Japan earthquake: Fukushima nuclear plant evacuated following aftershock

telegraph.co.uk
A magnitude 7.1 aftershock has rattled Japan a month after the magnitude 9 earthquake that spawned a deadly tsunami.

Authorities issued a warning for a three feet high tsunami after today's earthquake, which had its epicentre in Fukushima prefecture. The warning was lifted after an hour.

Workers battling to contain a crisis at the stricken Fukushima nuclear plant were ordered to evacuate after the powerful aftershock, operator TEPCO said.

The earthquake briefly knocked out power to crippled reactors before electricity was restored
"The company ordered workers to withdraw and stay in a quake-proof building," a spokesman for the operator said. "We don't know many workers were involved."

Full story here: telegraph.co.uk


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Magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattles eastern Japan again; tsunami alert issued

washingtonpost.com

NEW YORK — A magnitude-6.5 earthquake shook eastern Japan off the quake-ravaged coast on Monday morning, the U.S. Geological Survey reported, prompting Japan to issue a tsunami alert.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries, but the Japan Meteorological Agency announced that a tsunami of up to 1.6 feet (a half meter) may wash into Miyagi Prefecture.

Full story here: http://www.washingtonpost.com


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Japan tsunami and earthquake

guardian.co.uk

Up to 10,000 feared dead in Miyagi prefecture alone
• Cooling system fails at a second nuclear plant
• Number of rescuers doubled to 100,000
• 190 people exposed to radiation
• Millions without power and drinking water


Up to 10,000 people may have died in Miyagi prefecture, a police official there has told broadcaster NHK. Miyagi was the area worst-hit by the double disaster. The previous estimate of the death toll was around 1,800, although police had said they were unable to make contact with 9,500 people in the devastated town of Minamisanriku.

• Japan is still struggling to control the crisis at two nuclear power plants damaged in Friday's huge earthquake and tsunami. The emergency cooling system has failed at another reactor.

• As many as 190 people may have been exposed to radiation. Potentially unsafe levels have been detected in 22 people.

• Aftershocks also continue to hit the region, with two tremors of 6.2 magnitude earlier today.

• Millions remain without power and drinking water and reports from the disaster zone suggest many survivors are struggling to find food.

• International rescue teams are arriving in Japan.
FULL STORY HERE : guardian.co.uk

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Massive 8.9-magnitude quake hits Japan

image: yahoo

CNN.COM

Tokyo (CNN) -- An 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit northern Japan on Friday, triggering tsunamis and sending a massive body of water filled with debris that included boats and houses inching toward highways.

The epicenter was 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from the capital, Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said. But residents there felt the tremors.

The quake rattled buildings and toppled cars off bridges and into waters underneath. Waves of debris flowed like lava across farmland, pushing boats, houses and trailers toward highways.

In Tokyo, crowds gathered in the streets and tried to reach relatives via cell phone.
Scenes inside office buildings showed papers strewn all over the floor and people clinging onto seats and desks.

full story here : CNN

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