For those who care: Current Fukishima headlines....

[Art_from_Ark]

3. A few comments

First, Mr. Murata is a *former* ambassador to Switzerland, and I have no idea what his qualifications are for making statements about the situation in Fukushima. However, I think his statement that "Once a quake beyond magnitude 6 or 7 happens, then the world starts heading towards the ultimate catastrophe " is a little hyperbolic, given that there have already been several 6, even 7 earthquakes in the immediate vicinity of the reactors since the March 11-14 disasters. For example, between March 23 and April 12 of last year, there were 4 earthquakes in the Hamadori area (closest to the reactors) that registered a magnitude of at least a 6, and one even exceeded 7.

http://typhoon.yahoo.co.jp/weather/jp/earthquake/list/?e=251&sort=1&key=1&b=601

But more important than magnitude is *intensity*, that is, the potential for a seismic event to cause damage. The Japanese scale of seismic intensity rates earthquakes for their potential to cause damage, with ratings of 5 and above (maximum 7) having the potential to cause damage, with 6 representing major damage and 7 representing catastrophic damage. A couple of those earthquakes I mentioned above registered an intensity level of 6 in the vicinity of the reactors, but we are still here. Although the situation is far from stable or desirable, as one who is living within a couple hours drive from the reactors, I'm not going to panic just yet.