Sabtu, 26 Maret 2011
Jumat, 11 Maret 2011
Deaths, tsunamis feared as massive quake hits Japan
Deaths, tsunamis feared as massive quake hits Japan
The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years unleashed walls of water that swept across rice fields, engulfing towns, dragging houses onto highways and tossing cars and boats like toys.
Local media reported at least 32 deaths, with more casualties feared. And the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck at 2:46 p.m., prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a tsunami warning for at least 20 countries.
The quake's epicenter was 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said.
But residents there continued to feel aftershocks hours after the quake. More than 30 aftershocks followed, with the strongest measuring at 7.1.
"I wasn't scared when it started ... but it just kept going and going," said Michelle Gates, who lives in central Tokyo.
"I won't lie, it was quite scary. But we are all OK. We live on the third floor, so most everything shook and shifted."
Map: 8.9 earthquake hits Japan
Cars submerged in water after quake
Quake interrupts meeting
CNN bureau in Japan experiences quake
Witness: 'Tremor to remember'
RELATED TOPICS
Earthquakes
U.S. Geological Survey
A spokesman for the U.S. military bases in Japan said all service members were accounted for and there were no reports of damage to installations or ships.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan appealed for calm and said there were no reported leaks of radioactive materials from power plants.
Four nuclear power plants closest to the quake were safely shut down, the UN nuclear watchdog agency said.
At Tokyo Station, one of Japan's busiest subway stations, shaken commuters grabbed one another to stay steady as the ground shook. Dazed residents poured into the streets after offices and schools were closed. Children cried.
The quake toppled cars off bridges and into waters underneath. Waves of debris flowed like lava across farmland, pushing boats, houses and trailers. About 4 million homes had no power in Tokyo and surrounding areas.
Firefighters battled a fiery blaze at an oil refinery in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo.
Residents said though earthquakes are common in Japan, Friday's stunned most people.
"This was larger than anyone expected and went on longer than anyone expected," said Matt Alt, who lives in Tokyo.
"My wife was the calm one ... she told us to get down and put your back on something, and leave the windows and doors open in case a building shifts so you don't get trapped."
Richard Lloyd Parry said he looked through a window and saw buildings shaking from side to side.
"Central Tokyo is fine from what we see, people are calm ... and not going inside buildings," he said.
Such a large earthquake at such a shallow depth creates a lot of energy, said Shenza Chen of the U.S. Geological Survey.
As the city grappled with the devastation, a massive tsunami swept across the Pacific Ocean.
An earthquake of that size can generate a dangerous tsunami to coasts outside the source region, the National Weather Service said.
In Philippines alone, the tsunami is expected to hit in the early morning and the government has evacuated 20 provinces along the coast.
Authorities in at least 20 countries and numerous Pacific islands issued tsunami warnings, the National Weather Service said.
The wide-ranging list includes Russia and Indonesia, Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica and the U.S. state of Hawaii, where warning sirens were sounded in the morning. A tsunami warning was also issued for areas along the United States and Canadian west coasts
Humanitarian agencies were working with rescue crews to reach the people affected.
"When such an earthquake impacts a developed country like Japan, our concern also turns to countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, which might not have the same resources," said Rachel Wolff, a spokeswoman for World Vision.
Wolff said her agency is helping people on the ground in Japan and teaming up to help others in countries along the path of the tsunami.
The tsunami could cause damage "along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," warned the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."
Tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas. A succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first, said CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera.
The quake was the latest in a series in the region this week.
Early Thursday, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck off the coast of Honshu. A day earlier, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake had struck off the same coast, the country's meteorological agency said.
The largest recorded quake took place in Chile on May 22, 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5, the USGS said.
The quake Friday was the fifth-strongest in the world since 1900, the agency said and the most powerful to hit Japan since then.
The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years unleashed walls of water that swept across rice fields, engulfing towns, dragging houses onto highways and tossing cars and boats like toys.
Local media reported at least 32 deaths, with more casualties feared. And the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck at 2:46 p.m., prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue a tsunami warning for at least 20 countries.
