Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant: The WikiBook/The 2011 Japan Earthquakes

The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake, also known as the Great East Japan Earthquake,http://www.kantei.go.jp/foreign/kan/statement/201104/01kaiken_e.html Press Conference by Prime Minister Naoto Kan Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet 1 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MOXMvL 18 April 2011 nohttp://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110402a6.html The Japan Times Kan names quake at pep talk 2 April 2011 2 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xgiq5T7u 5 April 2011) was a moment magnitude 9.0 (Mw) submarine undersea megathrust earthquake off the coast of Japan that occurred at 14:46 Japan Standard Time|JST (05:46 UTC) on Friday, 11 March 2011,http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/ Magnitude 9.0 – Near The East Coast Of Honshu, Japan United States Geological Survey (USGS) 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xgj6FuHC 5 April 2011 http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/powerful-japan-quake-sparks-ts.html Japan's quake updated to magnitude 9.0 Short Sharp Science New Scientist 11 March 2011 Michael Reilly 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xgjBRle0 5 April 2011New USGS number puts Japan quake at 4th largest http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/14/501364/main20043126.shtml CBS News Associated Press 14 March 2011 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xgjFTgf4 5 April 2011 with the epicenter approximately 70 km east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku region|Tōhoku and the hypocenter at an underwater depth of approximately 32 km.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598 BBC News Tsunami hits north-eastern Japan after massive quake 11 March 2011 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x7SSocBe 11 March 2011 no this was the most powerful known earthquake to have hit Japan, and one of the five Largest earthquakes by magnitude|most powerful earthquakes in the world overall since modern record-keeping began in 1900. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-tsunami-earthquake-power-cuts Tsunami, earthquake, nuclear crisis – now Japan faces power cuts Branigan Tania 13 March 2011 The Guardian 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xDAT05x0 15 March 2011 Londonhttp://www.3news.co.nz/Japan-quake---7th-largest-in-recorded-history/tabid/417/articleID/201998/Default.aspx Japan quake – 7th largest in recorded history 11 March 2011 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xtOn8fYs 12 April 2011 no The earthquake triggered extremely destructive tsunami waves of up to 38.9|m Yomiuri Shimbun evening edition 2-11-04-15 page 15, nearby Aneyoshi fishery port (姉吉漁港)(Google map E39 31 57.8, N 142 3 7.6) 2011-04-15, 大震災の津波、宮古で38.9 m…明治三陸上回る by okayasu Akio (岡安 章夫) http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aMlkNh 18 April 2011 that struck Japan, in some cases traveling up to 10 km inland.Roland Buerk http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598 Japan earthquake: Tsunami hits north-east BBC 11 March 2011 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x7SSocBe 11 March 2011 no In addition to loss of life and destruction of infrastructure, the tsunami caused a number of 2011 Japanese nuclear accidents, of which by far the most serious was an ongoing International Nuclear Event Scale|level 7 event and km evacuation zone around the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant. The overall cost could exceed $300 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster on record.http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110323/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earthquake_economy Japan disaster likely to be world's costliest Yahoo News 13 March 2011 26 March 2011Zhang Bo Top 5 Most Expensive Natural Disasters in History http://www.accuweather.com/blogs/news/story/47459/top-5-most-expensive-natural-d.asp AccuWeather.com News & Video 29 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xtOslCyp 12 April 2011 noVictoria Kim Los Angeles Times 21 March 2011 21 March 2011 Japan damage could reach $235 billion, World Bank estimates http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fgw-japan-quake-world-bank-20110322,0,3799976.story http://www.webcitation.org/5xtOqplDu 12 April 2011 no The Japanese National Police Agency (Japan National Police Agency) confirmed earthquake and tsunami casualties across eighteen Prefectures of Japan|prefectures, as well as over 125,000 buildings damaged or destroyed. The earthquake and tsunami caused extensive and severe structural damage in Japan, including heavy damage to roads and railways as well as fires in many areas, and a dam collapse.Saira Syed – "Japan quake: Infrastructure damage will delay recovery" – 16 March 2011 – BBC News – Retrieved 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xF8vSig6 17 March 2011 Around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water.Millions Of Stricken Japanese Lack Water, Food, Heat http://www.npr.org/2011/03/14/134527591/millions-of-stricken-japanese-lack-water-food-heat NPR 16 March 2011 NPR Staff and Wires 14 March 2011 Nearly 1.5 million households had gone without water since the quake struck. http://www.webcitation.org/5xtOlpZ9p 12 April 2011 no Many electrical generators were taken down, and at least three nuclear reactors Fukushima I nuclear accidents|suffered explosions due to hydrogen gas that had built up within their outer containment buildings after cooling system failure. Residents within a |20 km radius of the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant and a 10 km radius of the Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated. In addition, the U.S. recommended that its citizens evacuate up to 80 km of the plant.US breaks with Japan over power plant warnings http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110316/ap_on_re_us/us_us_japan_white_house_1 1 April 2011 Associated Press 16 March 2011 Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said, "In the 65 years after the end of World War II, this is the toughest and the most difficult crisis for Japan."http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/13/japan.quake/index.html?iref=NS1 Japanese PM: 'Toughest' crisis since World War II CNN 13 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xtOp7djK 12 April 2011 noMarch 2011 The earthquake moved Honshu 2.4|m east and shifted the Earth on its axis by |10 cm|.Quake shifted Japan by over two meters http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,14909967,00.html Deutsche Welle 14 March 2011 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xBeYFfOD 14 March 2011 no Early estimates placed insured losses from the earthquake alone at US$14.5 to $34.6 billion. Molly Hennessy-Fiske Los Angeles Times 13 March 2011 13 March 2011 Japan earthquake: Insurance cost for quake alone pegged at $35 billion, AIR says http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-japan-quake-insurance-20110314,0,866931.story http://www.webcitation.org/5xANKSW3Y 13 March 2011 no The Bank of Japan offered Japanese yen|¥15 trillion (US$183 billion) to the banking system on 14 March in an effort to normalize market conditions.http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110314/wl_nm/us_japan_quake New explosion shakes stricken Japanese nuclear plant Uranaka Taiga Kwon, Ki Joon 14 March 2011 Reuters 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xD9XGJub 15 March 2011 Earthquake The 9.0-Moment magnitude scale|magnitude (Moment magnitude scale|MW) submarine earthquake|undersea megathrust earthquake occurred on 11 March 2011 at 14:46 Japan Standard Time|JST (05:46 UTC) in the western Pacific Ocean at a relatively shallow depth of 32 km (19.9 mi),Japan earthquake and tsunami: what happened and why|World news. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2011-04-03. http://www.webcitation.org/5x7mIOCfm 12 March 2011 with its epicenter approximately 72 km (45 mi) east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku region|Tōhoku, Japan, lasting approximately six minutes.http://www.asahi.com/science/update/0317/TKY201103170129.html 震災の揺れは６分間　キラーパルス少なく　東大地震研 Asahi Shimbun 17 March 2011 18 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MQJnhj 18 April 2011 no The nearest major city to the quake was Sendai, on the main island of Honshu, 130 km (81 mi) away. The quake occurred 373 km (232 mi) from Tokyo. The main earthquake was preceded by a number of large foreshocks, and hundreds of aftershocks were reported. The first major foreshock was a 7.2 MW event on 9 March, approximately 40 km (25 mi) from the location of the 11 March quake, with another three on the same day in excess of 6.0 MW.http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/03/110315-japan-earthquake-tsunami-big-one-science/ Japan Earthquake Not the "Big One"? Lovett Richard A. 14 March 2011 National Geographic News 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xDGM2J50 15 March 2011 Following the quake, a 7.0 MW aftershock was reported at 15:06 JST, followed by a 7.4 at 15:15 JST and a 7.2 at 15:26 JST.http://tenki.jp/earthquake/detail-3612.html 地震情報 – 2011年3月10日 15時6分 – 日本気象協会 tenki.jp http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MROEAe 18 April 2011 nohttp://tenki.jp/earthquake/detail-3616.html 地震情報 – 2011年3月11日 15時15分 – 日本気象協会 tenki.jp http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MROEAe 18 April 2011 nohttp://tenki.jp/earthquake/detail-3618.html 地震情報 – 2011年3月11日 15時26分 – 日本気象協会 tenki.jp http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MROEAe 18 April 2011 no Over eight hundred aftershocks of magnitude 4.5 or greater have occurred since the initial quake.http://www.jma.go.jp/en/quake/quake_singendo_index.html Earthquake Information 11 March 2011 Japan Meteorological Agency http://www.webcitation.org/5x7vVCywI 12 March 2011 no United States Geological Survey (USGS) director Marcia McNutt explained that aftershocks follow Aftershocks#Omori's Law|Omori's Law, might continue for years, and will taper off in time. One minute before the earthquake was felt in Tokyo, the Earthquake Early Warning (Japan)|Earthquake Early Warning system, which includes more than 1,000 seismometers in Japan, sent out warnings of impending strong shaking to millions. The early warning is believed by the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) to have saved many lives.http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Alert+sounded+minute+before+tremor+struck/4425621/story.html Alert sounded a minute before the tremor