Japan earthquake - central tokyo sky clouded over with smoke

Japan earthquake - central tokyo sky clouded over with smoke, originally uploaded by natsco.

words of the photographer :
"scene from the 22nd floor of a building in Toranomon

When the biggest earthquake hit before 3pm, I was in a classroom on the 22nd floor of a building in Toranomon, near the imperial palace and the Diet building. It kept shaking/swinging for like four minutes (or even longer) and was so strong that we could barely stand on our feet.
Shortly after that, huge dark gray clouds of smoke started rising high from Odaiba area. We checked news on radio and found that there was a huge fire near the Tokyo Telecom center in Odaiba, 6-8km away from Toranomon. This picture was taken about 40 min later of the fire coming out - Clouds of smoke from Odaiba were drifted and spread over central Tokyo.

(To people who thought the red part between clouds and the horizon is the fire: it may look like burning, but it's not. The fire in Odaiba was not this direction and was almost brought under control when I took this picture. I took it from inside window glass, so I guess this color is because of UV-coating or something...It actually wasn't red this much. Sorry if it caused misunderstanding!)

- - -
After staying inside the building for an hour, I decided to walk from Toranomon to my home in Meguro since all the trains in/around Tokyo were stopped and seemed it won't be back in service for hours. Streets are crowded with cars and people, some were wearing helmet, and it took me three and a half hours to get home. It was tiring both mentally and physically but at least I was lucky enough to be able to get home... many people are forced to stay over night at school/office/public facilities.

Tokyo seems to be recovered in a few days if only serious aftershock wouldn't happen, however North-eastern Japan is seriously damaged and it has being reported that 200-300 dead bodies were found on a beach in Miyagi. My sincerest condolences to people who lost their lives/home... I'd like to ask you for a prayer to people in the affected area."