The quake's epicenter was 373 kilometers (231 miles) away from Tokyo, the United States Geological Survey said.
But residents there continued to feel aftershocks hours after the quake. More than 30 aftershocks followed, with the strongest measuring at 7.1.
"I wasn't scared when it started ... but it just kept going and going," said Michelle Gates, who lives in central Tokyo.
"I won't lie, it was quite scary. But we are all OK. We live on the third floor, so most everything shook and shifted."
Map: 8.9 earthquake hits Japan
Cars submerged in water after quake
Quake interrupts meeting
CNN bureau in Japan experiences quake
Witness: 'Tremor to remember'
RELATED TOPICS
Earthquakes
U.S. Geological Survey
A spokesman for the U.S. military bases in Japan said all service members were accounted for and there were no reports of damage to installations or ships.
Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan appealed for calm and said there were no reported leaks of radioactive materials from power plants.
Four nuclear power plants closest to the quake were safely shut down, the UN nuclear watchdog agency said.
At Tokyo Station, one of Japan's busiest subway stations, shaken commuters grabbed one another to stay steady as the ground shook. Dazed residents poured into the streets after offices and schools were closed. Children cried.
The quake toppled cars off bridges and into waters underneath. Waves of debris flowed like lava across farmland, pushing boats, houses and trailers. About 4 million homes had no power in Tokyo and surrounding areas.
Firefighters battled a fiery blaze at an oil refinery in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo.
Residents said though earthquakes are common in Japan, Friday's stunned most people.
"This was larger than anyone expected and went on longer than anyone expected," said Matt Alt, who lives in Tokyo.
"My wife was the calm one ... she told us to get down and put your back on something, and leave the windows and doors open in case a building shifts so you don't get trapped."
Richard Lloyd Parry said he looked through a window and saw buildings shaking from side to side.
"Central Tokyo is fine from what we see, people are calm ... and not going inside buildings," he said.
Such a large earthquake at such a shallow depth creates a lot of energy, said Shenza Chen of the U.S. Geological Survey.
As the city grappled with the devastation, a massive tsunami swept across the Pacific Ocean.
An earthquake of that size can generate a dangerous tsunami to coasts outside the source region, the National Weather Service said.
In Philippines alone, the tsunami is expected to hit in the early morning and the government has evacuated 20 provinces along the coast.
Authorities in at least 20 countries and numerous Pacific islands issued tsunami warnings, the National Weather Service said.
The wide-ranging list includes Russia and Indonesia, Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica and the U.S. state of Hawaii, where warning sirens were sounded in the morning. A tsunami warning was also issued for areas along the United States and Canadian west coasts
Humanitarian agencies were working with rescue crews to reach the people affected.
"When such an earthquake impacts a developed country like Japan, our concern also turns to countries like the Philippines and Indonesia, which might not have the same resources," said Rachel Wolff, a spokeswoman for World Vision.
Wolff said her agency is helping people on the ground in Japan and teaming up to help others in countries along the path of the tsunami.
The tsunami could cause damage "along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," warned the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."
Tsunamis are a series of long ocean waves that can last five to 15 minutes and cause extensive flooding in coastal areas. A succession of waves can hit -- often the highest not being the first, said CNN meteorologist Ivan Cabrera.
The quake was the latest in a series in the region this week.
Early Thursday, an earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.3 struck off the coast of Honshu. A day earlier, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake had struck off the same coast, the country's meteorological agency said.
The largest recorded quake took place in Chile on May 22, 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5, the USGS said.
The quake Friday was the fifth-strongest in the world since 1900, the agency said and the most powerful to hit Japan since then.
Inilah Cara Mengukur Gempa Jepang
Jakarta- Ribuan gempa terjadi di seluruh dunia setiap tahun. Namun, hanya beberapa gempa yang menyebabkan kerusakan serius terkait kekuatan gempa. Inilah cara penghitungan.
