An 8.9 earthquake, the world’s sixth largest, followed by a massive tsunami, rocked the north of Japan. The center is close to Sendai, where Toyota recently opened a new plant. Sendai took the brunt of the quake. Telephone service all over Japan is severely degraded. Via a very spotty cellphone line, I reached Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco, who was standing outside his office building, like most people in Tokyo.
Toyota had no information from or communication with their plant in Ohira near Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, Nolasco said. Reuters reports both Toyota assembly plants in the area as closed.
Toyota Boshoku Corp., a Toyota Motor supplier, reports damage at a plant in Miyagi prefecture.
The Tokyo Broadcasting System reports 5 Nissan factories to be closed.
NHK reports that a ceiling collapsed at a Honda Motor plant in Tochigi. Two workers are confirmed dead.
Japanese TV shows pictures of the Sendai airport, completely flooded. The area is bracing for a 30 foot tsunami. Toyota’s Ohira plant is further up in the mountains and should be spared the effects of the tidal wave. As night fell, Sendai was completely blacked out.
Trains and airports are closed in Tokyo. Incoming flights to Narita are rerouted to the U.S. airforce base in Yokota.
Japan’s Jiji Press has a picture of the bent tip of the iconic Tokyo Tower.
Latest dispatch from Toyota, via email from spokesperson Dion Corbett:
TMC has established a company-wide emergency task force to take initial measures.
1. Employees
– Confirmed there have been no injuries at the Tokyo head office, as well as the Higashifuji, Tochigi office, Yamanashi office, and Toyota Motor Tohoku facilities.
– Presently gathering information on Central Motor Corporation and Kanto Auto Works.2. Production
– All TMC plants have restarted production.
– The employees at manufacturing companies in the Tohoku region, including Toyota Motor Tohoku and Central Motor Corporation, are evacuating to safe areas. The situation is the same in the facilities in Hokkaido as well.
– Currently, we are checking the situation of suppliers.
– Currently nothing has been decided about production plans.3. Dealers
-There are reports that some dealers have been damaged, however we are still investigating the details.
Note: The Central Motor Corporation and the Kanto Auto Works are part of Toyota, but technically not part of TMC. Hence, TMC plants can restart production while employees at Central Motor evacuate to safe areas. The plant in Ohira near Sendai is a Central Motor Corp. plant.
Late in the evening, we hear that some 70,000 people were evacuated from the Sendai area. On Japanese TV, there are scenes of whole towns in the Myagi prefecture, burning. Some 300 people were found dead in Sendai, killed by the tsunami.
A major tragedy. The first priority should be for the safety of those in the flood and quake zone. Cars can wait.
Amen. Well said.
Let’s certainly hope the loss of life will be minimal. In the more advanced countries that is usually the case, less developed countries – sadly, not as good, but we are eagerly watching this on the news and it is devastating. I’m certain rescue and recovery is in full swing. Bertel, please keep us informed.
Scary stuff. The images of the tidal wave really drive home how helpless one must feel in the face of such power–sends shivers deep and long.
The most worrysome part at the moment is the nuclear power plant.
2,000 residents near the Fukushima nuclear power plant have been urged to evacuate, Kyodo reports.
Oddity: Telephone and cellphone connections sketchy or non-existant, Internet however works. People talk via Facebook, Twitter etc.
We are in touch with our friends in Tokyo. Many have to camp out at the office this Friday night. There is no way to get home.
Email, Skype etc, is still the way to go.
Miyagi Police: Ship Carrying 100 Washed Away By Tsunami
FYI: http://www.just-auto.com/news/effects-on-the-auto-industry_id109652.aspx
I’ve been glued to CNN since 6:00 AM. My heart and pryayers are with the people of Japan.
Not to make light of tragedy but this will certainly boost auto sales when everything has settled down.
Shocking video and pictures are already out. At least Japan is one of the best prepared nations for a quake, but the water is a different story.
One of the untold stories of these disasters is how a country fares economically afterward. Having Toyota, and other large and small businesses recover quickly will be important for many people, perhaps worldwide.
Sad to see such havoc. I hope the loss of life is minimal. Interesting to note how well much of the country’s structures withstood the quake; a very visible indicator of the value of high seismic design standards required in Japan. But the water, wow. Now I worry about all the nuclear power plants. Hopefully they all shut down properly and there is no cooling water loss…
B&B COULD SOMEBODY THATS QUICKER ON THE KEY BOARD THAN ME NOTIFY ED N to ban these idiots
+1
Sheer, utter vitriol has no place in the face of tragedy.
Two types in the world….those who would give their lives to save another and those that would take yours to save themselves. Strive to be the former.
Done. Repeats will result in permanent bans.