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Coverage of the Aftermath of the Second Earthquake that has Shattered an Island of Japan. Aired 1-1:30a ET

Aired April 16, 2016 - 01:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

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[01:00:16] NATALIE ALLEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL NEWS ANCHOR: And hello. We're live in Atlanta. I'm Natalie Allen and our top story is the second earthquake to shatter an island of Japan.

A magnitude 7.0 quake struck Kyushu Island on Saturday killing at least 19 people, injuring some 800, that's the latest number we have. That's according to officials and Kumamoto prefecture the same region hit by a powerful tremor just two days earlier.

Crews are scrambling to reach people trapped under the rubble of collapsed structures. We've seen many, many from the aerial photos we've seen as well. Government officials say 20,000 self-defense forces are in the area helping out.

Disaster officials say more than 7,200 people are in shelters across the area. This is a triage area near one of the hospitals. Many power outages are reported. There have been crumbled roads, landslides. It just goes on and on.

Derek Van Dam is here with us now to talk more about it. And the fact that this second earthquake was -- how much more impactful is a 7.0 than 6.2?

DEREK VAN DAM, CNN WEATHER ANCHOR: Than a 62. It actually expels 15 times more energy than a 6.2. It actually goes up by 32 times if you go a step up in one magnitude of an earthquake. So 6.0 to 7.0 is 32 times more energy released this particular step from 6.2 to 7.0 is 15. But nonetheless, that is significant and it has significant impacts on the people of Kyushu Island.

What you're looking at is the U.S. geological survey dotting out and mapping out all the individual aftershocks which by the way, there have been over 70 just from the recent earthquake that took place early Saturday morning.

Let's zoom into the region. The dots that are shaded in orange are the most recent aftershocks within the past 24 hours. The dots shaded in yellow that would be within the past week including what took place on Thursday with the initial 6.2 earthquake we were talking about.

There's the epicenter of the 7.0. Let's zoom right into the Kumamoto region and talk about the displacement of people and population that felt the shaking from this latest earthquake.

First, we go back to Thursday. You're looking at what is moderate to severe shaking. Anywhere you see those orange tube like features, the higher they are, the more population density felt that particular earthquake events.

Now we fast forward to the most recent earthquake, the 7.0 and look at how that just spreads across this populated area. You can see the orange further to the north, further to the west to east, and then we focus on that shading of red right over the highly populated area of Kumamoto as that is the area that saw over 700,000 people with a violent shaking and that has significant impacts on even some of the most resilient of structures considering that many of these structures have already been damaged for compromised from the initial earthquake that took place on Thursday.

We want to show you something else as well if we zoom into the topography of this particular region. Look at the city, it's actually bottom up right to some of the very steep mountain sides. And with the earthquakes that have been taking place in the subsequent aftershocks, it's really loosening up the soil on this region, and on top of that, there's been rain recently with more rain in the forecast. That means landslides are very susceptible to this particular area.

And I want to show you my graphics quickly because this is important because at the moment it's dry, but what it's coming toward this region is another story. What you're looking at on the screen right now is some of the landslides that took place because of this earthquake, and that's a pretty precarious position to be in a vehicle, Natalie.

I mean, take a look at that car just dangling over the edge of a parking lot. I'm sure when he parked his car there originally, he was not anticipating that to be a concern, but terrifying moments as landslides can be equally as dangerous and deadly as an earthquake, to say the least.

ALLEN: That building right there, you can see -- it's hard to tell from the aerial, but you can see where it's partially collapsed in there. It looks like -- well, many (ph) have been -- that the roof sheered off or something, but do have seen so much damage, and this is a country that is so used to earthquakes. They've got very strict codes, and we are seeing a lot of damage there.

VAN DAM: A very extremely resilience community and country just because they put in so much of their GDP, their economy into making these earthquake proof buildings, but not all earth -- all buildings are going to be earthquake proof to a magnitude 7.0 for instance.

[01:05:10] So, we're having a lot of these resilient, "Structures that are giving way to the theory of Mother Nature." I mean, 7.0 magnitude earthquake is severe that's why they felt this violent shaking in this highly densely populated area. And unfortunately, Natalie, I would only anticipate the fatalities to go up from this latest earthquake. ALLEN: All right, well, I'm going to talk with someone right now who experienced it. A U.S. citizen who was visiting Kumamoto joins us now on the line. He's Noel Vincent (ph).

Noel, thank you for talking with us. Where were you during this latest earthquake, and can you tell us what you experienced?

