Phillipines Warning - Fukushima Blast

MANILA, Philippines – Monday, Malacanang discharged the proliferating text messages that said radiation effect from Japan’s nuclear reactor blast will be felt in the country starting 4:00 PM today.

Ricky Carandang of the Presidential Communications Group said that “there’s no need to panic. I’m aware that there are text messages going around that are very alarming. There’s no truth to that.”
This information is being confirmed by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo saying that the Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) is monitoring the radiation in the environment daily and it showed that the level of radiation in the country has continued to be stable after the Fukushima nuclear reactor explosion. 

 

“We are following the wind patterns over the weekend and it seem to be moving toward the east—towards the Pacific Ocean—not towards us. So there’s no truth to those text messages,” he added.
"The advice that people should stay indoors and to wear raincoats if they go outdoors did not come from DOST or any agency member of the National Disaster Coordinating Council," the DOST said.
The people are advised not to believe rumors presently spreading through text messages, emails, and other means of communication.

Radiation Rumors - Blast in Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant

The earthquake and the subsequent nuclear blast in Japan have started a series of rumors asking people not to go out in the rain lest they get caught in radioactive showers which could cause skin cancers and other ailments. It is also labeled as Acid Rain.

The chain email reads something like this:

Nuclear Fallout from Japanese Power Plants
There was a nuclear blast 4:30pm Sunday in Fukushima Japan. If it rains today or in the next few days, DO NOT GO UNDER THE RAIN. If you get caught out, use an umbrella or raincoat, even if it’s only a drizzle. Radioactive particles, which may cause burns, alopecia or even cancer, may be in the rain.
BBC flash news: Japan government confirms radiation leak at Fukushima nuclear plants. Asian countries should take necessary precautions. If it rains, remain indoors first 24hours, close doors n windows, swab neck skin with beta-dine where thyroid area is, radiation hits thyroid first. Take extra precautions, radiation may hit Philippines starting 4pm (Pinas time) today!
Please take care of yourselves and your loved ones!!

There are different version of emails, SMS messages, and alerts in different countries and regions. These alerts have been reported to be spreading through social network websites like Facebook too.

These rumors and chain mails started by unknown sources warn people from going out in the rain as "radioactive particles, which may cause burns, alopecia or even cancer, may be in the rain." The mails warn people to use raincoats, umbrellas and scarves even if there is only a light drizzle, as even some part of the allegedly radioactive waters could be harmful.

Experts have rubbished these rumors saying there is no scientific or logical basis to these rumors. Also, even in the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, one of the worst nuclear power plant accidents in history where huge amounts of radiation was released, only the neigbouring countries were affected. No other part of the world was affected. 





Such baseless rumors must be curbed and instead of creating panic, people must focus on what they could do to help quake victims.

Japan Earthquake

The earthquake of 8.9 on the Richter scale shakes Japan on “Friday” caused a tsunami in Japan that reached parts of the city of Sendai. The center of Earthquake was located 130 kilometers offshore of Sendai, on the Honshu Island.
This is the worst earthquake recorded in Japan in the last few decades.
In the capital, Tokyo, several buildings were shaken violently. A refinery near Tokyo got fired, and numerous storage tanks are threatened by the flames. Several nuclear plants have ceased its activities immediately.