Resources and information about Japan’s 8.9 earthquake [#Japan]

A map of Japan showing areas affected by the quake.

A massive 8.9-magnitude (updated to 9.0) quake hit northeast Japan earlier today, causing dozens of deaths, more than 80 fires, and a 10-meter (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country’s coastline. Homes were swept away and damage is extensive.

Below is a list containing resources/information about the event:

• If you are looking for someone in Japan or you are in Japan, Google has put this app for those looking for families and friends: japan.person-finder.
• Red Cross donations.
• Raw amateur footage from an apartment room in Miyagi, Japan, just as the earthquake hit.
  

 

• Raw amateur footage from a Japanese family in Sendai, shot during the earthquake.
  

 

• Aerial footage of the following tsunami hitting Miyagi (from NHK).
  

 

• Tsunami waters flood Japan’s coastal Sendai airport.
  
• 200 to 300 drowned bodies have been found in Sendai. A ship carrying 100 people was swept away by the tsunami, according to the Kyodo news agency (Guardian) [ship was been found].
• Another picture from (probably) Sendai airport.
  
• The top of Tokyo tower has been bent by the earthquake.
  
• Cosmo Oil Co. plant explosion in Ichihara.
  
  
  
• Japan Earthquake: Basic facts, resources on quakes, tsunamis.
• There’s a fire at Tohoku Elec Onagawa nuclear plant.
• TBS (Tokyo Broadcasting System) live video coverage (Japanese).
• BBC live video coverage (English).
• High-res photo blog on The Atlantic.
• The official Kyodo news agency is reporting that about 88,000 people are missing (BBC).

Chronological updates:

• Fring made fringOut calls to Japan free so you can call any phone in Japan from everywhere on earth at no cost. All you need is an active fring account with fringOut credit.
• The entire city of Kesennuma (home to 74,000 people) seems to be on fire.
  

 

• Buildings swaying in Shinjuku, Tokyo (massive engineering win).
  

 

• According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, the strength of the earthquake shifted earth’s axis of rotation by nearly 10cm.
• Seismologists at the US Geological Survey in Menlo Park, California, have updated the earthquake to a magnitude of 9.0.
• The Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency said radiation is 1,000 times higher than normal at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant.
• There was an explosion at the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear  power plant. It wasn’t nuclear and did not cause a meltdown, although Japan’s nuclear safety agency admits the reactor has been partially melting. For full details about the the current conditions of the power plants, visit Japan’s Nuclear Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency website.
  

 

• Found some new amateur footage of the tsunami shot from inside the Sendai airport.
  

 

• A missing ship feared lost after the tsunami has been found with everyone on board alive (100 people).