun paying money to local governments to help evacuees from the plant exclusion zone.

On Tuesday, shares in the power giant hit a record low of 362 yen (£2.65) amid concern over the Fukushima plant.

Across Japan, more than 161,000 people from quake-ravaged areas are living in evacuation centres, officials say.

The official death toll from the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami which struck on 11 March stands at 12,344, with more than 15,000 people still unaccounted for.

More than 80% of the victims have been identified and their bodies returned to their families.

source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12967904

Scary footage: Tsunami waves raging, buildings burn after 8.9 Japan earthquake