Tsunami

As you probably know a tsunami has hit Japan . . . the 8.9 earthquake has caused extensive damage in Northern Japan and aftershocks still coming.

A number of countries in the region are preparing for the waves (http://www.jpost.com/International/Article.aspx?id=211720 and http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/tsunami.hawaii.japan.warning/) including Taiwan which is on the tsunami watch list now (http://focustaiwan.tw/ShowNews/WebNews_Detail.aspx?Type=aALL&ID=201103110011). Taiwan is likely to see some waves although at diminished size (Lorraine was in Tamshui picking up Kaye and the teachers had just had a meeting and let classes out a bit early).

Some cities here in Taiwan have suspended school and work tonight as we prepare for the tsunami to come this way. Coastal areas are under alert. The nuclear power plants are under watch, although they are not expected to have issues. Those with family and friends in Taiwan can listen to ICRT online in English at http://www.icrt.com.tw.

In Taiwan, the government has started evacuating a number of areas on the East coast (http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/japan-quake-taiwan-idUSTPV00248120110311) and Keelung where we live is one of the areas expected to see waves but they are predicted to be minimal in our area (http://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2011/03/11/taiwan-issues-tsunami-warning/ – interesting that they spelled the name of the area both as Jilong and Keelung in the same article).

– Brian