struck Foster Peter The Daily Telegraph 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x74xLDTb 11 March 2011http://www.technologyreview.com/computing/35090/?p1=A3 80 Seconds of Warning for Tokyo Talbot David MIT Technology Review 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MUGrLQ 18 April 2011 no Initially reported as 7.9 MW by the USGS, the magnitude was quickly upgraded to 8.8, then again to 8.9,http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/japan-quake-usgs-idUSN1120429420110311 UPDATE 3-USGS upgrades Japan quake to 8.9 magnitude Reuters 11 March 2011 18 March 2011 Anthony Boadle http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MUMCsU 18 April 2011 no and then finally to 9.0.http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=2727 USGS Updates Magnitude of Japan’s 2011 Tohoku Earthquake to 9.0 United States Geological Survey (USGS) 14 March 2011 18 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xC2zNlat 14 March 2011 no Geology thumb|Map of the Tōhoku earthquake and aftershocks on March 11. - 14. This earthquake occurred where the Pacific Plate is subduction|subducting under the plate beneath northern Honshu; which plate is a matter of debate amongst scientists.Kenneth Chang Quake Moves Japan Closer to U.S. and Alters Earth's Spin http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/asia/14seismic.html The New York Times 13 March 2011 14 March 2011Ian Sample http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/japan-earthquake-tsunami-questions-answers newspaper: Japan earthquake and tsunami: what happened and why Guardian 11 March 2011 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x7mIOCfm 12 March 2011 no London The Pacific plate, which moves at a rate of 8 to 9 cm (3.1 to 3.5 in) per year, dips under Honshu's underlying plate releasing large amounts of energy. This motion pulls the upper plate down until the stress builds up enough to cause a seismic event. The break caused the sea floor to rise by several meters. A quake of this magnitude usually has a rupture length of at least 480 km (300 mi) and generally requires a long, relatively straight fault surface. Because the plate boundary and subduction zone in the area of the rupture is not very straight, it is unusual for the magnitude of an earthquake to exceed 8.5; the magnitude of this earthquake was a surprise to some seismologists.Maugh Thomas H http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-japan-earthquake-20110310,0,7154967.story Size of Japan's quake surprises seismologists Los Angeles Times 11 March 2011 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MUsywX 18 April 2011 no The Hypocenter|hypocentral region of this earthquake extended from offshore Iwate Prefecture to offshore Ibaraki Prefecture.http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20110312/t10014615121000.html 地震調査委 想定外の連動地震 NHKニュース .nhk.or.jp 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVeL1VKT 11 March 2011 The Japanese Meteorological Agency said that the earthquake may have ruptured the fault zone from Iwate to Ibaraki with a length of 500 km (310 mi) and a width of 200 km (120 mi).http://www.jiji.com/jc/c?g=soc&k=2011031100807&j1 時事ドットコム：Ｍ８．８、死者３００人超＝行方不明５４０人以上−大津波１０ｍ・宮城で震度７ Jiji.com 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MVTwjm 18 April 2011 nohttp://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/jishin0311/ 気象庁"マグニチュードは９．０" NHKニュース .nhk.or.jp 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVZxTBtQ 27 March 2011 Analysis showed that this earthquake consisted of a set of three events.http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201103130302.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：地殻破壊３連鎖、計６分 専門家、余震拡大に警鐘 – 東日本大震災 Asahi Shimbun 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MVqKoJ 18 April 2011 no The earthquake may have had a mechanism similar to that of 869 Sanriku earthquake and tsunami|another large earthquake in 869 with an estimated surface wave magnitude (Surface wave magnitude|Ms) of 8.6, which also created a large tsunami.http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201103120239.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：「数キロ内陸まで津波」 東大地震研・佐竹教授 – 東日本大震災 Asahi Shimbun 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MWNq78 18 April 2011 no Other major earthquakes with tsunamis struck the Sanriku Coast region 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake|in 1896 and 1933 Sanriku earthquake|in 1933. The strong ground motion registered at the maximum of 7 on the Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale in Kurihara, Miyagi|Kurihara, Miyagi Prefecture. Three other prefectures—Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima, Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki and Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi—recorded an upper 6 on the JMA scale. Seismic stations in Iwate Prefecture|Iwate, Gunma Prefecture|Gunma, Saitama Prefecture|Saitama and Chiba Prefecture measured a lower 6, recording an upper 5 in Tokyo. Energy thumb|150px|right|Damage to Tokyo Tower This earthquake released a Moment magnitude scale#Radiated seismic energy|surface energy (Me) of 1.9±0.5×1017 joules,http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/neic_c0001xgp_e.php USGS Energy and Broadband Solution Neic.usgs.gov 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MWpujO 18 April 2011 no dissipated as shaking and tsunamic energy, which is nearly double that of the 9.1-magnitude 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that killed 230,000 people. "If we could only harness the [surface] energy from this earthquake, it would power [a] city the size of Los Angeles for an entire year," McNutt said in an interview.Marcia McNutt Energy from quake: if harnessed, could power L.A. for a year http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C7KKwIMapw 12 March 2011 CBS News via YouTube (Google) 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MqdDhf 18 April 2011 no The total energy released, also known as the seismic moment (M0), was more than 200,000 times the surface energy and was calculated by the USGS at 3.9×1022 joules,http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eqinthenews/2011/usc0001xgp/neic_c0001xgp_wmt.php USGS.gov: USGS WPhase Moment Solution Earthquake.usgs.gov 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x9dgiIL8 13 March 2011 no slightly less than the 2004 Indian Ocean quake. This is equivalent to 9,320 TNT equivalent|gigatons of TNT, or approximately 600 million times the energy of the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki|Hiroshima bomb. Japan's National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention (NIED) calculated a peak ground acceleration of 2.99 g-force|g (29.33 m/s²).2011 Off the Pacific Coast of Tohoku earthquake, Strong Ground Motion http://www.k-net.bosai.go.jp/k-net/topics/TohokuTaiheiyo_20110311/nied_kyoshin1e.pdf National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Prevention 11 March 2011 18 March 2011The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami has been assigned GLIDE identifier EQ-2011-000028-JPN by the Asian Disaster Reduction Center.http://www.adrc.asia/view_disaster_en.php?NationCode=392&lang=en&KEY=1497 Asian Disaster Reduction Center（ADRC） Adrc.asia 17 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MsCIA1 18 April 2011 nohttp://www.adrc.asia/project/index.html#glide Asian Disaster Reduction Center (ADRC) Information Sharing on Disaster Reduction Adrc.asia 17 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MtBBY3 18 April 2011 no "fn_2" "fn" The largest individual recording in Japan was 2.7g, in the Miyagi Prefecture, 75 km from the epicentre; the highest reading in the Tokyo metropolitan area was 0.16g.http://nsmp.wr.usgs.gov/ekalkan/Tohoku/index.html March 11, 2011 M9.0 Tohoku, Japan Earthquake: Preliminary results Erol Kalkan, Volkan Sevilgen United States Geological Survey 17 March 2011 22 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xb6DokSo 31 March 2011 no Geophysical impacts The quake moved portions of northeastern Japan by as much as 2.4 m (7.9 ft) closer to North America, making portions of Japan's landmass wider than before. Portions of Japan closest to the epicenter experienced the largest shifts. A 400 km (250 mi) stretch of coastline dropped vertically by 0.6 m (2.0 ft), allowing the tsunami to travel farther and faster onto land. One early estimate suggested that the Pacific plate may have moved westwards by up to 20 m (66 ft),http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12732335 How the quake has moved Japan Rincon Paul 14 March 2011 15 March 2011 BBC News http://www.webcitation.org/5xBwc3YC9 14 March 2011 no and another early estimate put the amount of slippage at as much as 40 m (130 ft).Japan quake fault may have moved 40 metres http://www.newscientist.com/blogs/shortsharpscience/2011/03/giant-quake-was-small-for-its.html Reilly Michael New Scientist 12 March 2011 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x7qjBk9N 12 March 2011 no On 6 April the Japanese coast guard said that the quake shifted the seabed near the epicenter 24 meters (79 ft.) and elevated the seabed off the coast of Miyagi prefecture by 3 meters.Japan seabed shifted 24 meters after March quake | Reuters.com http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MvhQKd 18 April 2011 thumb|left|Soil liquefaction in Koto, Tokyo|Koto, Tokyo The earthquake shifted the Earth's Rotation around a fixed axis|axis by 25 cm (9.8 in). This deviation led to a number of small planetary changes, including the Earth's rotation|length of a day and the Axial tilt#Obliquity|tilt of the Earth.http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Japan+quake+shifts+earth+axis+centimetres/4426356/story.html Japan's quake shifts earth's axis by 25 centimetres Chai Carmen 11 March 2011 The Gazette (Montreal) Montreal Gazette Postmedia News 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x95t0CLU 13 March 2011 The speed of the Earth's rotation increased, shortening the day by 1.8 microseconds due to the redistribution of Earth's mass.http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/03/13/scitech/main20042590.shtml Earth's day length shortened by Japan earthquake 13 March 2011 CBS News 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xA17PHMv 13 March 2011 no The axial shift was caused by the redistribution of mass on the Earth's surface, which changed the planet's moment of inertia. Because of conservation of angular momentum, such changes of inertia result in small changes to the Earth's rate of rotation.http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/23degrees/2011/03/can_an_earthquake_shift_the_ea.html Can an earthquake shift the Earth's axis? Harris Bethan 14 March 2011 BBC News 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xC0a1ZWs 14 March 2011 no These are expected changes for an earthquake of this magnitude. Soil liquefaction was evident in areas of reclaimed land around Tokyo, particularly in Urayasu, Chiba|Urayasu,Fukue, Natsuko, "Urayasu still dealing with liquefaction", Japan Times, 8 April 2011, p. 4. http://www.webcitation.org/5xrXvNqLX 11 April 2011 Chiba, Chiba|Chiba City, Funabashi, Chiba|Funabashi, Narashino, Chiba|Narashino (all in Chiba Prefecture) and in the Koto, Tokyo|Koto, Edogawa, Tokyo|Edogawa, Minato, Tokyo|Minato, Chūō, Tokyo|Chūō, and Ōta, Tokyo|Ōta Wards of Tokyo. Approximately 30 homes or buildings were destroyed and 1,046 other buildings were damaged to varying degrees.Yomiuri Shimbun, "Liquefaction Damage Widespread", 10 April 2011. Nearby Haneda Airport, built mostly on reclaimed land, was not damaged. Odaiba also experienced liquefaction, but damage was minimal.Bloomberg L.P., "Tokyo Disneyland's parking lot shows the risk of reclaimed land", Japan Times, 24 March 2011, p. 3. