Massive EF5 tornado tears through Tuscaloosa

On April 27, 2011, a 1+ mile-wide (1.6 ≥ 2.4km), wedge tornado gouged a 6-mile path of destruction through Tuscaloosa, annihilating businesses and entire neighborhoods.   With wind speeds in excess of 200 mph (>322km/h), the tornado is classifiable as an EF5, falling into the most destructive category yet identified by meteorologists.  Roughly 6,000 homes fell in the direct path of the tornado, while perhaps 15,000 homes were damaged, according to Tuscaloosa mayor Walt Maddox.  At least 45 people in Tuscaloosa lost their lives; at the time of this post, hundreds still remain missing.

The storm cell that enveloped Tuscaloosa is part of a record season of tornadic activity in the US, responsible for at least 174 tornados to date.  In the state of Alabama alone hundreds are dead and missing, and hundreds of thousands of homes are still without power.

アラバマ州の竜巻災害

現在のアラバマ洲の情報をお伝えします。


タスカルーサ市の死者数は32人です。現時点のアラバマ洲全体の死者数は194人だそうです。


父親はハンツビル市の隣にあるMadison市に住んでいます。あの辺は少なくとも三日間の停電予想があります。五日間もかかるかもしれません。


今タスカルーサ市の家はインターネットとテレビは繋がらないそうです。携帯電話の接続も悪い。市内には停電しているところもあります。私が住んでいた家はもう無いそうです。あそこの周辺の物は吹き飛ばされたそうです。


アラバマ大学の学生会館は一時収容施設になり、卒業式や期末試験は中止になりました。友達は全て無事のようですが物や住まいは。。。


とにかく被害が「ｄｅｖａｓｔａｔｉｎｇ」と言われています。

Shake, rattle, and roll (again) Another big earthquake/aftershock

Last night at around 11 PM there was a fairly large (and long!) earthquake/aftershock. In Narashino, what made it unique from the hundreds of others that we've experienced since March 11 was its length. In Miyagi prefecture at the epicenter, it was registered at a 7.2 magnitude. According to the news, three died from last night's quake (of course not in Narashino). If you had asked me on March 11, I don't think I would've believed it possible but I've become all too accustomed to these quakes. I was half asleep when last night's hit, and I didn't even get out of bed.

Aside from the geological report, I thought I would mention today's strange weather. The crazy kaze here in Narashino today was an incredibly strong and relentless Mary Poppins gale; it turned the land surrounding 第一中中学校 into a dustbowl (School 1 is a wonderful junior high school here in Narashino that now lies in the middle of a major construction site).

I'll let the Fishmans give you the extended forecast: