The following video presents Live from Japan, Earthquake aftermath:
Let’s now connect with our correspondent Mayu Yoshia on the ground in Japan for the latest on the aftermath of that quake.
Mayu, there were reports that the tremor was so powerful that people in the southeastern coast of Korea could feel the effects, as well.
Tell us, how are things looking there? Well, the town in Kumamoto is some 1000 kilometers away from Tokyo but we’re certainly seeing people here worrying what’s happening in the southwest after the quakes last night.
I’m outside Tokyo Station which is a key transport hub for the whole country, right now transportation and businesses here in the capital are working as usual. but railways in the hardest-hit areas in Kumamoto Prefecture have been heavily disrupted. Some flights were also canceled.
The whole country’s been gripped by this disaster – the magnitude of the quake was much lower than the 2011 earthquake that triggered a Tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear meltdown, but the intensity was similar because it struck on land and at a much shallower depth, and more than 120 aftershocks have already been felt in the worst-hit town of Mashiki.
It also occurred in the same region where Japan’s only online nuclear plant is located, although officials say no irregularities have been confirmed and the two reactors both remain in operation. Some companies like Sony and Honda also suspended operations at their plants there.
The focus now is on making sure people are safe.
Tens if thousands of people have had to evacuate their homes.“I’m worried about Kumamoto, especially after what happened on March 11th five years ago. We still don’t know the exact details of the earthquake, so I’m checking TV news for more information”
So far more than 3000 tropps have been dispatched to the region to help with the relief efforts but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said more will be sent if required.
He added that the government will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of local residents
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Due to the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes that started on April 14 in Japan, suppliers of parts for Nikon products such as digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, interchangeable lenses, and compact digital cameras, which include the following cameras, were affected; and this will inevitably impact Nikon’s production and sales:
Nikon COOLPIX B500
- COOLPIX A300 and COOLPIX B500 will be available in May 2016, the COOLPIX A900 and B700 will arrive in July 2016. (The new COOLPIX products were originally scheduled for release in April.)
Nikon COOLPIX B700
Nikon COOLPIX A900
- Nikon KeyMission 360 action camera will be available in October 2016. (The KeyMission 360 action camera was announced for a spring 2016 release.)
Nikon KeyMission 360, front
- Nikon DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8, and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6, will be delayed due to the serious issues with the integrated circuit for image processing built into the three new premium compact cameras, originally scheduled for a June 2016 release. The new release date has yet to be determined
Nikon DL Series (left to right): DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8 and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6
Today, Nikon has decided to provide a greater aid donation for the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake than the donation that was announced on April 18, to expand further support in consideration of the disaster situation.
| Cash donation | 10 million yen – Nikon group total (91,112.1000 US Dollar at the current exchange rate) |
|---|---|
| Donee | Japanese Red Cross Society |
With this change, furthermore we have started a fund-raising activity by directors and employees and donate it as the matching gifts of the Nikon group after the end of this activity. And we continuing every effort to support for recovery of our customer plant affected by the disaster.
The Nikon Group would express our profound sympathy and heartfelt concern to those individuals and families suffering from the disaster and sincerely hope for safety and swift recovery of the people and areas.
NEWS RELEASE
Update on digital camera release
April 20, 2016
TOKYO – Nikon Corporation announced today delays in the release of new digital cameras and the effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes.
Delays in the release of new digital cameras
The new Nikon compact digital cameras, COOLPIX A300 and B500 will be available in May 2016, the COOLPIX A900 and B700 will arrive in July 2016 and the Nikon KeyMission 360 action camera will be available in October 2016 as more time is required for software adjustment.
The new COOLPIX products were originally scheduled for release in April and the KeyMission 360 action camera was announced for a spring 2016 release.
In addition, the premium compact cameras, Nikon DL18-50 f/1.8-2.8, DL24-85 f/1.8-2.8, and DL24-500 f/2.8-5.6, will be delayed due to the serious issues with the integrated circuit for image processing built into the three new premium compact cameras, originally scheduled for a June 2016 release.
The new release date has yet to be determined and we will announce the information as soon as it is decided.
The effects of the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes
The suppliers of parts for Nikon products such as digital cameras with interchangeable lenses, interchangeable lenses, and compact digital cameras, which include those mentioned above, were affected by the series of earthquakes that started on April 14 in Kumamoto Prefecture in Japan, and this will inevitably impact our production and sales.
We are currently investigating the situation, and we will announce the details as soon as they are confirmed.
We sincerely apologize to our customers, business partners and all those who have expressed interest in these models for the delays. We are making every effort to bring these models to market at the earliest possible date without compromising on our standards and the total Nikon product experience.