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MwHCYB 18 April 2011 Shinmoedake, a volcano in Kyushu, erupted two days after the earthquake. The volcano had previously erupted in January 2011; it is not known if the later eruption was linked to the earthquake.http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-japan-quake-volcano-20110314,0,2486939.story Volcano in southern Japan erupts Hennessy-Fiske Molly 13 March 2011 Los Angeles Times 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xAFMNiQh 13 March 2011 In Antarctica, the seismic waves from the earthquake were reported to have caused the Whillans Ice Stream to slip by about 0.5 m (1.6 ft).http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20245-japan-quake-shifts-antarctic-glacier.html Japan quake shifts Antarctic glacier Ananthaswamy Anil 15 March 2011 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xDBTxHjf 15 March 2011 no [[File:Shindomap 2011-03-11 Tohoku earthquake.png|thumb|225px|Map based on the earthquake's Japan Meteorological Agency seismic intensity scale The first sign international researchers had that the earthquake caused such a dramatic change in the Earth’s rotation came from the United States Geographical Survey which monitors Global Positioning Satellite stations across the world. The Survey team had several GPS monitors located near the scene of the earthquake, and one was directly in the epicenter. The GPS station located in the epicenter proved that Japan had gotten at least thirteen feet wider as a result of the splitting of the Earth. This motivated government researchers to look into other ways the earthquake may have had large scale effects on the planet. Scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory did some calculations and determined that the Earth’s rotation was changed by the earthquake to the point where the days are now one point eight microseconds shorter. In practice, this length of time is essentially meaningless. No human being can tell that their day was shorter by less than two microseconds. However, scientists are fascinated with this finding, and believe that it could be important in other ways. Gross, Richard. (2011, March 19) “Japan Earthquake May Have Shifted Earth’s Axis” NPR online, http://www.npr.org/2011/03/18/134658880/Japan-Earthquake-May-Have-Changed-Earths-Axis One way the earthquake and its effects on the Earth’s rotation and time of day is important was explained by Dr. Richard Gross, one of the head researchers working for NASA. Gross explained that even a difference of one point eight microseconds is important to his team, because it effects the way that spacecraft being sent to Mars are navigated. If the changes were not noted and accounted for, there is a great chance that the space missions would fail and millions of dollars would be wasted on the cutting edge technology. Gross noted that the way the Earth rotates is not very smooth; he related the way the Earth moves to an old car wobbling on its axle. The earthquake was similar to if a person took a hammer and whacked the cars axle, causing it to shift and the car to drive differently. This is what occurred with the earthquake in Japan. The powerful earthquake was the hammer hitting the Earth’s axle, causing it to spin in a slightly different way.KENNETH CHANG ( MARCH 13 2011 ). “Quake Moves Japan Closer to U.S. and Alters Earth’s Spin” , http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/asia/14seismic.html?_r=1 Aftershocks Japan experienced over 900 aftershocks since the earthquake with about 60 being over 6.0 M and three over 7.0 M. A 7.7 M and a 7.9 M quake occurred on March 11Magnitude 7.1 - NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MxQDPs 18 April 2011 and the 2011 Miyagi earthquake|third one on 7 April 2011, with a disputed magnitude. Its epicenter was underwater, 66 km (41 mi) off the coast of Sendai. The Japan Meteorological Agency assigned a magnitude of 7.4, while the U.S. Geological Survey lowered it to 7.1.The CNN Wire Staff Fresh quake triggers tsunami warning in Japan http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/07/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1 CNN 7 April 2011 07 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xpZoe7C3 9 April 2011 no 8 April 2011 At least four people were killed, and electricity was cut off across much of northern Japan including the loss of external power to Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant and Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant.http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/world/230989/four-dead-as-new-tremor-hits-japan-disaster-zone Four dead as new tremor hits Japan disaster zone Bangkok Post 8 April 2011 8 April 2011Fukushima Nuclear Accident Update Log, IAEA, 7 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aBJR1u 18 April 2011NHK, "Strong aftershock kills four", 12 April 2011. As of|2011|5|19 aftershocks continued; a regularly updated map showing all shocks of magnitude 4.5 and above in the last seven daysUSGS 10-degree Map Centered at 35°N,140°E of earthquakes of magnitude 4.5 or over showed over 20 events. thumb|left|Water column height on 11 March 2011 at Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis|DART Station, 690 NM Southeast of Tokyo The earthquake took place at 14:46 JST around 67 km (42 mi) from the nearest point on Japan's coastline, and initial estimates indicated the tsunami would have taken 10 to 30 minutes to reach the areas first affected, and then areas farther north and south based on the geography of the coastline.One estimate of 10–15 minutes came from German seismologist Rainer Kind of the Helmholtz Research Centre for Geosciences in Potsdam, as interviewed in Japan's tsunami victims only had 15 minutes warning, Deutsche Welle, 12 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MzHfxC 18 April 2011Another estimate of 15–30 minutes came from Vasily V. Titov, director of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Center for Tsunami Research, as reported in Japan tsunami: Toll could rise to more than 1,300, NDTV-hosted copy of an article by Martin Fackler, The New York Times, March 12, 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2MzspxQ 18 April 2011 Just over an hour after the earthquake at 15:55 JST, a tsunami was observed flooding Sendai Airport, which is located near the coast of Miyagi Prefecture,http://avherald.com/h?article=43928907&opt=0 News: Tsunami rolls through Pacific, Sendai Airport under water, Tokyo Narita closed, Pacific region airports endangered Avherald.com 6 July 2001 11 March 2011http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20110311p2g00m0dm056000c.html 10-meter tsunami observed in area near Sendai in Miyagi Pref 11 March 2011 The Mainichi Daily News 11 March 2011 with waves sweeping away cars and planes and flooding various buildings as they traveled inland.http://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/r0/high.asx World English 12 March 2011 12 March 2011 NHK http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N15e9F 18 April 2011 nohttp://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/japan-on-tsunami-alert-after-another-quake/story-e6frf7jo-1226019884379 Japan 8.9-magnitude earthquake sparks massive tsunami Herald Sun Associated Press 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N2qupV 18 April 2011 no The impact of the tsunami in and around Sendai Airport was filmed by an NHK News helicopter, showing a number of vehicles on local roads trying to escape the approaching wave and being engulfed by it.NHK News, ~16:00 JST. A 4 m high tsunami hit Iwate Prefecture.http://www.en.rian.ru/natural/20110311/162955012.html Earthquake, tsunami wreak havoc in Japan 11 March 2011 rian.ru 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N3oO2o 18 April 2011 no Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai|Wakabayashi Ward in Sendai was also particularly hard hit."Earthquake", Japan Times, 19 March 2011, p. 16. At least 101 designated tsunami evacuation sites were hit by the wave.Kyodo News, "Tsunami hit more than 100 designated evacuation sites", Japan Times, 14 April 2011, p. 1. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N6jIhi 18 April 2011 Like the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, the damage by surging water, though much more localized, was far more deadly and destructive than the actual quake. There were reports of entire towns destroyed from tsunami-hit areas in Japan, including 9,500 missing in Minamisanriku, Miyagi|Minamisanriku;http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/03/77165.html 9,500 unaccounted for in Miyagi's Minamisanriku: local gov't Kyodo News 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVaNHwLr 27 March 2011 one thousand bodies had been recovered in the town by 14 March 2011.Kyodo News, "2,000 more added to death toll in Miyagi", Japan Times, 15 March 2011, p. 1. http://www.webcitation.org/5xCShPBai 15 March 2011 Among several factors causing the high death toll from the tsunami, one was the unexpectedly large size of the water surge. The tsunami walls at several of the affected cities were based on much smaller tsunami heights. Also, many people caught in the tsunami thought that they were located on high enough ground to be safe.Watts, Jonathan, "Quake survivors search for hope and shelter", Japan Times, 26 March 2011, p. 13. thumb|left|Tsunami flooding on the Sendai Airport runway Kuji and Ōfunato were almost entirely destroyedTritten, Travis, J., and T. D. Flack, "U.S. rescue teams find devastation in northern city of Ofunato", Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes, 15 March 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5xDIVD5tm 15 March 2011http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110312004789.htm Whole towns gone-no cars or people seen Yomiuri 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N7iOj8 18 April 2011 no Also destroyed was Rikuzentakata, Iwate|Rikuzentakata, where the tsunami was reportedly three stories high.Staff Reporter (12 March 2011) "Wiped off the map: The moment apocalyptic tsunami waves drown a sleepy coast town". www.dailymail.