Earthquake!

[Coligny]

More pictures of the destruction, including other view angles of the TV building, who was clearly made of thin air...

http://totallycoolpix.com/2011/02/earthquake-hits-new-zealand-city-of-christchurch/

[Mulboyne]

NHK is getting some stick now. One of the Japanese lads rescued had to have his leg amputated. The broadcaster caught up with him and asked him how he felt when he was told he would need to lose his leg.

On Twitter, a number of people have called this question grossly insensitive. Even an NHK guy has admitted he was shocked when he heard it asked in the report as it was being shown.

[Yokohammer]

NHK is getting some stick now. One of the Japanese lads rescued had to have his leg amputated. The broadcaster caught up with him and asked him how he felt when he was told he would need to lose his leg.

On Twitter, a number of people have called this question grossly insensitive. Even an NHK guy has admitted he was shocked when he heard it asked in the report as it was being shown.

But this is the standard can't-think-of-anything-better-to-ask Japanese reporter question.

"How did you feel when you learned your son had been killed?"
"How did you feel when you learned that your son had killed somebody?"
"How did you feel when you were stabbed by the intruder?"

They do it all the time, and it bugs the crap out of me every time I hear it. You just want grab the reporter by the lapel, shake hard, and yell "he feels sad/pain/shock, you fucking moron!" Nobody seems to think anything of it when they do it here, but it sure isn't going to export well.

[Yokohammer]

An addendum to the above post:

Mulling this over some more, I'm beginning to think that maybe it's the emergence of technologies like Twitter that allow people to publicly express their opinions that's making a difference. It's not that people haven't been bothered by this sort of nonsense in the past, it's just that they haven't had a convenient way to express it. That can only be a good thing.

Nonetheless, in a catastrophic case like the NZ quake you'd think that people (reporters) would use a bit more common sense.

[Greji]

Nonetheless, in a catastrophic case like the NZ quake you'd think that people (reporters) would use a bit more common sense.

I have a lot of friends in NZ and was interested in hearing more news on the exact areas affected; however, as usual, it was all about Japan and the missing Japanese. Obviously, this TIJ, so there should be concern about the Japanese victims, but that's all we have gotten since the quake. Plus views of the flattened TV building from every conceivable angle. That building ain't gonna stand up again, so what about the rest of the areas. Granted a couple of shots of the landmark churches, but then, "zoom" right back to the TV building.

One last comment before the tirade (or triad as McTurd likes it) is over. When the Japanese assistance team was loading up to depart, one of the TV announcers said that the team will be there in X-amount of hours and then we can expect to get accurate information on the situation about ijins! First, do they figure the Kiwis are deceiving them, or with-holding casualty information? Secondly, I thought the Assistance team was going to help New Zealand, not indigenous Japanese. Well, what do you expect from the same nation that wouldn't allow foreign assistance teams (country explicit), doctors (not licensed to practice in Japan), or cadaver dogs (quarantine violation) into country following Kobe (0r at least until it started appearing in the foreign media).

End of Rant

[IkemenTommy]

[Yokohammer]

Well, what do you expect from the same nation that wouldn't allow foreign assistance teams (country explicit), doctors (not licensed to practice in Japan), or cadaver dogs (quarantine violation) into country following Kobe (0r at least until it started appearing in the foreign media).

Wasn't it similar when JAL flight 123 crashed on that mountain in Gunma back in '85?

The story I heard was that the US forces were there in a flash (it was at night), ready to drop in a search and rescue team, but the J-government said "No thanks, we'll do it our way," and then went back to their emergency meeting where they were trying to decide what to do. They didn't actually get there until the following day.

I figure you'd know the details on that one.

But yeah, nice rant. I really liked the little parade and speech event the assistance team put on for the media before leaving for NZ, to show what a swell bunch of guys they are.

[hundefar]

[YT]SFfTTZVw_S8[/YT]

[ichigo partygirl]

Hi all - this is Ichigo. I have created this temporary account while my password issues for my account are getting sorted (probably against site rules but i'm sure you'll forgive me).
I am in Wellington where we felt the quake but are all perfectly fine. The immense sadness and despair which is being felt by New Zealand the moment is unlike anything I have ever experienced. When a country of 4 million people loses so many people and suffers such damage from a single event, the impact is truly nation wide.
I don't think its a stretch to say that every one in New Zealand knows someone personally who has been effected by this.
My friends and family are safe although some are injured and many have lost homes. I know several people who have family and friends who are missing and presumed dead. Its hard to watch them suffer while they wait.
I have been helping counselling international Japanese students. Today i talked with two students who were in the main square when it happened and walked through the disaster and sat at the airport for 36hours before getting out. Really brings it home.
The international response has been amazing including the Japanese teams. Some of the journalists have been acting like vultures and it has been hard to watch without wanting to punch the tv. It isn't just the Japanese crossing the line though.
Looting and crime is sadly now becoming an issue. The Police and general public are cracking down on it hard. As our Justice Minister said "There will be no sympathy for these people".
Anyway I just wanted to check in and say hi and thanks for those of you that have been asking after me. Hopefully i'll have access to my account again soon and can post again as ichigo partygirl

