Huge 8.9 quake plus tsunami - Japan

...it will have no effect on human, plant or animal life outside the fence.

That being said, there is a big low plain from the harbor area to about the century freeway.

Klimmer, you were on the grassy knoll, weren't you?

I'd like to show my respect for the men and women putting their lives on the line to control the radiation leak. They are full aware that their bravery may result in a painful death.

Japanese authorities rush to save lives, avert nuclear crisis
By the CNN Wire Staff
March 12, 2011 7:34 p.m. EST
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/12/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1

Shirakawa, Japan (CNN) -- A meltdown may be occurring at one of the reactors at a damaged nuclear power plant in northeast Japan, a government official said Sunday morning, sparking fears of a widespread release of radioactive material at a time when rescuers are frantically scrambling to find survivors from the country's strongest-ever earthquake.

Toshihiro Bannai, an official with Japan's nuclear and industrial safety agency, said officials have injected sea water and boron into the reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi facility in an effort to cool its nuclear fuel. He expressed confidence that efforts to contain the crisis would be successful.




Edit:
This seems to be from earlier today. Seems the most current news is worse.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4767922

In the future, people who live on coasts in earthquake tsunami country should have robust "body capsules" made of metal or kevlar to climb into.

We can only imagine the heroic efforts the Fukoshima workers
are going through. Dosimeter badge's showing big exposures. Knowing
that the job MUST get done because Japan and the world are counting on them.
Its a nightmare.

CNN

http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2011/03/12/japan-earthquake-live-blog-death-toll-rises-amid-widespread-destruction/

[9:54 p.m. ET, 11:54 a.m. Tokyo] A meltdown may have occurred at at least one nuclear power reactor in Japan, the country's chief cabinet secretary, Yukio Edano, said Sunday.

He also said that authorities are concerned over the possibility of another meltdown at a second reactor.

"We do believe that there is a possibility that meltdown has occurred. It is inside the reactor. We can't see. However, we are assuming that a meltdown has occurred," he said of the No. 1 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. "And with reactor No. 3, we are also assuming that the possibility of a meltdown as we carry out measures."

Edano's comments confirm an earlier report from an official with Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, who said, "we see the possibility of a meltdown."

A meltdown is a catastrophic failure of the reactor core, with a potential for widespread radiation release. However, Toshihiro Bannai, director of the agency's international affairs office, expressed confidence that efforts to control the crisis would be successful.