Gempa bumi diukur berdasarkan kekuatan dengan skala mikro hingga besar. Kekuatan gempa di atas 6.0 SR digolongkan sebagai gempa kuat dan mampu menyebabkan kerusakan fatal, seperti gempa Christchurch di Selandia Baru. Gempa bumi terbesar dalam beberapa tahun terakhir adalah Gempa Aceh berkekuatan 9,3 SR.
Berdasarkan keterangan CNN, meski gempa berkekuatan 5 tampak tidak terlalu berbeda dengan gempa 6 SR namun tingkatan satu unit ini tidaklah sederhana. Gempa berkekuatan 6 SR memiliki energi 32 kali lebih besar dari gempa 5 SR. Ini berarti, celah dua rasio dari kekuatan 5 SR sampai 7 SR setidaknya 1.000 kali lebih kuat.
Gempa yang merusak cenderung berkekuatan di atas 7 SR. Setiap tahun berdasarkan keterangan Badan Geologi AS (US Geological Survey), terjadi 20 gempa besar di seluruh dunia. Gempa bumi Aceh yang berkekuatan 9,3 SR merupakan gempa bumi terbesar di Dunia sejak 1900.
Di sisi lain, gempa Haiti yang berkekuatan ‘hanya’ 7 SR pada 2010 tampak sangat merusak karena pusat gempa terjadi di ibukota. Akibatnya, sekitar 200 ribu penduduk tewas. Ini kontras dengan gempa bumi 8,8 SR di Chili pada 2010 yang menelan 1.000 nyawa. Jumlah yang tidak terlalu banyak ini disebabkan kemunculan peringatan gempa yang cepat sehingga masyarakat dapat menyelamatkan diri segera.
Terbaru, gempa bumi berkekuatan 8,9 SR mengguncang Jepang, Jumat (11/3). Titik pusat gempa terletak 373 km dari Tokyo, berdasarkan data Badan Geologi AS (USGS). Terjadi tsunami.
Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre, Hawaii, memperingatkan keberadaan tsunami di kawasan Pasifik. Indonesia pun diminta berhati-hati. Tsunami dikabarkan berdampak pada Jepang, Rusia, Pulau Marcus, Guam, Taiwan, Filipina, Indonesia dan Hawaii, Amerika Serikat.
Ratusan Warga Filipina Mengungsi..
Menyusul gempa dahsyat yang mengguncang Jepang, gelombang tsunami mengancam sejumlah negara termasuk Filipina. Ratusan warga yang tinggal di daerah-daerah pantai di tiga provinsi di Filipina utara telah mengungsi. Mereka pergi menuju dataran yang lebih tinggi.
Badan Institut Vulkanonologi dan Seismologi Filipina atau Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) telah menaikkan peringatan tsunami ke level 2. Warga diimbau untuk menjauh dari garis-garis pantai menyusul gempa berkekuatan 8,9 yang mengguncang wilayah Tokyo dan sekitarnya.
"Kami tidak punya jumlah pasti orang-orang yang dievakuasi di provinsi-provinsi Cagayan, Isabela dan Batanes, namun otoritas setempat sudah mulai memindahkan mereka ke tempat aman," ujar Benito Ramos, kepala Phivolcs seperti dikutip Reuters, Jumat (11/3/2011).
Sejumlah warga di Pulau Mindanao, Filipina Selatan juga mulai meninggalkan daerah-daerah pantai yang menghadap Samudera Pasifik.
"Kami mengimbau masyakarat untuk tidak pergi ke pantai-pantai," tutur Bart Bautista, wakil kepala Phivolcs. Dikatakannya, ketinggian gelombang tsunami diperkirakan tidak akan lebih dari 1 meter.
"Kita bisa menelusuri tsunami karena kita punya instrumen-instrumen, namun kami perkirakan gelombang akan melemah saat mencapai pantai-pantai kita," pungkasnya.