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N8XJ2a 18 April 2011"Honderden doden in Japanse kuststad (Hundreds dead in Japanese coastal town)" (in Dutch). www.rtlnieuws.nl. Retrieved 12 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2N8ymQH 18 April 2011http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Japanarmysays300-400bodiesfoundinRikuzentakata_Report/Article/ Japan army says 300–400 bodies found in Rikuzentakata: Report Nst.com.my 3 February 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2eWPcEX 18 April 2011 no Other cities reportedly destroyed or heavily damaged by the tsunami include Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi, Miyako, Iwate|Miyako, Ōtsuchi, Iwate|Ōtsuchi, and Yamada, Iwate|Yamada (in Iwate Prefecture), Namie, Fukushima|Namie, Sōma, Fukushima|Sōma and Minamisōma, Fukushima|Minamisōma (in Fukushima Prefecture) and Shichigahama, Miyagi|Shichigahama, Higashimatsushima, Miyagi|Higashimatsushima, Onagawa, Miyagi|Onagawa, Natori, Miyagi|Natori, Ishinomaki, Miyagi|Ishinomaki, and Kesennuma, Miyagi|Kesennuma (in Miyagi Prefecture).Martin, Alex, "JET post best, not 'pityfest'", Japan Times, 7 April 2011, p. 3. http://www.webcitation.org/5xkhJ6kRS 6 April 2011Kyodo News, "Miyagi coastal whaling port pulverized, little more than memory", Japan Times, 18 March 2011, p. 3. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aFTxnf 18 April 2011Kyodo News, "Deaths, people missing set to top 1,600: Edano", Japan Times, 13 March 2011.Kyodo News, "Survivors in trauma after life-changing nightmare day", Japan Times, 13 March 2011, p. 2.Kyodo News, "Death toll may surpass 10,000 in Miyagi", Japan Times, 14 March 2011, p. 1. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aGCWAy 18 April 2011Alabaster, Jay, and Todd Pitman, (Associated Press), "Hardships, suffering in earthquake zone", Japan Times, 15 March 2011, p. 3. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aGzEyZ 18 April 2011Gihooly, Rob, "'Nothing can prepare you to witness this', Japan Times, 20 March 2011, p. 7. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aHpdWK 18 April 2011 The most severe effects of the tsunami were felt along a 670-km (420 mi)-long stretch of coastline from Erimo, Hokkaido|Erimo in the north to Ōarai in the south, with most of the destruction in that area occurring in the hour following the earthquake.Tsunami Slams Japan After Record Earthquake, Killing Hundreds, 11 March (Bloomberg), San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 14 March 2011. Near Ōarai, people captured images of a huge whirlpool that had been generated by the tsunami.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/8385237/Japan-disaster-30-powerful-images-of-the-earthquake-and-tsunami.html?image=4 The Daily Telegraph Japan disaster: 30 powerful images of the earthquake and tsunami http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aIu9yT 18 April 2011 no London The tsunami washed away the sole bridge to Miyatojima, Miyagi, isolating the island's 900 residents.Kyodo News, "Survivors on cut-off isle were ready for disaster", Japan Times, 19 March 2011, p. 2. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aJdpV4 18 April 2011 A two meter high tsunami hit Chiba Prefecture about 2 1/2 hours after the quake, causing heavy damage to cities such as Asahi, Chiba|Asahi.Fukue, Natsuko, "Tsunami came late to unprepared Chiba", Japan Times, 30 March 2011, p. 2. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aKHwIL 18 April 2011 On 13 March 2011, the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) published details of tsunami observations recorded around the coastline of Japan following the earthquake. These observations included tsunami maximum readings of over 3 m (9.8 ft) at the following locations and times on 11 March 2011, following the earthquake at 14:46 JST:Tsunami Information NUMBER 64 (Tsunami Observation), Japan Meteorological Agency, issued 18:05 JST 13 March 2011, Retrieved 14 March 2011. The Iwate Kamaishi-oki reading was obtained by GPS wave meter. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aL5KwV 18 April 2011 15:12 JST – off Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi – 6.8 m (22 ft) 15:15 JST – Ōfunato – 3.2 m (10 ft) or higher 15:20 JST – Ishinomaki, Miyagi|Ishinomaki-shi Ayukawa – 3.3 m (11 ft) or higher 15:21 JST – Miyako, Iwate|Miyako – 4.0 m (13.1 ft) or higher 15:21 JST – Kamaishi – 4.1 m (13 ft) or higher 15:44 JST – Erimo, Hokkaidō|Erimo-cho Shoya – 3.5 m (11 ft) 15:50 JST – Sōma, Fukushima|Sōma – 7.3 m (24 ft) or higher 16:52 JST – Ōarai – 4.2 m (14 ft) These readings were obtained from recording stations maintained by the JMA around the coastline of Japan. Many areas were also affected by waves of 1 to 3 meters (3.3 to 9.8 ft) in height, and the JMA bulletin also included the caveat that "At some parts of the coasts, tsunamis may be higher than those observed at the observation sites." The timing of the earliest recorded tsunami maximum readings ranged from 15:12 to 15:21, between 26 and 35 minutes after the earthquake had struck. The bulletin also included initial tsunami observation details, as well as more detailed maps for the coastlines affected by the tsunami waves.Tsunami Information NUMBER 64 (Tsunami Observation), Japan Meteorological Agency, issued 18:05 JST 13 March 2011, Retrieved 14 March 2011. (Tohoku district.) http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aLTaiJ 18 April 2011Tsunami Information NUMBER 64 (Tsunami Observation), Japan Meteorological Agency, issued 18:05 JST 13 March 2011, Retrieved 14 March 2011. (Kanto/Chubu district.) http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aLo8ue 18 April 2011 On 23 March 2011, Port and Airport Research Institute reported tsunami height by visiting the port sites or by telemetry from offshore as follows:http://www.pari.go.jp/information/20110311/p20110323.html 東北地方の港湾における被災状況について(現地調査速報)(平成23年東北地方太平洋沖地震) 23 March 2011 Port and Airport Research Institute (:ja:港湾空港技術研究所 港湾空港技術研究所) Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan Japanese The situation of damage of ports in Tohoku region (site survey)(2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami) 28 March 2011http://www.pari.go.jp/information/20110311/p20110323-3.pdf Japanese 別紙2：各港の調査状況について (PDF/608KB) 23 March 2011 Port and Airport Research Institute (:ja:港湾空港技術研究所 港湾空港技術研究所) Yokosuka, Kanagawa, Japan Attachment 2: Site survey of Site Tsunami height on each port (PDF/608KB) PDF 28 March 2011 File:20110311Houshu.ogg|NOAA animation of the tsunami's propagation Port of Hachinohe – 5–6 m (16–19 ft) Port of Hachinohe area – 8–9 m (26–29 ft) Port of Kuji, Iwate|Kuji – 8–9 m (26–29 ft) Mooring (watercraft)|Mooring GPS wave height meter at offshore of central Iwate Prefecture|Iwate (Miyako, Iwate|Miyako) – 6 m (20 ft) Port of Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi – 7–9 m (23–30 ft) Mooring GPS wave height meter at offshore of southern Iwate Prefecture|Iwate (Kamaishi, Iwate|Kamaishi) – 6.5 m (22 ft) Port of Ōfunato, Iwate|Ōfunato – 9.5 m (31 ft) Run up height, port of Ōfunato, Iwate|Ōfunato area – 24 m (79 ft) Mooring GPS wave height meter at offshore of northern Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi – 5.6 m (18 ft) Fishery port of Onagawa, Miyagi|Onagawa – 15 m (50 ft) Port of Ishinomaki, Miyagi|Ishinomaki – 5 m (16 ft) Mooring GPS wave height meter at offshore of central Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi – could not measure Shiogama section of Shiogama, Miyagi|Shiogama-Sendai port – 4 m (13 ft) Sendai section of Shiogama-Sendai port – 8 m (26 ft) Sendai Airport area – 12 m (39 ft) A joint research team from Yokohama National University and the University of Tokyo also reported that the tsunami at Ryōri Bay (綾里白浜), Ōfunato was about 30 m high. They found fishing equipment scattered on the high cliff above the bay.Researchers: 30-meter tsunami in Ofunato http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/30_03.html NHK 29 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xgge4dkh 4 April 2011 no At Tarō, Iwate, a University of Tokyo researcher reported an estimated tsunami height of 37.9 m (124 ft) reached the slope of a mountain some 200 m (656 ft) away from the coastline.http://english.kyodonews.jp/news/2011/04/82888.html Kyodo News 2011-04-03 38-meter-high tsunami triggered by March 11 quake: survey Also, at slope of nearby mountain from 400 m (1,312 ft) Aneyoshi fishery port (姉吉漁港) of Omoe peninsula (重茂半島) in Miyako, Iwate, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology found estimated tsunami run up height of 38.9 m (127 ft). This height is deemed the record in Japan historically, as of reporting date, that exceeds 38.2 m (125 ft) from the 1896 Meiji-Sanriku earthquake.http://outreach.eri.u-tokyo.ac.jp/eqvolc/201103_tohoku/#koboriuchi 宮古市田老小堀内漁港での津波遡上高 3 April 2011 Earthquake Research Institute, University of Tokyo Japanese Tunami run up height at Miyako city, Taro Koborinai fishing port 4 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aNqnv8 18 April 2011 no Photos thumb|right|A Bonin Petrel, trapped in the sand on Midway Atoll by the tsunami, before being rescued. thumb|left|Fishing boats moved to higher ground in anticipation of tsunami arrival, in Pichilemu, Chile I Land subsidence File:Subsidence in Shin-Urayasu Sta after 2011 Sendai earthquake.JPG|Land subsidence and soil liquefaction near Shin-Urayasu Station elevator shaft Geospatial Information Authority of Japan reported land subsidence on the height of triangulation station measured by Global Positioning System|GPS from previous value on 14 April 2011.http://www.gsi.go.jp/sokuchikijun/sokuchikijun40003.html 平成23年(2011年)東北地方太平洋沖地震に伴う地盤沈下調査 14 April 2011 Geospatial Information Authority of Japan Japanese Land subsidencecaused by 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami 15 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aXoLUW 18 April 2011 no Miyako, Iwate - 0.50 m (1.64 ft) Yamada, Iwate - 0.53 m (1.73 ft) Ōtsuchi, Iwate - 0.35 m (1.14 ft) Kamaishi, Iwate - 0.66 m (2.16 ft) Ōfunato, Iwate - 0.73 m (2.39 ft) Rikuzentakata, Iwate - 0.84 m (2.75 