This is another clearinghouse diary for discussion and commentary about the ongoing nuclear disaster(s) in Japan. For updated information on news and a timeline of the events following the March 11 Japanese Earthquake, visit the Mothership. provides a more extensive list of news and data sources, social media, crisis mapping and other relevant information.
If you would like to recommend this diary feel free to do so. All previous liveblogs published to the Japan Nuclear Incident group can be found here. The group also serves as an archive for Coverage@Kos. (For more details on this ongoing 24/7 breaking news resource and information on how to follow this @ Kos, please read below the fold.)
(Fukushima Coverage picks up after WHO report....)
WHO Report & The Power of Community
In a world which is more and more defined by the chaos of extreme weather events, 'natural disasters' and the catastrophic consequences of extreme corruption and inappropriate oversight within huge corporations and government agencies, the need for a highly adaptable 'blueprint' on disaster preparedness and response has never been more apparent.
What has become increasing clear in the World Health Organization vigilant project monitoring the 'fallout' -- now two months out -- from Japan's March 11 Disaster are well documented findings that the most successful disaster response is occurring in those rural, close-knit communities where neighbors know their neighbors. Already have a connection with local health practitioners. And have established local leaders with the skill and organizing capabilities to breathe order, hope and some sense of stability to strengthen the ties between neighbors.
In those prefectures, the majority of the citizens areelderly, employed in manufacturing (12.0%), agriculture (17.1%) marine fishing (20.1%) and mariculture (17.8%)
In a nation with glaring social inequalities (Japan's povery rate is 15.7 percent), it was this population, the majority of whom undoubtedly were so engaged in day-to-day survival they were minimally involved in their government's energy policy or the international controversy vis-a-vis nuclear energy.
And it is these people who are showing the signs of resilience vulnerable populations around the global need to mimic as the climate change and extreme weather events lead to increasingly enormous adaptation, relief, reconstruction and redesign of how 21st communities can adjust and mimic their identity for survival.
"The conditions of the evacuation centres cannot be generalized as they vary widely, but smaller shelters, with a strong sense of community and good leadership, appeared to function well. For example, a relatively small evacuation centre in a remote area was functioning considerably well compared to the typical mass evacuation sites located in school gymnasiums. Existing relationships in the local community among individuals and among institutions appeared to be very important. In addition, the fact that they lived in a relatively remote area as a tightly knit community may have helped them to be self-sufficient and mutually supportive of each other. Good sites also appeared to have better leadership (or the right environment for a leader to function), which would help maintain order and cohesiveness, which benefits the level of sanitation and general health in the centre ..."
A Summary of WHO's 32nd Situation Report April 27
The Tohoku earthquake on 11 March did not damage many buildings itself. The large tsunami that followed the earthquake caused widespread damage to buildings, lifeline infrastructure, communication, transport and human health. Multiple disasters occurred including fires, aftershocks and damage to nuclear power plants. Several hospitals were destroyed and other health services impacted by loss of electricity and essential supplies. The disaster response was timely, with public health action occurring within the first two weeks of the event.
Deaths:14,508,
Missing: 11 452
Injured: 5,314.
Majority of deaths: Miyagi (8745), Iwate (4234) and Fukushima (1466) prefectures
Evacuees: 130,155 evacuees in shelters in 17 different prefectures
WHO identified five factors common to well-functioning evacuation centers (identified as those with the lowest public health risk):
• Availability of clean water for both drinking and washing and a sewage system – water
and sanitation are basic conditions for good public health.
• Strong leadership within the evacuee group to provide order and maintain morale.
These individuals were typically leaders within the community before the disaster.
• Strong existing relationships and familiarity among the evacuees. This promotes mutual support, and together with the strong leadership, is a key factor that contributes to the level of functioning of evacuation centres, which are still largely dependent on self-governance even after a month since the event.
• The role of the public health nurse is also essential to maintain good public health practices and conditions in the shelters.
Population statistics: (as of 27 April 2011)
Communicable Diseases: Slightly increased numbers of gastroenteritis, pneumonia and tetanus cases. Action: Effort and progress is being made into systematic surveillance. A need for continual work to strengthen surveillance, monitoring and risk assessment of communicable diseases and other public
health events such as food safety incidents
Mental Health
Providing psychiatric medications for those with pre-existing mental health conditions
were met promptly in the most affected areas.
In a number of evacuation centres in Miyagi, health care providers reported that evacuees who were initially lacking their psychiatric medications were now properly medicated. In the Iwate Prefecture, many evacuation centres received the required medications within a week of the disaster occurring.
• Counseling now been provided to those in evacuation centres in the most severely affected areas, with many centres reporting regular visits by mental health service providers.
Suggestion: Mental Health Service Providers work as part of a multidisciplinary and comprehensive team with other medical care providers (i.e. doctors, nurses, and pharmacists) would also help in reducing stigma associated with need for mental health care.
• A strong connection back to the community is essential to ease cultural restraints which make it difficult for the Japanese to express feelings.