[Ol Dirty Gaijin]

When the Japanese assistance team was loading up to depart, one of the TV announcers said that the team will be there in X-amount of hours and then we can expect to get accurate information on the situation about ijins! First, do they figure the Kiwis are deceiving them, or with-holding casualty information? Secondly, I thought the Assistance team was going to help New Zealand, not indigenous Japanese. Well, what do you expect from the same nation that wouldn't allow foreign assistance teams (country explicit), doctors (not licensed to practice in Japan), or cadaver dogs (quarantine violation) into country following Kobe (0r at least until it started appearing in the foreign media).

End of Rant

Maybe Open rant.

I was disgusted by the coverage I saw last night. They interviewed one of the head Japanese search and rescue guys and he was banging on how they were "world class" but gave no acknowledgement to the teams there already. I'm sure the New Zealand guys are not chopped liver given the terrain of the country and the problems they would have to deal with. They then wheel out their colon camera like it was some big deal (sorry it 'aint, they are more common they he thinks). Before the team left Japan team the NZ SAR guys announced there was no hope for survivors at CTV and that doing more work on the site would be too dangerous at this stage. There have been aftershocks with a magnitude of 4 to 6. While sending a team should be great in many ways there seems to be absolutely no respect towards the local efforts. I hope they are doing other work....

This was followed by live coverage, outside with a reporter at which I figure would have been 1am in NZ time . Reporter with safety helmet, chin strap nicely tucked around the back of the helmet for added "safety" then did his report in front of a flattened building (not CTV). There is a 6:30pm curfew in Christchurch and he may not have been in the forbidden area but I was hoping a local might toss a brick.

The use of dogs is a tricky one and is one that I questioned watching the news when they showed the the Japanese team walking in with dogs. At first I thought 'they better not be Japanese dogs' and they could be local trained dogs on loan. I suppose you (Greji) would know better than I do about NZ quarantine rules from the 'nags but I would be surprised if its not 30 days. Quarantine is pretty strict for a reason.

[Yokohammer]

Hi all - this is Ichigo ...

Ichigo,

Great to hear that you and yours are OK. There are too many others who weren't as lucky, and there are quite a few of us over here who are sharing your sadness and despair. But NZers are a pretty hardy and resilient bunch (the ones I know certainly are), so I don't doubt that you'll all come back stronger than ever.

In the meantime our thoughts are with you.

[Mulboyne]

Hi all - this is Ichigo. I have created this temporary account while my password issues for my account are getting sorted (probably against site rules but i'm sure you'll forgive me).
I am in Wellington where we felt the quake but are all perfectly fine. The immense sadness and despair which is being felt by New Zealand the moment is unlike anything I have ever experienced. When a country of 4 million people loses so many people and suffers such damage from a single event, the impact is truly nation wide.
I don't think its a stretch to say that every one in New Zealand knows someone personally who has been effected by this.
My friends and family are safe although some are injured and many have lost homes. I know several people who have family and friends who are missing and presumed dead. Its hard to watch them suffer while they wait.
I have been helping counselling international Japanese students. Today i talked with two students who were in the main square when it happened and walked through the disaster and sat at the airport for 36hours before getting out. Really brings it home.
The international response has been amazing including the Japanese teams. Some of the journalists have been acting like vultures and it has been hard to watch without wanting to punch the tv. It isn't just the Japanese crossing the line though.
Looting and crime is sadly now becoming an issue. The Police and general public are cracking down on it hard. As our Justice Minister said "There will be no sympathy for these people".
Anyway I just wanted to check in and say hi and thanks for those of you that have been asking after me. Hopefully i'll have access to my account again soon and can post again as ichigo partygirl

Thanks for the update, Ichigo.

Here's a Fuji TV interviewer asking some daft questions.

[YThq]dhFBO_wfeHo[/YThq]

[American Oyaji]

Hi all - this is Ichigo. I have created this temporary account while my password issues for my account are getting sorted (probably against site rules but i'm sure you'll forgive me).
I am in Wellington where we felt the quake but are all perfectly fine. The immense sadness and despair which is being felt by New Zealand the moment is unlike anything I have ever experienced. When a country of 4 million people loses so many people and suffers such damage from a single event, the impact is truly nation wide.
I don't think its a stretch to say that every one in New Zealand knows someone personally who has been effected by this.
My friends and family are safe although some are injured and many have lost homes. I know several people who have family and friends who are missing and presumed dead. Its hard to watch them suffer while they wait.
I have been helping counselling international Japanese students. Today i talked with two students who were in the main square when it happened and walked through the disaster and sat at the airport for 36hours before getting out. Really brings it home.
The international response has been amazing including the Japanese teams. Some of the journalists have been acting like vultures and it has been hard to watch without wanting to punch the tv. It isn't just the Japanese crossing the line though.
Looting and crime is sadly now becoming an issue. The Police and general public are cracking down on it hard. As our Justice Minister said "There will be no sympathy for these people".
Anyway I just wanted to check in and say hi and thanks for those of you that have been asking after me. Hopefully i'll have access to my account again soon and can post again as ichigo partygirl

Glad you're well Ichigo! Be safe!!

[omae mona]

Thanks for the update, Ichigo.

Here's a Fuji TV interviewer asking some daft questions.

[YThq]dhFBO_wfeHo[/YThq]

God that was awful. Especially the non-question comment "up until now, you were able to do sports...". What a jerk. I actually think the kid's responses were incredibly classy, considering the awful questions, along the lines of "I'm just happy to be alive" and "I hope they can help the people who haven't been rescued yet".

Ichigo, it's great to hear from you, and we are thinking about you & everybody around you.

[ichigo partygirl]

I just watached the video and agree omae mona - the boy had incredible control and dignity in his answers consider the circumstances. The reporter on the other hand....*Shakes Head*
Ol Dirty Gaijin mentioned the search dogs. I know New Zealand has search dogs (Police dogs and custom dogs mainly) but i don't think we would have that large number of search dogs. If they were ours they probably would of have to been taken them from other essential services. In this sort of situation it wouldn't surprise me if they were from Australia or elsewhere.
Sadly nobody has been found alive since Wednesday despite the large number of urban search and rescue teams in the city.
For any of you wanting to follow the NZ news on the quake Stuff is our leading national news website
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake?label=Christchurch+quake

[dimwit]

Architectural engineers had warned that some quake-proofing would be necessary for the six-story CTV building after the temblor in September 2010, but the owner of the building apparently decided that it was safe enough...

A three-story building behind the CTV building was severely damaged, and demolition work began in December.

Cope-Williams said shockwaves from the wrecking ball caused many cracks to widen in the CTV building, raising concerns among CTV employees that the building would not survive another quake.

The demolition work was completed Feb. 21, the day before the latest temblor.

http://www.asahi.com/english/TKY201102280347.html

I can begin to see the lawsuits flying.

[ichigo partygirl]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/christchurch-earthquake/4722503/Christchurch-quake-Japanese-reporter-kicked-out

Two Japanese reporters are amongst a total of five reporters who have had their accreditation removed.

"The Japanese reporter was kicked out of the Christchurch city centre today after getting ''physically aggressive'' towards a police commander, it was reported earlier.

The TV reporter was escorted from the area by police around the art gallery today after his accreditation was removed.

Last night, the reporter "got physically aggressive" towards Christchurch police commander Superintendent Dave Cliff and had to be restrained, a police spokesman said".

Concerns have been raised about media behaviour in Christchurch.

Last week, a Japanese reporter was arrested after trying to gain access to the Christchurch Hospital.

Being physically aggressive towards the Police Commander is both extremely disrespectful and pointless. What did that reporter hope to achieve? I bet this incident hasn't been in the Japanese news.

[Mulboyne]

Being physically aggressive towards the Police Commander is both extremely disrespectful and pointless. What did that reporter hope to achieve? I bet this incident hasn't been in the Japanese news.

I popped that one on the front page after you tweeted the link. I haven't seen it mentioned in the news here but one blogger picked it up and one Japanese twitter user saw his comment about the incident heavily retweeted. "Yuko" from Tokyo wrote this:

Dear NZ Police.. Please feel free to arrest Japanese media and kick their arses if they act like shit!! Japan supports you!

[IkemenTommy]

First

[Doctor Stop]

That was a long one.

[wuchan]

first.


5 miyagi

EDIT son of a...

[Doctor Stop]

first.

You mean you're first at being second?

[Yokohammer]

Yee-har!
Rock 'n Roll!
Ride 'em cowboy!

(Guess who's in Miyagi ... )

Edit: Two aftershocks thus far (as of 12:10).

[Iraira]

That was a long one.

That's what she said...........

[IkemenTommy]

[matsuki]

Deal whales usually predict another round of beers for me. (and another round of dead whale if there are too many people)

[IkemenTommy]

Deal whales usually predict another round of beers for me. (and another round of dead whale if there are too many people)

Dead whales make good beer otsumami.


[Mod edit: March 11, 2011 earthquake discussion moved here: Tohoku Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Disaster ]

[wuchan]

BOOM!

that one got shook the house good.

[Taro Toporific]

HEY STOP IT!

[Taro Toporific]

Ibaraki has tsunami warning.

M6!