Two trains missing in Japanese Tsunami

[Peter KS]

The BBC is now reporting that Japanese Railways have announced that they are unable to locate two trains near the city of Sendai following a 30ft high tsunami hitting the Japanese East Coast Mainline.

In the December 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami "The Queen of the Sea" express was destroyed while it was travelling along the Sri Lankan coastline from Colombo to the southern city of Galle. There were at least 802 bodies recovered at the scene and at least two hundred others were believed to have been on the train but their bodies could not be identified.

Let us hope the Japanese trains and their occupants are found safe. It puts our problems into perspective.

 

[chris89]

Certianly hope they are found, and for some surviors. Their is also a ferry missing as well with i believe 100 people on board.

Some of the reports are one of the trains is a Shinkansen service.

 

[westcoaster]

Just seen some of the footage, and it goes to show how savage mother earth can be, I have to say that looks like a natural disaster of epic proportions.

 

[LE Greys]

The tsunami has apparently now hit Santa Cruz in California and various places in Mexico. It seems to have dissipated a bit, but is still noticeable. No idea what happened to the various inhabited atolls in the Pacific, which could have been swamped completely by this.

There is also a story about a problem with a nuclear reactor. I hope that's not where the flames were coming from in the news reports (although that looked more like a refinery). I'd imagine they'd SCRAM any reactor likely to take a hit, but something seems to have happened.

Let's hope that the casualty figures aren't too awful.

 

[WatcherZero]

Yes its a refinery on fire, also reports of a explosion at a chemical plant and a dam has burst. Something like 10 reactors at 4 power stations shut down automatically from the earthquake but at this one something does seem to have gone wrong, shut down partially failed (cooling rods out of alignment?) and both primary and secondary power to power water pumps for cooling has failed, the government are now talking about a possible radiation leak occuring and the US is flying in reactor coolant (as opposed to normal water circulated).

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Y the government are now talking about a possible radiation leak occuring and the US is flying in reactor coolant (as opposed to normal water circulated).

Unconfirmed speculation.

Japanese law requires a nuclear emergency to be declared should there be a release of radiation, a dangerous level of water in the reactor, or the cooling systems fail. There is NO evidence of ANY radiation leak. The Japanese have 55 reactors, and have been in the game for 45 years, so are very experienced at dealing with this.

 

[WatcherZero]

Ministers just been on television saying there is a danger of a leak 'but the material will be no danger to humans or the environment' reactor pressure is now 1.5x normal and rising.

 

[Darandio]

They are apparently going to make a decision shortly about whether to purposely release radioactive steam into the atmosphere in order to relieve pressure.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

They are apparently going to make a decision shortly about whether to purposely release radioactive steam into the atmosphere in order to relieve pressure.

Just seen that. More serious than the BBC site suggested.

 

[chris89]

Just come up on Sky news that they will be releasing radioactive steam to relieve the presure, and reports of a 6.0 Aftershock in Tokyo.

Chris

 

[ralphchadkirk]

Just come up on Sky news that they will be releasing radioactive steam to relieve the presure, and reports of a 6.0 Aftershock in Tokyo.

Chris

Things are getting confused. Just checked one of the BBC live streams, and at 1841 they have stated they are to release the steam, but at 1851 it says they are still reaching a decision...

 

[ukrob]

As much I dislike Sky News, BBC is usually slightly behind them.

 

[Darandio]

As much I dislike Sky News, BBC is usually slightly behind them.

No need for them to be though, they are both getting the information from Associated Press.

It's most likely Sky News are reporting what the BBC feed said at 18:41 but then conveniently leaving out the report 10 minutes later which said a decision was not reached. They like to do that, reporting no decision means no drama.

 

[ralphchadkirk]

No need for them to be though, they are both getting the information from Associated Press.

It's most likely Sky News are reporting what the BBC feed said at 18:41 but then conveniently leaving out the report 10 minutes later which said a decision was not reached. They like to do that, reporting no decision means no drama.

I think those reports came from ABC news in America. Is that part of AP?

 

[Darandio]

The BBC states they come from AP. Most news organisations take feeds from AP.

 

[Ploughman]

Or is it that the Beeb take a few more minutes to confirm a story rather than just release it straight off.

 

[jopsuk]

As much I dislike Sky News, BBC is usually slightly behind them.

BBC have a policy of trying to be accurate rather than being first. Sky, being more sensationalist, have a love of being first.

 

[TGV]

Or is it that the Beeb take a few more minutes to confirm a story rather than just release it straight off.

That is EXACTLY what it is. I have a friend in media and he confirms this. Sky like the glory. BBC pride themselves on accuracy and quality, but at the same time, they do try and get it quickly.

 

[ukrob]

Or is it that the Beeb take a few more minutes to confirm a story rather than just release it straight off.

