Internet is key to rapid proliferation of International awareness of effects and aftermath of Japanese Earthquake / Tsunami

Watching live on-site reports and continual coverage on the BBC from the heart of the earthquake zone shows how ’close’ the Internet has made the world. Dozens of countries in the Pacific are still under threat of Tsunami - North and South America, Eastern Continental Asia / South-East Asia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Philippines, Papua New Guinea and Hawaii especially.

Japan is one of the best-prepared countries for earthquakes, and even though there is significant damage and destruction, most of the big cities affected are largely totally intact; it is the rural areas around Sendai in the North-East that have been devastated.

With no trains running, Tokyo is a mass of pedestrians - with commuters attempting to walk home. Via a live feed on the BBC, I am watching reports coming in from every country which this disaster touches - which is most of the International community. On-site reports from countries that lie in the line of the extended Tsunami show how many countries are in a state of emergency - with several potential impact areas being evacuated.

We know now that this is the 6th most powerful earthquake worldwide since records began - of a magnitude of 8.9, key details as follows:

• 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck at 14:46 local time (GMT +9) off North-East coast of Japan
• Epicentre of earthquake lies just off coast from city of Sendai (80 miles)
• Earthquake triggered Tsunami with a wavefront of magnitude of 10 metres
• Rural area around Sendai largely devastated
• Boats, Cars and House tossed around like toys by advancing waters
• More than 90 people confirmed dead, several hundred still missing
• Communications and transport significantly hit
• Many nuclear powerstations on auto-shutdown
• Outbreaks of fire, including at oil refinery
• Tsunami warning for most of Pacific Basin

The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office is in the process of setting up a Japan Earthquake Crisis Centre - will add more info when it arrives.

Resources:

• Japan Earthquake Person Finder
• Pacific Tsunami Warning Center
• Google Japan Earthquake Map
• ShelterBox Japan Relief Effort
• Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK World)