NOEL VINCENT, EXPERIENCED EARTHQUAKES FROM KUMAMOTO: Sure. First of all, Natalie, thank you for having me on the program, and one correction, I'm actually a resident of Kumamoto and I've been living here for three years.

One thing I can say is that earthquakes are extremely rare in this part of Japan. So it is a really big shocked to experience not one but two major earthquakes. In terms of what I saw initially, can I just tell you my story right from the very beginning? Is that all right?

ALLEN: Yeah, sure.

VINCENT: Oh, OK. Some co-workers and I were headed out for Chinese food on Thursday evening and we just kind of felt all the earth just fall beneath us. That's kind of what it felt like and it was -- there were some pretty tremendous shaking and there have been just constant aftershocks since then.

I'd say we get one, you know, on average about once every two or three hours, and then this most recent major one has caused, you know, severe structural damage to Kumamoto Castle which I'm currently looking at. You know, castle walls have fallen, particularly older buildings built around the 50s and 60s have collapsed all around town.

From what I've heard in marshy area there are, you know, fires. I heard some rumor that their city hall had even caught fire or collapsed or suffered some kind of damage.

ALLEN: Help us appreciate, Noel, how much stronger the second quake was and were you sleeping at the time? Where were you?

VINCENT: Excellent question. I had returned to my apartment by about 9:00 p.m. on Friday evening and I had begun to clean up my apartment, and just as I had finished cleaning up my apartment, I had kind of settled into bed. It was 1:00 a.m. or were about 1:00 a.m., and then just this extremely intense shaking began.

And whereas, the first earthquake was more than up and down type of shaking, this was more of a side to side shaking. And I can't comment on why that is seismologically, but I can tell you, it was very, very intense, and I feared for my life.

So my first reaction was to get out of bed, prop up my furniture from falling again, because after all, I had just cleaned up my room, and then as soon as that stopped I ran outside to convene with all of the other evacuees.

ALLEN: What was that like, everybody there together? Did you get support from people and what kind of structure do you live in? You say you're in apartment. Is it a mid rise, a high-rise?

VINCENT: I don't really know what constitutes a high-rise building, but I'll say it was eighth stories and I was on the sixth. So I certainly high up and, you know, as you can imagine, the higher up you are, the more violently you feel the shaking. So it was really terrifying and frankly, I was still terrified even after I got out of the building.

It was some combination of hoping that others were all right, whether they'd escaped the building, and even after I've got out onto the parking lot outside of my apartment building, I was still concerned that other apartment buildings might actually collapse and fall onto the parking lot area because I looked up at, you know, several swaying high-rise apartment buildings that looked as if they might, you know, come and collapse into the parking lot.

As of yet, I still haven't checked in on my apartment to see whether it's standing or not. I imagined it is, but it suffered some pretty significant damage. There were cracks in the, you know, some of the central columns, and the -- my entire apartment building appeared to be leaning about five degrees to the right. So I'm really concerned. I don't want to go back there.

ALLEN: We certainly understand that. Are there places that you can go? I mean, so many people affected, did they have structures or safety places for you to stay, shelters?

[01:10:07] VINCENT: Yeah. Well, as you astutely commented moments ago, you know, Japan is -- in general very prepared for earthquakes. And so, generally what they do is they send people to local elementary schools where they have supplies available, you know, food and water and places to rest.

I have not yet gone to one of those shelters. I -- frankly, I was scared of going into another big building. I initially went to city hall, which I think is about 12 or 15 story building, and frankly, it just gave me the creeps. I couldn't be in there much longer, so I decided to go to an open flat park where there was no risk of anything falling on me.

ALLEN: Do you have any idea, Noel, where you'll sleep tonight?

VINCENT: Yeah. I think a consensus is beginning to form. I want to drive up to Fukuoka by way of taxi and maybe stay in a hotel there, just anywhere outside of Kumamoto tonight, because I have no idea whether my apartment is, you know, structurally sound or not.

So hopefully I'm able to do that, and not just me, but I hope that everyone in this city is able to find refuge somewhere tonight.

ALLEN: Yeah, absolutely. As you look around there, it's Saturday afternoon there, what do you see?

VINCENT: How can I describe it to you? It's very surreal. Frankly, everything around me is very serene. Birds are chirping, you maybe able to hear that right now. People are riding their bicycles and yet, right in front of my eyes I see that, you know, large portions of Kumamoto Castle have just absolutely collapsed and I'm just staring at the rubble of, you know, of the loved landmark of this city, and it's just surreal.

After having lived in this town for three years, I never would have guessed that Kumamoto Castle of all things would have, you know, befallen this kind of fate, nor would I have expected an earthquake of this magnitude to ever come to Kumamoto, Japan. So it's just been surreal, absolutely everything has been surreal.

ALLEN: We understand of that -- we understand you're using that word for sure. We've been seeing pictures of the castle as you speak, very, very hundreds year old structure there.

Noel, we wish you well, and we hope you get to where you want to go tonight so you can get a safe night's rest. Noel Vincent experienced this earthquakes talking with us there from Kumamoto. Thank you.

Well, we want to talk about what is it mean that a second earthquake struck? It was much more violent and severe than the initial deadly quake on Thursday. Our senior meteorologist Brandon Miller breaks it down for us.

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BRANDON MILLER, CNN METEOROLOGIST: At 9:26 p.m. on Thursday evening, the residents of Kumamoto, Japan experienced a 6.2 magnitude earthquake. The worse shaking Japan had felt since the 8.9 magnitude earthquake back in 2011.

And just like all earthquakes of this magnitude, it contained a whole host of aftershocks, including this one which was shot by a man that was in a 7-Eleven. This was just one of many aftershocks, however, and even though these aftershocks were a lesser magnitude, each one has its own shaking, and each one could be further damaging structures which were hit in the first quake.

But things got worse when a 6.0 magnitude earthquake hit right under the city of Kumamoto just after midnight, just about three hours after the first quake. This just further complicates the rescue efforts for the people that were trying to rescue people trapped.

Daylight really brought into scope the disaster. And unfortunately, we found the news of the first few casualties. But there was some good news, such as this video of an 8 month old little girl being rescued in a rescue effort that took six hours to complete. All the while, aftershocks continued.

Aftershocks that continued well into the night, unfortunately, early Saturday morning things turned a lot worse when a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck in almost the exact same location. The 7.0 earthquake is now the main shock. Everything before it was a foreshock and everything after it will be an aftershock.

Hopefully, these aftershocks that will last several days and even weeks will be much lower in magnitude and we don't have something as strong or even stronger than this 7.0.

[01:15:10] I'm CNN Meteorologist, Brandon Miller.

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ALLEN: Ahead here, our coverage of Japan's latest deadly earthquake continues. We'll take a look at just how big an impact this quake could have on this island. Also ahead here, North Korea's main ally, China now criticizing the regime for its latest missile test.

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ALLEN: Welcome back to CNN. We want to update you on our top story from Japan where a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Kyushu Island early Saturday. At least 19 people are confirmed dead. A city official in Kumamoto's said at least 800 are injured. And you can see what happened to roads in that region right there.

Rescue crews are frantically searching for people who are missing in case many people could still be trapped in buildings. Japan was already scrambling to recover from a tremor that killed nine people Thursday when Saturday's quake added significantly to the damage.

We want to turn to other news we're following from Nigeria. The Senate there is demanding answers from its security chiefs over the missing Chibok girls. This comes in response to a so-called proof of life video seen here obtained by CNN.

A government official told CNN the new footage adds a new dimension to their investigation. It has been two years since Boko Haram kidnapped these girls, among 276 of them from their school dormitory.

Earlier, Nigeria's finance minister explained to us what else the administration is doing to help rescue these girls.

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KEMI ADEOSUN, NIGERIAN FINANCE MINISTER: I think the first thing to say is that it's sad, you know, two years is a very long time. And I'm speaking as a mother as well as a member of the administration. It's extremely sad that two years and these girls are still estranged from their families.

The answer to what is being done is everything. Everything possible is being done at the highest level, and I'm not one of the -- part of the security team, so I obviously don't have the details, but I will tell you that in terms of financial releases, in terms of cooperation with countries and the borders, in terms of just having all the surveillance equipment and things that we need, everything is being done.

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[01:20:17] ALLEN: Again, it's been two years that the girls have been missing. North Korea is now drawing criticism from its major ally after a failed missile launched. China says Pyongyang should be careful not to make tensions worse than they are. The failed launched happened on the country's most important holiday of the year, the birthday of founding father, Kim Il-sung.

News of the failed missile launched spread quickly around the world, but hardly anyone inside North Korea knows about it, that's because state media are not talking about it at all.

Here is CNN's Will Ripley. He is inside North Korea.

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WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You won't find any mention of a failed missile launched here in Pyongyang. You will find tributes to a man North Korean's call their great leaders.

More than 20 years after his death, North Korea's founder is a fixture of daily life. President Kim Il-sung's portrait hangs in every home. The flower bearing his name has its own encyclopedia.