BBC have a policy of trying to be accurate rather than being first. Sky, being more sensationalist, have a love of being first.

I know why, I didn't say I like it.

In any case - Sky were correct in this instance.

 

[chris89]

On the news feed on BBC News now four trains are missing.

'2021: Contact has been lost with four trains in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, Japan's official Kyodo news agency reports.'


Chris

 

[Darandio]

In any case - Sky were correct in this instance.

So the BBC beat them then with the feed at 18:41?

 

[Eng274]

I'd always place more reliance on the BBC's news being accurate, even if it does take a bit longer to filter through. I have no faith in Sky news journalism after Adam Boulton's "impartial" questioning of Alistair Campbell back at the election.

Back to topic, this sounds utterly horrific. I'm sure we all pray for a communications failure-type problem for the unaccounted-for trains.

I know we are well-protected from tsunamis by ireland and mainland Europe, but it makes me wonder how much it would take to cripple the bridge over the river Tweed for example, or bad timing at Dawlish (is that the piece of route where the sea belts passing trains in stormy weather?)

 

[Dennis]

I understand there is going to be a charity concert in aid of the victims of this disaster. So far the Beachboys, Katrina and the Waves and Wet,Wet,Wet have agreed to appear.

Having said that, I don't think the Japanese are short of a bob or two for reconstruction; there was a bloke on the telly being interviewed on his driveway who had two boats parked outside his house and the market down the road was awash with consumer goods.

On a more serious note, what a dreadful event; us in the UK should be thankful that we never experience natural disasters on such a scale - even the most technologically advanced nation is utterly powerless in the face of such a destructive event.

 

[WatcherZero]

Theyve started venting radioactive steam from the reactor to try and relieve pressure, radioation levels at the plant are now 1000 times normal and the evacuation zone has been increased from 2km to 10km. Just saw some images of a Car factory with the thousands of finished cars being washed into a pile and burning like a brush fire.

 

[yorksrob]

us in the UK should be thankful that we never experience natural disasters on such a scale.

Not necessarily true unfortunately:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/sci_tech/2001/glasgow_2001/1531049.stm

 

[LE Greys]

Theyve started venting radioactive steam from the reactor to try and relieve pressure, radioation levels at the plant are now 1000 times normal and the evacuation zone has been increased from 2km to 10km. Just saw some images of a Car factory with the thousands of finished cars being washed into a pile and burning like a brush fire.

The BBC are confirming the steam release. This is very alarming, if temperatures don't cool down at some point, it could get very serious. I think there's a containment building, so there won't be another Chenobyl. Still, I'd imagine that the fires would be more likely to kill people than any reactor problems (seems bizarre that a flood can cause fires).

The tsunami seems to have dissipated, and is now reaching Cape Horn. Not sure about what happened to the atolls, I'm trying to find out. There's speculation of very extensive aftershocks, or even a much bigger earthquake. Let's hope that's wrong.

 

[WatcherZero]

Been lots of 6.3 aftershocks, waves have been smaller than expected and experts not sure why, possibly the seabed structure. So far no casualties reported outside japan only minor damage to boats/wharfs.

 

[flymo]

I know we are well-protected from tsunamis by ireland and mainland Europe, but it makes me wonder how much it would take to cripple the bridge over the river Tweed for example, or bad timing at Dawlish (is that the piece of route where the sea belts passing trains in stormy weather?)

I've been on a 150 along the Dawlish coast during bad weather and the guard has made sure all the windows were closed before heading out along the wall.
We were hit by a wave and there was a noticeable thud and vibration when the wave struck the side of the train. This wave didn't seem to be anything but it hit with a surprising amount of force seeing that it had already hit the wall and sort of bounced up and over the wall to hit the train a glancing blow. We were doing about 20mph at the time and the driver stopped the train for several minutes at Dawlish. I think he may have been reporting the conditions. We set off again towards Teignmouth at about 20mph all the way. This small wave that hit the 150 was only a fraction, maybe not even 1% of what happened in Japan so goodness only knows what would happen if a tsunami like has been seen in Japan over the last day or two hit any train. Not sure it would be a good outcome unfortunately. Lets hope it all turns out OK.

 

[boing_uk]

Water is a surprisingly powerful force if it is moving at speed and in sufficient volume. It only takes fast flowing water a couple of inches deep to wash a person off their feet, for example.

In the helicopter footage of the tsunami reaching that roadway embankment, I was fully expecting the water to just ride up and over it, given the way it was flowing over just about everything else, including other embankments just moments before.

Was particularly sobering to see cars being driven that were in the path of the wave, trying in vain to get away and being overwhelmed. One holds out hope for those people, despite the realistic chances of survival being next to nil.

 

[starrymarkb]

Hearing reports that one has been found derailed - passengers safe..