ft) Kesennuma, Miyagi - 0.74 m (2.42 ft) Minamisanriku, Miyagi - 0.69 m (2.26 ft) Oshika Peninsula, Miyagi Prefecture|Miyagi - 1.2 m (3.93 ft)Valuie announce from Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, news report by Yomiuri Shimbun 2011-04-15 ver. 13S page 33 Ishinomaki, Miyagi - 0.78 m (2.55 ft) Higashimatsushima, Miyagi - 0.43 m (1.41 ft) Iwanuma, Miyagi - 0.47 m (1.54 ft) Sōma, Fukushima - 0.29 m (0.95 ft) Scientists say that the subsidence is permanent. As a result, the communities in question are now more susceptible to flooding during high tides.Alabaster, Jay, "Quake shifted Japan; towns now flood at high tide", Yahoo! News, 9 May 2011. Casualties thumb|right|Memorials amongst the ruins, Natori The National Police Agency confirmed quake impact across eighteen Prefectures of Japan|prefectures. Prefectural officials and the Kyodo News Agency, quoting local officials, said that 9,500 people from Minamisanriku, Miyagi|Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture—about a half of the town's population—were unaccounted for the day after the earthquake,K.N.C., H.T., A.N.: Containing the nuclear crisis. The Economist, 12 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5x9WzSUox 13 March 2011 and on the same day NHK reported that the death toll in Iwate Prefecture alone might reach 10,000. On 14 March, Kyodo News Agency reported that some 2,000 bodies were found on two shores in Miyagi Prefecture.Kyodo News, "Some 2,000 bodies found on quake-hit Miyagi's coastal areas", Kyodo News, 14 March 2011. Retrieved 16 March 2011. As of 12 April 2011, Yomiuri Shimbun reported that 282 people had died from post-earthquake-related factors, such as exposure to cold and wet weather, communicable disease and infection, unsanitary conditions, or inability to receive adequate medical care for pre-existing conditions.Yomiuri Shimbun, "282 deaths linked to aftermath / Unsanitary conditions, cold temperatures blamed for post disaster toll", 12 April 2011. Of the 13,135 fatalities recovered by 11 April 2011, 12,143 or 92.5% died by drowning. Victims aged 60 or older accounted for 65.2% of the deaths, with 24% of total victims being in their 70s.Kyodo News, "90% of disaster casualties drowned", Japan Times, 21 April 2011, p. 2. thumb|upright|left|Tsunami damage between Sendai and Sendai Bay. Save the Children reports that as many as 100,000 children were uprooted from their homes, some of whom were separated from their families because the earthquake occurred during the school day.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/15/japan-earthquake-children-displaced-charity Japan earthquake: 100,000 children displaced, says charity McCurry Justin 15 March 2011 The Guardian 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xD8JCtef 15 March 2011 London As of 10 April 2011, Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (Japan)|Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare stated that it was aware of at least 82 children who had been orphaned by the disaster.Agence France-Presse/Jiji Press, "At least 82 children were orphaned by disaster, government says", Japan Times, 10 April 2011, p. 2. The quake and tsunami, as of 28 April 2011, killed 378 elementary, middle-school, and high school students and left 158 others missing.Kyodo News, "378 students killed, 158 missing in disaster", Japan Times, 29 April 2011, p. 2. The victims included 234 elementary, 111 junior high and 191 high school students. Direct quote: "Out of the 378 students confirmed dead, 273 were in Miyagi, 59 in Fukushima and 46 in Iwate. The list of missing students is made up of 74 in Miyagi, 52 in Iwate and 32 in Fukushima." One elementary school in Ishinomaki, Miyagi, Okawa Elementary, lost 74 of 108 students and 10 of 13 teachers and staff.Associated Press, "Loss-staggered school reopens", Japan Times, 19 April 2011, p. 3.Kyodo News, "Loss-hit Ishinomaki school opens", Japan Times, 22 April 2011, p. 2.Kyodo News, "School that lost 70% of its pupils mourns", Japan Times, 29 April 2011, p. 1. The Japanese Foreign Ministry has confirmed the deaths of nineteen foreigners.http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-confirms-death-of-19-foreigners-in-march-11-quake-tsunami Japan confirms death of 19 foreigners in March 11 quake, tsunami 5 April 2011 Kyodo News 7 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xmGEK8uK 7 April 2011 Among them are two English teachers from the United States affiliated with the JET Programme|Japan Exchange and Teaching Program;http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/06/japan.american.death/index.html Body of second American found in Japan 7 April 2011 CNN 7 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xmGLLVuj 7 April 2011 a Canadian missionary in Shiogama, Miyagi|Shiogama;http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Quebec+priest+killed+Japanese+tsunami/4432920/story.html Quebec priest killed in Japanese tsunami 13 March 2011 The Gazette (Montreal) The Gazette 7 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xmGRgwnS 7 April 2011 and citizens of China, North and South Korea, Taiwan, Pakistan and the Philippines. It was reported that four passenger trains containing an unknown number of passengers disappeared in a coastal area during the tsunami.http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1 Widespread destruction from Japan earthquake, tsunamis – CNN.com CNN 1960-05-22 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x8Asrtog 12 March 2011 no One of the trains, on the Senseki Line, was found derailed in the morning; all passengers were rescued by a police helicopter. http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20110312-OYT1T00215.htm 脱線のＪＲ仙石線車内から、県警ヘリで９人救出 : 社会 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞） Yomiuri Japanese 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aYUFaq 18 April 2011 no Der Spiegel later reported that five missing trains in Miyagi Prefecture had been found with all passengers safe, although this information could not be confirmed locally.http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,750472,00.html Der Spiegel 12 March 2011 Japan im Zeichen der Katastrophe 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xt8JrWZ3 12 April 2011 no By 9:30 UTC on 11 March, Google Person Finder, which was previously used in the 2010 Haiti earthquake|Haitian, 2010 Chile earthquake|Chilean, and 2011 Christchurch earthquake|Christchurch, New Zealand earthquakes, was collecting information about survivors and their locations.http://www.pcworld.in/news/google-person-finder-japan-earthquaketsunami-launched-46662011 Google Person Finder for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami launched Shinde Jayesh 11 March 2011 PC World (magazine) PC World 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aZEQnI 18 April 2011 no Person finder Japan http://japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en Appspot http://www.webcitation.org/5x7H1r1tA 11 March 2011 no The Next of kin|Next of Kin Registry (NOKR) is assisting the Japanese government in locating next of kin for those missing or deceased.Massive quake, tsunami slams Japan List Your Emergency Contacts find Family http://www.prlog.org/11368072-massive-quake-tsunami-slams-japan-list-your-emergency-contacts-find-family.html http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aZggay 18 April 2011 no Japanese funerals are normally elaborate Buddhist ceremonies, which entail cremation. The thousands of bodies, however, exceed the capacity of available crematoriums and morgues, many of them damaged,http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/asia/24burial.html?pagewanted=all As Tsunami Robbed Life, It Also Robs Rite of Death Wines Michael 23 March 2011 The New York Times 11 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xrN1uEXO 11 April 2011http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idAFTRE72M1JF20110323?sp=true Quake-ravaged Japan digs mass graves 27 March 2011 Nishikawa, Yoko 23 March 2011 Reuters http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aZoQnL 18 April 2011 no and there are shortages of both kerosene—each cremation requires 50 liters—and dry ice for preservation.http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8398419/Japan-earthquake-country-begins-burying-dead-in-mass-graves.html Japan earthquake: country begins burying dead in mass graves 27 March 2011 Allen, Nick 24 March 2011 Daily Telegraph http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aa3auN 18 April 2011 no London The single crematorium in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi|Higashimatsushima, for example, can only handle four bodies a day, although hundreds have been found there and hundreds of people are still missing.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/24/world/asia/24burial.html?src=me&pagewanted=all As Tsunami Robbed Life, It Also Robs Rite of Death 27 March 2011 Wines, Michael 24 March 2011 The New York Times A12 Governments and the military have thus been forced to bury many bodies in hastily dug mass graves with rudimentary or no rites, although relatives of the deceased have been promised that cremation will occur later.http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/03/27/world/asia/AP-AS-Japan-Earthquake-Burials.html?hp Burials in Quake-Hit Towns Deepen Japan's Tragedy 27 March 2011 Associated Press The New York Times 27 March 2011 The tsunami is reported to have caused several deaths outside of Japan. One man was killed in Jayapura, Papua (province)|Papua, Indonesia after being swept out to sea.http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/news/japan-tsunami-strikes-indonesia-one-confirmed-dead/428545 Japan Tsunami Strikes Indonesia, One Confirmed Dead 12 March 2011 The Jakarta Globe 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x8fAm8XA 12 March 2011 no A man who is said to have been attempting to photograph the oncoming tsunami at the mouth of the Klamath River, south of Crescent City, California, was swept out to sea.http://www.fox5sandiego.com/news/rss/kswb-california-tsunami-death-norcal-man-drowns-trying-to-photograph-tsunami-20110311,0,7429447.story?track=rss California tsunami death: NorCal man drowns trying to photograph tsunami – KSWB Fox5sandiego.com 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2abuKBA 18 April 2011 noAssociated Press Man swept out to sea by tsunami was Bend native OregonLive.com The Oregonian 27 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/03/oregon_coast_tsunami_dustin_weber.html http://www.webcitation.org/5xD7NuM1U 15 March 2011 noKlamath tsunami victim identified; search comes up empty The Times-Standard Eureka, CA 27 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.times-standard.com/ci_17605586?source=most_viewed http://www.webcitation.org/5y2acvxkv 18 April 2011 no His body was found on April 2 along Ocean Beach in Fort Stevens State Park, Oregon, some 330 miles to the north.http://wireupdate.com/wires/16604/body-found-in-oregon-identified-as-missing-tsunami-victim/ Body found in Oregon identified as missing tsunami victim BNO News 12 April 2011 http://wireupdate.com/wires/16604/body-found-in-oregon-identified-as-missing-tsunami-victim/ 18 April 2011 noTsunami victim remains wash ashore near Fort Stevens. Koinlocal6.com (2011-03-12). Retrieved on 2011-05-02. Damage and effects thumb|right|Panorama of Rikuzentakata area swept away The degree and extent of damage caused by the earthquake and resulting tsunami were enormous, with most of the damage being caused by the tsunami. Video footage of the towns worst affected shows little more than piles of rubble, with almost no parts of any structures left standing.