For example, it was noted by some public health nurses, that although the affected are reluctant to open up to health care providers from other prefectures, they are in fact quite open to their usual care providers. Such challenges can be opportunities for local public health workers as they are familiar with the community being an integral part of MHPSS, and are well aware of how to provide culturally appropriate and sensitive care.
Implementation of Strategies to meet mental health needs of all affected populations
• Those who left shelters or who leave shelters during day to work in reconstruction efforts lack access to on-site mental health services, while this group might already be at risk or already experiencing problems, including PTSD. Informal reports indicate higher rates of suicide among persons between 40-50 living outside centers.
• Ongoing monitoring and assistance to health care workers is ongoing and a top priority.
... the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has also caused anxiety and other mental health concerns, particularly for people from the designated evacuation zones who were not directly affected by the tsunami. Not only are these people anxious about their prospects of returning to their homes and work, and regaining their livelihood, but they also face possible discrimination in the future, causing further anxiety. It is important to reassure the evacuees and to provide scientific information on the situation at the nuclear power plant to continuously educate the public, in order to avoid unnecessary discrimination.
Newsfeed: (Combined Sources JNI 3 May JST). … Radiation leaks from fuel rods suspected at Tsuruga plant … Wall planned to protect nuclear facilities from future tsunamis … Tepco will triple number of staff workers to 3000 as they raise maximy exposure level for male workers to 250 millisieverts per year … Japanese government releasing withheld data projecting the spread of radiation from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant … 30 becquerels of radioactive iodine-131 per cubic centimeter in Saturday's No. 2 water samples 3,300 times the national limit and 30 percent higher than the level detected on Friday.
Fukushima radiation levels rise to highest levels yet
By William Whitlow
2 May 2011
As the twenty-fifth anniversary of Chernobyl passes, Fukushima looks set to overtake it as the world’s worst nuclear disaster. Two weeks ago Fukushima was raised from a level 5 disaster to a level 7 like Chernobyl. But nearly two months after the crisis began, Fukushima is still emitting radioactivity, while Chernobyl’s emissions had been contained at this stage.
Coverage@Kos
procrastinator john reports on claim that reactors in full meltdown
on Michio Ishikawa, the former head of the Japan Nuclear Technology InstituteMost of the opinion in the unscientific sample I looked at were criticizing him for saying things that didn't make sense (outside of the total meltdown comment). Even the critics who dismissed him harshly were not dismissing his comment outright.
Going back to the source you cited (which is by a Japanese person explaining Fukushima-related news in English), here is another quote from the author's running explanation of what was being said during the tv program:Mr. Hasegawa of Chunichi Shinbun jumps in, and says "We took the numbers from the government like 30% core melt as true, and went from there. But then Mr. Ishikawa says it's a total melt."
Then, Kohei Otsuka, the Vice Minister of Health and Welfare and politician from the ruling party (DPJ), sitting right next to Mr. Ishikawa, butts in, and warns everyone:
"Since none of us knows for sure the condition of the reactor cores, we shouldn't speculate on a national TV."
Mr. Hasegawa overrides the politician, and says "The real problem is that what no one knows is presented to us every day as if it is a fact, like 30% core melt in the chart."
I think this exchange gets at the heart of the problem. Ishikawa, the former head of the Japan Nuclear Technology Institute, may be something of a crackpot, but he is leveling a charge that cannot be disproved (and probably should not be dismissed). On the other hand, the government and TEPCO are making a claim (about 30% melting) that cannot be disproved but for which there is no clear evidence, so it is not credible (even if it turns out in retrospect to be right).
If Ishikawa had firm evidence his claim would be big news. At the present, I think his claim is more of a comment about how the government's information management strategy is completely screwed up.
hounddog on 30 April Worst-Case Scenario For Nuclear Spent Fuel Rod Disaster Detailed in NRC Report
FishOutofWater on 1 May New Fukushima Data: Evidence of Instability & Uncontrolled Criticality
For previous Coverage@Kos, visit the JNI group page.
Note: Inclusion of Diaries on the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster in Coverage@Kos chronicle the diaries and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of JNI.
scribblewire reports 2 May
2 May 7:00 plant parameters: www.meti.go.jp 2 May radiation monitoring: www.meti.go.jp 2 May NISA Report 123: 11.go.jp 2 May JAIF NPP Status 118: www.jaif.or.jp 2 May JAIF Earthquake Report 69: www.jaif.or.jp MEXT Environmental Radiation Readings (dust, air, water, by-prefecture): www.mext.go.jp 9:28 AM JST
Fukushima Prefecture Radiation Survey
this is news and techy, but in a different way: i updated my little program QuakeAlert v1.2. it bases on the USGS data. it is very small and resides in the sysytem tray. right click for options, left click opens the map of last quake. it comes with sound notify (opt), magnitude and japan filter and variable refresh interval. opens detailed and history maps. www.file-upload.net
Another gov't prediction system failed in Fukushima nuke accident
TOKYO, May 3, Kyodo
Japan's system for predicting the volume of radioactive materials to be released into the environment failed in the wake of the nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant due to the power supply cut following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, sources close to the matter said Monday.
For ongoing coverage from April 4-10, visit Burners Without Borders, ROV 53.