Gempa Terkini "Jam.18.35 wib Mengancam.......dari Jepang...
tanggal / Jam Lokasi Magnitude Kedalaman Potensi Tsunami
11-Mar-11
12:46:22 WIB 38.49 LU - 142.79 BT 44 Km Potensi TSUNAMI utk dtrskn pd msyrkt
Pusat gempa berada pada
144 km TENGGARA Ofunato , 145 km TENGGARA Kesennuma , 148 km TENGGARA Kamaishi , 158 km TENGGARA Otsuchi , 165 km TIMUR LAUT Ishinomaki
Garut Pesisir selatan Waspadai Gempa Dari Jepang
Gema berkekuatan 8,9 skala richter yang diikuti tsunami dasyat di Jepang membuat trauma tersendiri bagi warga Kecamatan Pameungpeuk dan Cikeulet, Kabupaten Garut.
Hal tersebut menyusul terjadinya tsunami beberapa tahun lalu yang memporakporandakan bangunan rumah di wilayah tersebut. Karena itu mereka siaga menghadapi terjadinya tsunami.
Sekitar 300 warga nelayan di Pantai Santolo yang sedang melakukan syukuran atau Hajat Laut turut merasakan kekhawatiran atas informasi ancaman tsunami di bagian timur Indonesia pascatsunami Jepang.
Salah seorang nelayan, Karsono mengatakan, saat ini belum bisa melaut karena dalam sepekan ini terjadi cuaca ekstrem. "Belum lagi kini tersiar kabar adanya ancaman tsunami di perairan Indonesia," kata Karsono kepada Aktual-info.tk ditemui di sela Hajat Laut, Jumat (11/3/2011).
Kecemasan itupun dirasakan seorang pedagang di Pantai Santolo, Rosa. "Abi janten gegebegan nguping berita tsunami di jepang. Komo abimah icalan di sisi laut. sok sieun datang tsunami ngadadak (Saya jadi khawatir mendengar berita tsunami di Jepang. Apalagi saya jualan di sisi pantai. Ditakutkan tsunami datang tiba-tiba)," ungkap Rosa.
Ketua RW 05 Desa Pamalayan, Kecamatan Cikeulet Asep Jajang mengatakan, sejauh pemantauannya, ada sebagian warga yang mulai dirundung kekhawatiran akan terjadinya tsunami. Namun ada pula yang biasa-biasa saja menanggapi berita tersebut. Sebagian masyarakat justru belum mengetahui kabar ancaman tsunami tersebut.
"Yang pasti, kami mengajak kepada seluruh warga pantai untuk tetap waspada. Perhatikan tanda-tanda yang mencurigakan," katanya.
Camat Pameungpeuk Jujun Juhana pun langsung merespons terjadinya tsunami di Jepang yang dikhawatirkan juga melanda Indonesia. Ia beserta aparat dinas setempat telah melakukan koordinasi guna menghadapi hal terburuk di wilayahnya.
Berdasarkan hasil pantauannya bersama dinas perikanan dan kelautan, tanda-tanda yang mengarah akan terjadinya tsunami di wilayahnya, tidak ada. "Sampai saat ini, wilayah Pameungpeuk dan sekitarnya boleh dikatakan aman", kata Jujun.[den]
Hal tersebut menyusul terjadinya tsunami beberapa tahun lalu yang memporakporandakan bangunan rumah di wilayah tersebut. Karena itu mereka siaga menghadapi terjadinya tsunami.
Sekitar 300 warga nelayan di Pantai Santolo yang sedang melakukan syukuran atau Hajat Laut turut merasakan kekhawatiran atas informasi ancaman tsunami di bagian timur Indonesia pascatsunami Jepang.
Salah seorang nelayan, Karsono mengatakan, saat ini belum bisa melaut karena dalam sepekan ini terjadi cuaca ekstrem. "Belum lagi kini tersiar kabar adanya ancaman tsunami di perairan Indonesia," kata Karsono kepada Aktual-info.tk ditemui di sela Hajat Laut, Jumat (11/3/2011).
Kecemasan itupun dirasakan seorang pedagang di Pantai Santolo, Rosa. "Abi janten gegebegan nguping berita tsunami di jepang. Komo abimah icalan di sisi laut. sok sieun datang tsunami ngadadak (Saya jadi khawatir mendengar berita tsunami di Jepang. Apalagi saya jualan di sisi pantai. Ditakutkan tsunami datang tiba-tiba)," ungkap Rosa.
