Japan Times: Train runs cut, store shelves empty, gas pumps dry as residents prepare for blackouts

[1776Forever]

Commuters confused by outages
Train runs cut, store shelves empty, gas pumps dry as residents prepare for darkness
By JUN HONGO

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20110315a4.html

Effects of Friday's earthquake-tsunami double-punch in the Tohoku region remained tangible Monday in Tokyo as commuters tried to get back to work but were faced with closed train lines, empty store shelves and looming electricity shutdowns...

Supply disruptions: An employee at an Eneos gas station in Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, posts a sign Monday saying the station is sold out.

"I am trying to get to Ueno but I might have to walk from Asakusa," a woman in her 40s, who asked to remain anonymous, said at a bus station in Koto Ward. While in line an aftershock rattled light poles by the stop, which hit magnitude 6.2 at its epicenter off the coast of Ibaraki Prefecture. "I have no idea what is going on; everything seems to be falling apart," she said.

Later in the day some railways, including the Keikyu Line, opted to shut down all operations as well....

Meanwhile, those who rolled out their cars to get to work still faced serious traffic, in addition to being told at some gas stations that they were sold out.

........

It is so heart wrenching to read these accounts how bleak it is getting there.

[godai]

1. There's been a run on buying bicycles.

The distances are not that far in Tokyo, and many people can bicycle to work, if the trains aren't running.

[1776Forever]

2. You know I never thought about that but a boat load of bicycles sounds darn good! n/t

[MineralMan]

3. The disaster continues long after we lose interest.

For the people affected, the difficulties are just beginning. I will try not to forget about the people who will be struggling for a long time from this event.

[1776Forever]

6. Yes, just like Haiti - Still can't believe more has not been done there. n/t

[virgogal]

4. Frightening,isn't it?

[1776Forever]

5. Terrifying! Unbelievable they are having to live through all this at one time! Volcanoes too. n/t

Volcano in Japan Makes List of Problems Even Longer

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20110314/us_ac/8059672_volcano_in_japan_makes_list_of_problems_even_longer

Robert Dougherty – 2 hrs 45 mins ago

A volcano in Japan serves as a true example of overkill. However, the volcano is putting one more twist on the nation's trying times. Sunday, a volcanic eruption occurred in the southwest, which reportedly shattered windows up to four miles away. Hundreds had to evacuate to get away from the falling ash, but this weekend, evacuations and the rush to avoid danger has been nothing new for the Japanese.

This is the fourth disaster, or potential disaster, to strike the nation in the last three days. The first two came together, as a historic 8.9 earthquake triggered it all and was followed closely by a tsunami. Then as the cleanup began, the Fukushima nuclear power plant became vulnerable and is still in danger of melting down.

The volcano serves as the least important disaster by comparison, especially since this one went off weeks earlier. According to the Daily Mail, the Shinmoedake volcano had a brief eruption earlier this year, well before the earthquake and tsunami arrived.

(more at link)