State T.V. would have counted a successful mobile missile launched as a grand triumph, but the U.S. and South Korea say the early morning launched failed. Most North Koreans will never know what happened. Even those with smart phones don't have access to outside internet.

Pyongyang often chooses public holidays for high profile shows of force. In January, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un ordered an H bomb test just days before his birthday. Observers say Kim is trying to project strength ahead of the crucial workers party Congress next month when the young leader could gain even more power.

In February, he ordered a satellite launched using a long-range rocket. Models of that rocket the Kwangmyongsong 4 are on display in the North Korean capital.

MOON UN-CHUL: (Speaking in Foreign Language)

RIPLEY: "Whenever I see the rockets, I feel very proud. We are all happy," says Moon Un-Chul (ph).

KIM SUNG HUI: (Speaking in Foreign Language)

RIPLEY: Kim Sung-hui (ph) says, "This is a symbol of our national dignity." And the regime says the only way to protect North Korea from a looming threat in the south, 17,000 American service members engaged in military exercises with 300,000 South Korean troops.

North Korea's own military response has included firing projectiles claims of miniaturizing nuclear warheads, promises of more nuclear and missile tests.

We don't get the full picture of life in North Korea just like the people here. Our view is limited to what the government allows us to see. On this day of the sun, the symbolism is clear. International pressure, even a disappointing apparent failure won't stop the regime from developing the most powerful weapons it can to guard against its number one enemy, the United States.

Will Ripley, CNN, Pyongyang, North Korea.

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ALLEN: Prince William and his wife Catherine are visiting the Taj Mahal today. The royals are touring this famous monument to love, one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

Williams' mother, Princess Diana made a similar visit in 1992, and a photographer captured a now iconic moment of her sitting all alone outside that symbol of love.

Our Sumnima Udas is live in Agra Fort and interesting that now we have Diana's son coming there with his wife, seemingly much different picture than when she was there all alone.

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly, Natalie. This is going to be the defining moment of what has really been a very colorful and successful trip so far. And some might ask why would they choose this place, the Taj Mahal for their last stop on this tour because of the many ghosts it brings up and also because of the connection that this has, the memories that it brings up in terms of the Taj Mahal and Princess Diana, Prince William's mother.

Now, for those who may not know, Princess Diana and Prince Charles were in India back in 1992. They were both meant to visit the Taj Mahal behind me at that time, but then Prince Charles ended up staying back in Delhi for some meetings with industrialists, so she came by herself.

She took a tour to Taj Mahal and she told the tour guide at that time that she wished her husband had been there, and then she sat down on a bench that is now been called Lady Diana's chair for photos. It lasted about five minutes, but she looks -- of course, she looks -- she was alone. She looked very lonely and almost sad.

So that really became the iconic image at that time, not many people were aware that the couple was not getting along, and 10 months later is when the world came to know that the couple was separating.

[01:25:13] So it came to symbolized the end of what should have really been a fairytale image.

Now, about seven hours from now or maybe about six now, six hours from now Prince William and the Duchess will be visiting the Taj Mahal. They will again be taking the tour following the footsteps of Princess Diana and then they will be taking photos in front of that same bench.

We don't know if they will be sitting or standing, but certainly the message being sent out will be a very different one, and the hope is, according to the palace, the statement here, the hope is to create new memories. Natalie?

ALLEN: Right. And Princess Diana, we know was so well liked and loved the world over. Got so much attention everywhere she went. I'm curious, how much attention has this royal trip given there to the people of India?

UDAS: Well, certainly you're not seeing people lining up to greet them as we did when they visited Australia or New Zealand, even the local media hasn't really been covering this visit that much, and the large part of that is, obviously, the colonial history here.

The 200 year British rule in this country, apart of history that many Indians would rather forget, but also the Indians here, I mean, almost -- more than half of population is under the age of 25. They have their own icons here. They have their cricketers. They have their Bollywood stars. So they don't really have a connection with the British royalty in generals.

Of course, before they came, there were those questions being asked as to does anyone really care about them? But as soon as they arrived with the duchess playing cricket in their high heels with such (inaudible) that got a lot of attention.

So in general, they're being received very warmly if not even if they haven't gotten as much media attention as they have in previous trips. Natalie?

ALLEN: All right, we'll wait and see what happens there at the Taj Mahal when they get there in a few hours. Thank you, Sumnima Udas for us.

And thank you for watching. I'm Natalie Allen. World Sport is coming up next here on CNN, and a quick check of our headlines.

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