Anyone in Japan? Tsunami alert - any more news ? PLEASE

[RatherBeOnThePiste]

DH who gets these things has had a tsunami alert for Japan. Does anyone have any more info? Itsjust breaking news about the massive earthquake at the moment.

fingers crossed they will get it under control soon and the evacuation is purely precautionary.

I've been hearing from lots of friends in Tokyo - lots of minor damage and smashed glass everywhere, lifts out of action, no power some places, transport not working etc and phone system overloaded or shut down, but no one hurt. But the pictures from Sendai and the tsunami are terrifying.

how are all these people in Tokyo going to get home tonight, with the trains not working?

My thoughts go out to all of those affected :(

seth - I'm not sure if trains were back up and running by rush hour (finished by now) but I have heard of some people sleeping in their offices or elsewhere. But most of my friends live fairly centrally or are at home anyway.

When I was living in Tokyo they published emergency maps of routes to walk home from central Tokyo - could take days for some commuters, though, so easier to stay in the office. Most offices have emergency supplies and some even have bedding (for use in emergencies, but also after late-night overtime). No road damage in Tokyo that I have heard of, so presumably cars/buses/taxis were OK.

They are all walking apparently sethstark - there is someone on the BBC saying hundreds of people are walking and some need to walk 20km or more to get home.

it's cold tonight as well

I hope the office ladies have comfortable shoes to put on.

my db works in Tokyo but he works from home a lot and I assume he was working from home today, as he says his house is now even untidier than usual....

And according to a Japanese friend's twitter page, all public high schools in Tokyo and some other public buildings are being opened as shelters tonight.

Chile www.weather.gov/ptwc/

Devastating, thoughts are with you all affected

I guess they have contingency plans and resources for this kind of thing as part of general earthquake preparedness.

My cousin is the director of English Language Services at the British Council in Tokyo.
We are really worried about her, her DH and 3 DC. No word yet.

oh Candleshoe my db used to work there, about 10 years ago.

do you think they might have been away from home Candleshoe?
I don't get the impression there have been mass casualities in Tokyo, hope they are all safe and you will hear from them soon xxx

So difficult when communications are down.

Candleshoe - unless they have internet access which is working, they may have trouble getting word out that they're OK. Apparently most of the mobile phone networks are either down or overloaded, and a lot of the land lines too. If they are in Tokyo they are almost certainly OK, just probably rather shaken up and shocked.

candleshoe It may be because communications are down you could try ringing FCO helpline if you don't get any news soon. I expect only mobile contact will be in use ATM - many areas power lines are down.

My Auntie will phone us the minute she hears anything - she's trying everything .... but really waiting is all any of us can do.

Mobile networks are probably pretty overloaded at the moment as well.

I hope you are right exexpat

I haven't heard of anyone being seriously hurt in Tokyo except for the one place where a roof fell down during a graduation ceremony, and I have heard from friends all over Tokyo. I know it's hard, but please don't worry - communications are really difficult at the moment.

An estimated 300 bodies found in Sendai city.

And there has just been an major explosion at a petrochemical plant there.

Tsunami wave has hit Hawaii islands now.

Someone else may have mentioned this (not read whole thread) but Google has launched a person finder thingy for people caught up in this awful disaster:

japan.person-finder.appspot.com/?lang=en

Just in case it helps anyone who is waiting to hear news of a loved one.