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12727879 film shown by BBC showing only rubble where there were buildings BBC News 13 March 2011 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xAQ38xIo 13 March 2011 no Estimates of the cost of the damage range well into the tens of billions of US dollars; before-and-after satellite photographs of devastated regions show immense damage to many regions.https://picasaweb.google.com/118079222830783600944/Japan# Before-and-after satellite photographs of devastated regions Google 14 March 2011http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12731781 animated images showing undamaged places become damaged BBC 14 March 2011 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xBrp84HO 14 March 2011 no Although Japan has invested the equivalent of billions of dollars on anti-tsunami seawalls which line at least 40% of its 34,751 km (21,593 mi) coastline and stand up to 12 m (39 ft) high, the tsunami simply washed over the top of some seawalls, collapsing some in the process.http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/14/world/asia/14seawalls.html Seawalls Offered Little Protection Against Tsunami's Crushing Waves Onishi Norimitsu The New York Times 13 March 2011 15 March 2011 Japan's National Police Agency (Japan)|National Police Agency said on 3 April 2011, that 190,000 buildings were destroyed or damaged by the quake and tsunami. Of those, 45,700 were destroyed. The damaged buildings included 29,500 structures in Miyagi Prefecture, 12,500 in Iwate Prefecture and 2,400 in Fukushima Prefecture.NHK, "190,000 buildings damaged by March 11 quake", 3 April 2011. The earthquake and tsunami created an estimated 25 million tons of rubble and debris in Japan.Agence France-Presse/Jiji Press, "Radiation, legalities complicate cleanup efforts", Japan Times, 9 April 2011, p. 2. Nuclear power plants Fukushima I, Fukushima II, Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant and Tōkai nuclear power stations, consisting of a total eleven reactors, were automatically shut down following the earthquake. http://www.news.com.au/world/japan-earthquake-evacuations-ordered-as-fears-grow-of-radiation-leak-at-nuclear-plant/story-e6frfkyi-1226020473244 Japan earthquake: Evacuations ordered as fears grow of radiation leak at nuclear plant; News.com.au 13 March 2011 12 March 2011 AFP http://www.webcitation.org/5y2adXZqV 18 April 2011 no Higashidōri Nuclear Power Plant|Higashidōri, also on the northeast coast, was already shut down for a periodic inspection. Cooling is needed to remove decay heat after a reactor has been shut down, and to maintain spent fuel pools. The backup cooling process is powered by emergency diesel generators at the plants and at Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant|Rokkasho nuclear reprocessing plant.http://www.neimagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=132&storyCode=2059127 Japan initiates emergency protocol after earthquake Nuclear Engineering International 11 March 2011 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ae6b0U 18 April 2011 no At Fukushima I and II tsunami waves overtopped seawalls and destroyed diesel backup power systems, leading to severe problems at Fukushima I, including three large explosions and radioactive leakage. Over 200,000 people were evacuated.http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/13/japan-nuclear-plants-fukushima-earthquake Japan's nuclear fears intensify at two Fukushima power stations The Guardian March 2011 13 March 2011 Ian Sample http://www.webcitation.org/5xAN6EQZ8 13 March 2011 no London 13 March 2011 The April 7 aftershock caused the loss of external power to Rokkasho Reprocessing Plant and Higashidori Nuclear Power Plant but backup generators were functional. Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant lost 3 of 4 external power lines and lost cooling function for as much as 80 minutes. A spill of a couple liters of radioactive water occurred at Onagawa.Japan Earthquake: More Nuclear Plants Lose Power, International Business Times, Jesse Emspak, April 8, 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aepag3 18 April 2011 Europe's European Commissioner for Energy|Energy Commissioner Günther Oettinger addressed the European Parliament on 15 March, explaining that the nuclear disaster was an "apocalypse".Evans, Martin and Gordon Rayner. "Japan nuclear plant disaster: warning of an 'apocalypse’ as fallout hits danger levels," The Independent (UK). 16 Mar 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-12. http://www.webcitation.org/5xFkDV78N 17 March 2011 As the nuclear crisis entered a second month, experts recognized that Fukushima I is not the worst nuclear accident ever, but it is the most complicated."Analysis: A month on, Japan nuclear crisis still scarring," International Business Times (Australia). 9 April 2011, retrieved 12 April 2011; excerpt, According to James M. Acton|James Acton, Associate of the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, "Fukushima is not the worst nuclear accident ever but it is the most complicated and the most dramatic ... This was a crisis that played out in real time on TV. Chernobyl did not." http://www.webcitation.org/5y2agYEQZ 18 April 2011 Fukushima I and II Nuclear Power Plants thumb|right|Destruction at the Fukushima site Japan declared a state of emergency following the failure of the cooling system at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the evacuation of nearby residents. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/11/japan-declares-nuclear-emergency-quake Japan Declares 'Nuclear Emergency' after Quake The Guardian 11 March 2011 11 March 2011 Justin McCurry http://www.webcitation.org/5x8Swgz2f 12 March 2011 no London http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12307698 Japan Tsunami BBC News 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5w5dpTRTE 28 January 2011 no Officials from the Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency reported that radiation levels inside the plant were up to 1,000 times normal levels, Radioactive Material May Have Leaked from Japanese Reactor http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.nuclear/index.html 11 March 2011 CNN International 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ahm3X6 18 April 2011 no and that radiation levels outside the plant were up to 8 times normal levels.Hiroko Tabuchi, Matthew L. Wald. Partial Meltdowns Presumed at Crippled Reactors. The New York Times, 13 March 2011 Later, a state of emergency was also declared at the Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant|Fukushima II nuclear power plant about 11 km (7 mi) south.Chico Harlan: Japan quake: With two natural disasters and a nuclear emergency, recovery begins. The Washington Post, 12 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ai5PuF 18 April 2011 This brought the total number of problematic reactors to six.Rik Myslewski. Sixth Japanese nuclear reactor loses cooling. The Register, 13 March 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aiZLwy 18 April 2011 It was reported that radioactive iodine was detected in the tap water in Fukushima, Toshigi, Gunma, Tokyo, Chiba, Saitama, and Niigata, and radioactive cesium in the tap water in Fukushima, Tochigi and Gunma.http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201103160286.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島市内の水道水から放射性物質検出 国の基準は下回る – 東日本大震災 Asahi Shimbun 3 January 2011 17 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ajF4Z7 18 April 2011 nohttp://www.yomiuri.co.jp/science/news/20110319-OYT1T00743.htm １都５県の水道水から放射性物質、国基準下回る : 科学 Yomiuri Shimbun 19 March 2011 19 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2akJkdQ 18 April 2011 nohttp://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20110319/k10014787301000.html 水道水 制限値を全国で下回る NHK News 19 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVbO9cRA 19 March 2011 Radioactive cesium, iodine, and strontiumasahi.com（朝日新聞社）：福島の土壌から微量ストロンチウム 水溶性の放射性物質 - 社会 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2akiMFW 18 April 2011 were also detected in the soil in some places in Fukushima. There may be a need to replace the contaminated soil.http://www.asahi.com/special/10005/TKY201103230215.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：原発から４０キロの土壌、高濃度セシウム 半減期３０年 – 東日本大震災 Asahi.com 1 March 2011 26 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2albVby 18 April 2011 no Food products were also found contaminated by radioactive matter in several places in Japan.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-27/food-contamination-set-to-rise-as-japan-fights-radiation-crisis-at-reactor.html Food Contamination Set to Rise as Japan Fights Radiation Crisis at Reactor Jae Hur Bloomberg http://www.webcitation.org/5y2amCwmH 18 April 2011 no On April 5, 2011, the government of the Ibaraki Prefecture banned the fishing of sand lance after discovering that this species was contaminated by radioactive cesium above legal limits.http://www3.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/05_34.html High level of cesium detected in sand lances NHK World 5 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2amUu38 18 April 2011 no Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant thumb|right|Loose livestock roam the evacuation zone A fire occurred in the turbine section of the Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant following the earthquake. http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/quake-japan-nuclear-idUSLHE7E801E20110311 Fire at Tohoku Elec Onagawa nuclear plant -Kyodo | Reuters Chikako Mogi Reuters 13 March 2011 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2an6CNo 18 April 2011 no The blaze was in a building housing the turbine, which is sited separately from the plant's reactor, and was soon extinguished. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/fire-at-nuclear-power-plant-others-shut-down/story-fn84naht-1226020092352 Fire at nuclear power plant extinguished The Australian 12 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2anTfAu 18 April 2011 no The plant was shut down as a precaution.March 2011 Japan's atomic plant neighbours mull leaving homes On 13 March the lowest-level state of emergency was declared regarding the Onagawa plant as radioactivity readings temporarily http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/tsunamiupdate01.html IAEA update on Japan Earthquake iaea.org 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x8gJ8rN2 12 March 2011 no exceeded allowed levels in the area of the plant. http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/2011/fukushima130311.html IAEA update on Japan Earthquake iaea.org 13 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xt8321q7 12 April 2011 noChico Harlan, Steven Mufson: Japanese nuclear plants' operator scrambles to avert meltdowns. The Washington Post, 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aoSMrP 18 April 2011 Tohoku Electric Power Co. stated this may have been due to radiation from the Fukushima I nuclear accidents but was not from the Onagawa plant itself. http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/309172/sea-water-injected-troubled-fukushima-power-plant Sea water injected into troubled Fukushima power plant | The Manila Bulletin Newspaper Online mb.com.ph 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aof5f0 18 April 2011 no As a result of the April 7 aftershock, Onagawa Nuclear Power Plant lost 3 of 4 external power lines and lost cooling function for as much as 80 minutes. A spill of a couple liters of radioactive water occurred at Onagawa. Tōkai Nuclear Power Plant The number 2 reactor at Tōkai Nuclear Power Plant was shut down automatically. On 14 March it was reported that a cooling system pump for this reactor had stopped working; http://af.reuters.com/article/energyOilNews/idAFTKG00708120110313 Cooling system pump stops at Tokai No.2 plant-Kyodo; Energy & Oil; Reuters af.reuters.com 13 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aot3wZ 18 April 2011 no however, the Japan Atomic Power Company stated that there was a second operational pump sustaining the cooling systems, but that two of three diesel generators used to power the cooling system were out of order. http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/03/13/uk-japan-quake-tokai-idUKTRE72C2RL20110313 Tokai No.2 nuke plant cooling process working – operator | Reuters Kiyoshi Takenaka uk.reuters.com 13 March 2011 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ap319X 18 April 2011 no Ports File:Ship on the port CROP.jpg|Ship and crane damage at Sendai port File:2011despuesdeltsunami.jpg|Damaged place near Sendai Port All of Japan's ports were briefly closed after the earthquake, though the ones in Tokyo and southwards soon re-opened. Fifteen ports were located in the disaster zone. The north-eastern ports of Hachinohe, Sendai, Ishinomaki and Onahama were destroyed, while Chiba port (which serves the hydrocarbon industry) and Japan's ninth-largest container port at Kashima, Ibaraki|Kashima were also affected though less severely. The ports at Hitachinaka, Hitachi, Soma, Shiogama, Kesennuma, Ofunato, Kamashi and Miyako were also damaged and closed to ships.Status of Japanese ports 5 days after devastating quake and tsunami http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/309623/status-japanese-ports-5-days-after-devastating-quake-and-tsunami Reuters 15 March 2011 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2aqWCrE 18 April 2011 no All 15 ports reopened to limited ship traffic by 29 March 2011.Nihon Keizai Shimbun, "90 percent of major transport networks back in operation", 29 March 2011. The Port of Tokyo suffered slight damage; the effects of the quake included visible smoke rising from a building in the port with parts of the port areas being flooded, including soil liquefaction in Tokyo Disneyland's carpark.http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1115810/1/.html Tokyo Disneyland hit by liquefaction after quake 11 March 2011 MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia 11 March 2011http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1115777/1/.html Japan issues top tsunami warning after major quake 11 March 2011 MediaCorp Channel NewsAsia 11 March 2011 Dam failure The Fujinuma Dam|Fujinuma irrigation dam in Sukagawa ruptured,http://gulftoday.ae/portal/067b285e-6644-4460-b882-f3e809f3b3e7.aspx Japan's Afternoon of Horror 12 March 2011 The Gulf Today 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xA4lpQXu 13 March 2011 causing flooding and washing away homes.http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201103120289.html 1,500 dead or missing after huge earthquake, tsunami 13 March 2011 Asahi Shimbun 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x9zfmVEh 13 March 2011 Eight people were missing and four bodies were discovered by the morning.Dam Breaks In Northeast Japan, Washes Away Homes http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/166581/reftab/149/t/Dam-breaks-in-northeast-Japan-washes-away-homes/Default.aspx Arab Times 14 March 2011 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2as1TVM 18 April 2011 noAzuma Kita Pacific Ocean coast Earthquake http://sankei.jp.msn.com/affairs/news/110312/dst11031205010058-n1.htm MSN 14 March 2011 Japanese 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2asdQuY 18 April 2011 noダム決壊　５棟流出　福島・須賀川 http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/03/20110313t63033.htm Fukushima News 14 March 2011 Japanese 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVc4ZWPh 27 March 2011 Reportedly, some locals had attempted to repair leaks in the dam before it completely Dam failure|failed.ダム決壊 8人が行方不明 須賀川・藤沼ルポ http://www.kahoku.co.jp/news/2011/03/20110312t63012.htm Fukushima News Japanese 14 March 2011 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xVcpnmX5 28 March 2011 On 12 March, 252 dams were inspected and it was discovered that six embankment dams had shallow cracks on their crests. The reservoir at one concrete gravity dam suffered a small non-serious Slope stability|slope failure. All damaged dams are functioning with no problems. Four dams within the quake area were unreachable. When the roads clear, experts will be dispatched to conduct further investigations.A quick report on Japanese Dams after the Earthquake http://www.chincold.org.cn/dams/NewsEvents/webinfo/2011/03/1299639147955756.htm Chinese National Committee on Large Dams 15 March 2011 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2au93PH 18 April 2011 no Water In the immediate aftermath of the calamity, at least 1.5 million households were reported to have lost access to water supplies.http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/9010969/quake-hit-japan-battles-to-avert-radiation-leak/ Quake-hit Japan battles to avert radiation leak Uranaka Taiga Kwon, Ki Joon 14 March 2011 Reuters 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xCDDo9CW 15 March 2011 By 21 March 2011, this number fell to 1.04 million. Electricity thumb|200px|A map of Japan's electricity distribution network shows the geographic divide between 50 hertz systems and 60 hertz systems According to Tōhoku Electric Power (TEP), around 4.4 million households in northeastern Japan were left without electricity. http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/8997743/people-near-japan-nuke-plant-told-to-leave/ People near Japan nuke plant told to leave Yahoo! Several nuclear and conventional power plants went offline after the earthquake, reducing TEPCO's total capacity by 21 GW.Kyodo News, "Utilities' monopoly on power backfires", Japan Times, 30 March 2011, p. 2. http://www.webcitation.org/5xYWkB4x0 29 March 2011 Rolling blackouts began on 14 March due to power shortages caused by the earthquake. http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110313D13JFF08.htm 14 March 2011 Power Outage To Deal Further Blows To Industrial Output Nikkei.com 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2avomCu 18 April 2011 no The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO), which normally provides approximately 40 Gigawatt|GW of electricity, announced that it can currently provide only about 30 GW. This is because 40% of the electricity used in the greater Tokyo area is now supplied by reactors in the Niigata Prefecture|Niigata and Fukushima Prefecture|Fukushima prefectures.http://www.tepco.co.jp/index-j.html 東京電力ホームページ – エネルギーの最適サービスを通じてゆたかで快適な環境の実現に貢献します - Tokyo Electric Power Company 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5x7Zam5R8 12 March 2011 no The reactors at the Fukushima I Nuclear Power Plant|Fukushima Dai-ichi and Fukushima II Nuclear Power Plant|Fukushima Dai-ni plants were automatically taken offline when the first earthquake occurred and have sustained major damage related to the earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Rolling blackouts of three hours are expected to last until the end of April and will affect the Tokyo, Kanagawa Prefecture|Kanagawa, Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka, Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi, Chiba Prefecture|Chiba, Ibaraki Prefecture|Ibaraki, Saitama Prefecture|Saitama, Tochigi Prefecture|Tochigi, and Gunma Prefecture|Gunma prefectures.http://www.nikkansports.com/general/news/f-gn-tp0-20110313-748042.html News Nikkan Sports 13 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xA8payah 13 March 2011 yes Voluntary reduced electricity use by consumers in the Kanto area helped reduce the predicted frequency and duration of the blackouts.Joe, Melinda, "Kanto area works on energy conservation", Japan Times, 17 March 2011, p. 11. