Earthquake in Japan (2)

Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 07:25:45 +0900
...
Our damage on human life, economy and environment (and nuclear powers) is probably very huge. Japan has not ever sufferred such a big earthquake since the 9th century (AD 869), although our economic damage is probably less than that during WW2. I cannot imagine how many people have been died or lost; how many sufferred people who lost house and job have appeared.
I suspect whether our life style (many buildings exist near coastal/estuary zones) should be maintained or not.
Regards,
Hiroyuki

Earthquake in Japan

Date: Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:02:09 +0900
[Dear all]
Thank you for sending email.
I am now in Sapporo (Annual Meeting of Ecological Society of Japan). I am fine, but my flight to Tokyo on 11th was cancelled. I stay in Sapporo until 14th.
All of my family in Tokyo are safe. I communicated them by mobile emails. Traffic in Tokyo and Yokohama did not work. My secretary and some of lab members stayed in university.
Two my graduate students are staying in Oregon and in Scotland. He has not communicated with his family, living in Miyagi (most damaged area). I have not yet confirmed some of my lab members. On 12th our university planned the entrance exam of undergraduate students. But it was postponed.
We have not yet directly or indirectly communicated with fisheries bases in eastern Japan and marine/fisheries research stations. I received an email from a mammalogist at Morioka. In these areas there was no public electiricity, and tap water available on 12th.
First we are worrying human safety. Next, we will probably worry about environment and economy. There will be huge number of sufferers who lost houses and private properties. Even in Tokyo, 24 hours electric power supply will be difficult, including schools/hospitals(?).
Nuclear powers meltdown is also concerned. I could only hope to avoid wide range and long-term pollution, but cannot expect to survive the nuclear plant.
Regards,
Hiroyuki Matsuda