Quakes rocking Fukushima
Who needs a tsunami when you can have earthquakes, epicentered on land, less than 40 miles from the melting-down Japanese nuclear power reactors? The temblors have been going all night -- more than a dozen, including a big 6.6, all in the same area. And they're shallow -- only 6 to 10 miles down. Here's the spot of the biggest one:
In addition to more pounding on the wrecked reactor buildings, the quakes cut off power to the plant for about 50 minutes, during which time no water was injected into the damaged reactor cores. And when the tsunami warning went off, all the workers were forced to evacuate for a while. Tokyo Electric says they've got power back on now and have restored things to... well, the science-fiction version of normal that's been in effect for the last several weeks.
Do you get the feeling that Mother Nature is very angry?
UPDATE, 12:54 p.m.: They haven't let up yet -- the latest a 5.4 a couple of hours ago.
| Posted at 4:29 AM | Permalink |
|
Comments (11)
Perhaps a new volcano soon to break surface?
Posted by Abe | April 11, 2011 6:25 AM
There's been a lot of activity on the Pacific Rim in the last several years. Much more than there has been per year in the past. Why? Who the heck knows.
Posted by MachineShedFred | April 11, 2011 7:39 AM
Experts say if the Cascadia fault sets off a major event the tsunami could be 100 to 200 feet high with little time to escape.
Posted by Ben | April 11, 2011 8:05 AM
The Japanese quakes are normal after a major quake. This will go on for a long while albeit at a diminishing rate.
This weekend in Chile, where the last big earthquake was, there were two large quakes (on at 5.2 and another at 4.7). Currently there have been earthquake swarms that are very active in Baja California, Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands, Fox Island (Alaska), Arkansas, and on the Nevada/CA border near Hawthorn.
Earthquakes 5 & higher happen all the time. This weekend there were two near Fiji, one in Argentina, One in the Philippines, one in New Zealand, and one in China. This is the norm.
Posted by Robert | April 11, 2011 8:28 AM
"earthquakes 5 & higher happen all the time"
All the more reason NOT to build nuclear power plants in places where this happens frequently, or any place else for that matter.
Posted by portland native | April 11, 2011 8:39 AM
Let's not build anything. Then MN will be happy!
Posted by Starbuck | April 11, 2011 8:58 AM
USGS: "According to long-term records (since about 1900), we expect about 17 major earthquakes (7.0 - 7.9) and one great earthquake (8.0 or above) in any given year."
The heartbreaking part of these aftershocks is that at least one qualified as a major earthquake from this AP story: "SENDAI, Japan — A strong new earthquake rattled Japan's northeast and killed one girl Monday as the government urged more people living near a tsunami-crippled nuclear plant to leave, citing concerns about long-term health risks from radiation. The magnitude 7.0 aftershock, which collapsed the 16-year-old girl's house, came just hours after residents bowed their heads and wept in ceremonies to mark a month since a massive earthquake and tsunami killed up to 25,000 people and set off radiation leaks at the nuclear plant by knocking out its cooling systems."
Remember, when we mention a 5 quake that is 10 times bigger than a 4, so this latest "aftershock" was a 100 times bigger than a 5.
How much more do these people have to take?
As far as frequency, I guess we can be grateful that another giant isn't expected this year, but is anybody relaxing? I think most people sense we are in a different phase than normal right now.
Posted by Bill McDonald | April 11, 2011 9:21 AM
It does seem like we are heading into a much more active seismic period for the Earth.
I'm sure glad that the Sam-Rand twins are in charge here in P-Town.
Posted by ralph woods | April 11, 2011 11:02 AM
I dunno, with all the quake rumblings, tsunamis, unrest in the middle east...it all seems kinda "biblical" doesn't it?
Posted by Jon | April 11, 2011 11:21 AM
Don't get me started. Google "Chernobyl revelations wormwood." The bitter waters are here, friends.
Posted by Jack Bog | April 11, 2011 12:41 PM
"Location. Location. Location." ~ Gojira
http://www.iwatchstuff.com/godzilla2012.jpg
Posted by Mojo | April 11, 2011 7:26 PM