Ketua RW 05 Desa Pamalayan, Kecamatan Cikeulet Asep Jajang mengatakan, sejauh pemantauannya, ada sebagian warga yang mulai dirundung kekhawatiran akan terjadinya tsunami. Namun ada pula yang biasa-biasa saja menanggapi berita tersebut. Sebagian masyarakat justru belum mengetahui kabar ancaman tsunami tersebut.
"Yang pasti, kami mengajak kepada seluruh warga pantai untuk tetap waspada. Perhatikan tanda-tanda yang mencurigakan," katanya.
Camat Pameungpeuk Jujun Juhana pun langsung merespons terjadinya tsunami di Jepang yang dikhawatirkan juga melanda Indonesia. Ia beserta aparat dinas setempat telah melakukan koordinasi guna menghadapi hal terburuk di wilayahnya.
Berdasarkan hasil pantauannya bersama dinas perikanan dan kelautan, tanda-tanda yang mengarah akan terjadinya tsunami di wilayahnya, tidak ada. "Sampai saat ini, wilayah Pameungpeuk dan sekitarnya boleh dikatakan aman", kata Jujun.[den]
Jumlah data Sementara 19 Tewas Tsunami Jepang
Jumlah korban akibat gempa berkekuatan 8,9 skala richter di Jepang telah mencapai angka 19 orang. Dikhawatirkan korban tewas akan terus bertambah.
Korban tewas termasuk seorang kakek berusia 67 tahun yang tertimpa reruntuhan tembok rumah. Korban lainnya adalah seorang wanita tua yang tewas tertimpa atap. Keduanya berada di wilayah Tokyo. Demikian dilansir dari AFP, Jumat (11/3/2011).
Tiga korban lainnya tewas akibat tertimpa reruntuhan rumahnya. Korban berada di Prefektur Ibaraki, tenggara Tokyo.
Kantor Kepolisian Nasional Jepang yang bertugas mendata dampak bencana alam tidak dapat segera memberikan jumlah pasti korban tewas.
"Kerusakan sangat besar jadi butuh lebih banyak waktu bagi kami untuk mengumpulkan data,” ujar petugas kepolisian.
(mbs)
Minggu, 27 Februari 2011
"Di balik Pencitraan Manuver Bambang S"
"Bambang Soesatyo hendaknya berhati-hati dan lebih arif dalam memberikan komentar. Jangan terkesan dia melakukan pecintraan untuk dirinya dengan memanfaatkan kasus pajak," kata Anggota Dewan Pakar Alumi GMNI yang juga akitivis Prodem, Bob Randilawe di Jakarta, Minggu, (27/2).
Dalam kesempatan itu, Bob juga mengingatkan agar Bambang lebih berhati-hati dalam mengeluarkan pernyataan kepada publik. Ia juga menghimbau agar Bambang lebih mengedepankan cara-cara komprehensif menyikapi persoalan yang dihadapi bangsa ini, termasuk tuduhan Bambang terhadap Presiden RI, Soesilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY) yang berada dibalik penolakan atas usulan angket perpajakan beberapa waktu lalu.
"Koalisi semestinya merupakan penggabungan kelompok untuk menghadapi tantangan atau masalah dengan menggunakan energi positif. Bukan malah melakukan pencitraan seperti yang dilakukan Bambang Soesatyo," lanjut Bob.
Selayaknya, urai Bob, usai penolakan hak angket perpajakan pada rapat paripurna DPR RI tersebut diikuti dengan langkah para elit politik (partai koalisi) guna mendorong penuntasan proses hukum mafia pajak sesuai mekanisme hukum yang berlaku di negara ini. Termasuk mendorong agar Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) segera menangkap orang-orang yang diduga terlibat dalam kasus mafia pajak.
"Elit politik (partai koalisi) harusnya memberikan dukungan agar KPK segera menangkap para mafia pajak dari 149 perusahaan seperti yang disebutkan oleh Gayus Tabunan. Bukan malah asyik menggunakan kasus mafia pajak untuk pencitraan diri," pungkas Bob.
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