However, Japanese cities stand on solid infrastructure, so the death toll has not even reached 30 people. A tragedy that several dozens are dead, but one may appreciate that many lives were saved otherwise.
All the same, it’s complete blackout in that city. Phone lines are gone, electricity is gone, everything. Cars on the roads were swept into the water, and then crashed into the river bridges, which were also nearly overflooded with water.
This is like a really bad disaster movie come to life.
The poor Japs should insist on purchasing Sakhalin and before is too late. Otherwise it’ll come to war. There’s no way they’re going to be sitting there waiting to be washed away by a huge tsunami.
Looks like a big one, Japanese people are probably the best people in the world to handle such a disaster though. I always wondered why they had those paper walls in movies in Japan, it turns out that it they have a history of earthquakes since the beginning, a clever solution. Luckily the earthquake was not too close to Tokyo, or it would have been a bigger event than the Kobe disaster.
If there is a silver lining in this, perhaps this could be the impetus to make big changes to their distorted economy.
My first thought went to a friend who lives and works in Osaka. I know Osaka isn’t the most affected area but he often travels to Tokyo for business so I am waiting for him to say he’s OK.
I already have friends in New Zealand and already went through a similar routine.
But then I saw a picture of cars swept away by a massive wave and I immediately thought “car manufacturers must be salivating over this”. I’d like to know I am just malicious but I know I am right.
This article says a cloud of radiation may be moving towards tokyo.
Really can’t imagine what they people there are going through. But I know the government won’t be held accountable while they dream up more legislation to be passed- never let a good disaster go to waste.
Japan’s second largest Yakuza organization, Sumiyoshi-kai, announced via Twitter that they will be providing emergency relief to all earthquake victims in Japan. They also are supplying food to those in need and are opening their district offices to be used as temporary shelter.
It won’t long before some Keynesian talking head says that its a horrible tragedy but at least they’ll see huge economic growth. They said it after Katrina.
Very tragic what happened in Japan. It is extremely unfortunate that Japan suffered multiple devastation, the earthquake itself, the tsunamis, and the nuclear meltdown. My hopes and prayers go out to the Japanese people. I am sure they will be able to come together and make it through this disaster.
It still amazes that you don’t see widespread looting and chaos in Japan right now. Everyone is still cordial and orderly in this society. The world could really learn something from Japan.