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2awhmjE 18 April 2011 By 21 March 2011, the number of households in the north without electricity fell to 242,927.Nomiyama Chiz http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/us-japan-quake-numbers-idUSTRE72K0YJ20110321 Factbox: Japan disaster in figures 21 March 2011 Reuters 21 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xLOSexvL 21 March 2011 File:Devastation in Minamisōma after tsunami.jpg|Damage to electricity transmission lines Tōhoku Electric Power cannot currently provide the Kanto region with additional power, because TEP's power plants were also damaged in the earthquake. Kansai Electric Power Company (Kepco) cannot share electricity, because its system operates at 60 hertz, whereas TEPCO and TEP operate their systems at 50 hertz; this is due to early industrial and infrastructure development in the 1880s that left Japan without a unified national power grid.A legacy from the 1800s leaves Tokyo facing blackouts, ITworld, March 18, 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2ayU8pa 18 April 2011 Two substations, one in Shizuoka Prefecture and one in Nagano Prefecture, can convert between frequencies and transfer electricity from Kansai to Kanto and Tōhoku, but their capacity to do so is limited to 1 GW. With the damage to so many power plants, it could be years before electricity productions levels in eastern Japan return to pre-quake levels.Hongo, Jun, "One certainty in the crisis: Power will be at a premium", Japan Times, 16 March 2011, p. 2. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2azM8h6 18 April 2011 In effort to help alleviate the shortage, three steel manufacturers in the Kanto region are contributing electricity produced by their in-house conventional power stations to TEPCO for distribution to the general public. Sumitomo Metal Industries can produce up to 500 MW, JFE Holdings|JFE Steel 400 MW, and Nippon Steel 500 MW of electric powerNHK, "Steel makers provide TEPCO with electricity", 27 March 2011. Oil, gas and coal File:Cosmo Oil explosion 2 20110311CROP.jpg|upright|Fire at the Cosmo Oil refinery in Ichihara A 220,000-barrel-per-day oil refinery of Cosmo Oil Company was set on fire by the quake at Ichihara, Chiba|Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, to the east of Tokyo,Japan earthquake causes oil refinery inferno Daily Telegraph, London, 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b03qod 18 April 2011 while others halted production due to safety checks and power loss.Fires, safety checks take out Japanese refineries Argus Media, 14 March 2011. Accessed: 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b0aaXB 18 April 2011Japanese refiners try to offset shortages Argus Media, 15 March 2011. Accessed: 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b0iREU 18 April 2011 In Sendai, a 145,000-barrel-per-day refinery owned by the largest refiner in Japan, Nippon Oil|JX Nippon Oil & Energy, was also set ablaze by the quake.http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/14/us-japan-commodities-idUSTRE72D1X320110314 Japan's shipping, energy sectors begin march back from quake Fernandez Clarence 14 March 2011 Reuters 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xAvhzbD4 14 March 2011 Workers were evacuated,http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/12/refinery-operations-jx-fire-idUSTKG00706520110312 JX refinery fire seen originated from shipping facility Tsukimori Osamu Negishi, Mayumi 11 March 2011 Reuters 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xAvN97ku 14 March 2011 but tsunami warnings hindered efforts to extinguish the fire until 14 March, when officials planned to do so. An analyst estimates that consumption of various types of oil may increase by as much as 300,000 Oil barrel|barrels per day (as well as LNG), as back-up power plants burning fossil fuels try to compensate for the loss of 11 GW of Japan's nuclear power capacity.Analysis – Oil markets adjust to Japan’s disaster Argus Media, 16 March 2011. Accessed: 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b0piZR 18 April 2011Japan quake begins to impact LNG trade Argus Media, 15 March 2011. Accessed: 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b0y0Z5 18 April 2011 The city-owned plant for importing liquefied natural gas in Sendai was severely damaged, and supplies were halted for at least a month.Tsunami Disaster: “Japan’s Sendai says LNG Infrastructure Badly Damaged” Argus Media, 16 March 2011. Accessed: 18 March 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b15FJ5 18 April 2011 Transport File:Rokko-Bridge fell,Namegata-city,Japan.jpg|A highway bridge damaged and severed Japan's transport network suffered severe disruptions. Many sections of Tōhoku Expressway serving northern Japan were damaged. The expressway did not reopen to general public use until 24 March 2011.NHK World, "Tohoku Expressway Reopened To All Traffic", 24 March 2011.http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-03-24/highway-to-japan-quake-area-opens-as-casualties-pass-25-000.html Highway to Japan Quake Area Opens as Casualties Pass 25,000 Chu Kathleen Sakamaki, Sachiko 24 March 2011 Bloomberg Businessweek 24 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xQW5ujha 24 March 2011 All railway services were suspended in Tokyo, with an estimated 20,000 people stranded at major stations across the city.NHK News, 23:30 JST In the hours after the earthquake, some train services were resumed.http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110311D11JF318.htm Many Rail Services In Tokyo Suspended After Quake NIKKEI 12 March 2011 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b1ElUG 18 April 2011 no Most Tokyo area train lines resumed full service by the next day-12 March.Associated Press, "When Tokyo's clockwork trains stopped ticking", Japan Times, 13 March 2011, p. 3. Twenty thousand stranded visitors spent the night of 11–12 March inside Tokyo Disneyland.Kyodo News, "Disney reality check for the stuck", Japan Times, 13 March 2011, p. 3. A tsunami wave flooded Sendai Airport at 15:55 JST, about 1 hour after the initial quake, causing severe damage. Narita International Airport|Narita and Haneda Airport both briefly suspended operations after the quake, but suffered little damage and reopened within 24 hours. Eleven airliners bound for Narita were diverted to nearby Yokota Air Base.http://www.yokota.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123246410 Yokota provides support following massive earthquake 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b1p0oW 18 April 2011 noKyodo News, "USS Reagan on way", Japan Times, 13 March 2011, p. 2. File:Shinchi Sta 20110404.jpg|Remains of Shinchi Station Various train services around Japan were also canceled, with JR East suspending all services for the rest of the day.http://traininfo.jreast.co.jp/train_info/service.aspx JR東日本：列車運行情報 Traininfo.jreast.co.jp 11 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b2Dga0 18 April 2011 no Four trains on coastal lines were reported as being out of contact with operators; one, a four-car train on the Senseki Line, was found to have derailed, and its occupants were rescued shortly after 8 am the next morning.http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/national/news/20110312-OYT1T00215.htm?from=main2 脱線のＪＲ仙石線車内から、県警ヘリで９人救出 : 社会 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞） Yomiuri Shimbun 12 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b2UiOS 18 April 2011 no Sixty-two of 70 JR East train lines suffered damage to some degree; in the worst-hit areas, 23 stations on 7 lines were washed away, with damage or loss of track in 680 locations and the 30-km radius around the Fukushima I nuclear plant unable to be assessed.２３駅流失、線路被害６８０か所…ＪＲ東日本 : 社会 : YOMIURI ONLINE（読売新聞） http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b2tNNm 18 April 2011 There were no derailments of Shinkansen bullet train services in and out of Tokyo, but their services were also suspended. The Tōkaidō Shinkansen resumed limited service late in the day and was back to its normal schedule by the next day, while the Jōetsu Shinkansen|Jōetsu and Nagano Shinkansen resumed services late on 12 March. Services on Yamagata Shinkansen resumed with limited numbers of trains on 31 March.http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201103290189.html Full Tohoku Shinkansen Line services to be restored by late April The Asahi Shimbun Company 30 March 2001 2 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b5IHoX 18 April 2011 no The Tōhoku Shinkansen line was worst hit, with JR East estimating that 1,100 sections of the line, varying from collapsed station roofs to bent power pylons, will need repairs. Services on the Tōhoku Shinkansen partially resumed only in Kantō area on 15 March, with one round-trip service per hour between Tokyo Station|Tokyo and Nasushiobara Station|Nasu-Shiobara,http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0315/TKY201103150121.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：東北新幹線、東京―那須塩原で再開　各停、１時間に１本 Asahi Shimbun 15 March 2001 15 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b3AlYB 18 April 2011 no and Tōhoku area service partially resumed on 22 March between Morioka Station|Morioka and Shin-Aomori Station|Shin-Aomori.http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/no-of-dead-or-missing-tops-21000-bodies-buried-in-rare-measure No. of dead or missing tops 22,000; bodies buried in rare measure JAPANTODAY 22 March 2001 2 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b3oDmQ 18 April 2011 no Services on Akita Shinkansen resumed with limited numbers of trains on 18 March.http://e.nikkei.com/e/fr/tnks/Nni20110318D18JF316.htm Gradual Restoration Of Infrastructure Continues At Disaster Areas Nikkei 18 March 2001 2 April 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b4N0NM 18 April 2011 no thumb|right|Train washed away uphill from Onagawa Station Minami-Kesennuma Station on the Kesennuma Line was obliterated save for its platform;http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T110312004840.htm Kesennuma described as 'hellish sight' Akiyama Hironari Ishibashi, Takeharu 13 March 2011 Yomiuri Shimbun 16 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5xDwnpDxQ 16 March 2011 anecdotal evidence suggests severe damage to the line as well as other coastal lines (including the Ishinomaki Line and Senseki Line). The rolling blackouts brought on by the crises at the nuclear power plants in Fukushima had a profound effect on the rail networks around Tokyo starting on 14 March. Major railways began running trains at 10–20 minute intervals, rather than the usual 3–5 minute intervals, operating some lines only at rush hour and completely shutting down others; notably, the Tokaido Main Line, Yokosuka Line, Sobu Main Line and Chūō-Sōbu Line were all stopped for the day.http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0314/TKY201103130323.html asahi.com（朝日新聞社）：計画停電で影響が出る主な鉄道（午前７時現在） – 社会 Asahi Shimbun 14 March 2011 http://www.webcitation.org/5y2b5j7jT 18 April 2011 no This led to near-paralysis within the capital, with long lines at train stations and many people unable to come to work or get home. Railway operators gradually increased capacity over the next few days, until running at approximately 80% capacity by 17 March and relieving the worst of the passenger congestion. References