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Rescuers in Japan Scrambling to Find Survivors; Earthquake Witness Speaks Out; China Chides North Korea; Pope Francis to Visit Refugees at Lesbos; British Royals Visit Taj Mahal. Aired 3-3:30a ET

Aired April 16, 2016 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:11] UNKNOWN: This is CNN Breaking News.

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Natalie Allen. Our breaking news is from Japan where rescuers are scrambling to find survivors in the ruins of collapsed buildings after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake hit Kyushu Island early Saturday, about 1:30 in the morning. Sixteen people now confirmed dead. A Kumamoto city official tells CNN some 800 people are injured. The quake hit just a few kilometers from where a so-called foreshock struck two days earlier. It was 6.2. That earthquake killed nine people. The latest quake is reportedly 30 times stronger than the previous one.

For the latest on the impact of the earthquake, let's bring in Senior CNN Asia Pacific Editor, Andrew Stevens. He is in Tokyo. And, Andrew, we're hearing a report earlier that even people in Tokyo could feel this earthquake.

ANDREW STEVENS, SENIOR CNN ASIA PACIFIC EDITOR: That is right, Natalie. We're nearly 1000 kilometers north of the earthquake zone and there were reports that people felt their buildings swaying here in Tokyo, just to give you an idea of the power of this quake. It's about 15 hours, almost 15 hours, since that quake, that 7.0 magnitude quake struck.

Details are still trickling in, Natalie. That 16 dead toll, that hasn't remained stable for several hours now, but authorities do expect that number to increase as they go through collapsed houses in that region. There are some 20,000 soldiers from the Self-Defense Forces now in Kyushu and around Kumamoto town, which is the hardest hit from this earthquake. They are combing through buildings that have come down, looking for survivors. We've seen pictures on local television of collapsed buildings. One was a dormitory of a local university where two people are believed to have perished. We've seen roads have been sliced, a bridge down or partially down at least and also landslides as well, because this is a particularly mountainous area of Japan.

So the rescue workers are continuing to look for survivors. They're also having to deal with aftershocks, dozens of aftershocks. And these are not just tremors. These are also big seismic events as well, you know, four, five, sometimes six in strength. So that is what they're having to deal with at the moment. At this stage, we're waiting on further details, Natalie. But certainly, you know, you get the sense there as compared with other sort of massively devastating earthquakes. We haven't seen the scenes of devastation from Kyushu Island, from Kumamoto town, but we're still waiting to sort of get full details here in Tokyo.

ALLEN: Yes. Well, we're getting little snippets here and there and it's enough to know they have endured quite a disaster. As you were speaking, Andrew, we had a video, I don't know if we can rerack (ph) it, of water gushing down a mountain and over a street that had been absolutely -- it looked like the street had just been moved. There it is right there. It's on its side, moved down the mountain somewhat. It's really incredible. Can you tell us is Tokyo -- how Tokyo perhaps is planning to respond? I know it's early yet but this seems to be an island that has just been wrecked in such a short time, and we're talking about a million people that live in Kumamoto.

STEVENS: You know, that's right. Almost a million people live in that city, in the hard-hit prefecture. It's about 2 million or so. So there is a real urgency to get as many people on the ground as they can. As I said, there are 20,000 people down there. By Japanese standard, this is a more sparsely populated part of the country. It's the furthest of the four major islands in the southern part of Japan.

But you're right about sort of the magnitude of this quake and the damage it's caused because if you think of this as a mountainous area, a lot of earthquakes, heavy rain is forecast over the next few hours which is going to make it more and more difficult for rescuers to actually get to people who are trapped under these buildings. So they do have a big, big job ahead of them.

At this stage, I can tell you that eyewitnesses have been reporting the intensity of this quake. One eyewitness who has actually lived through both -- because, remember, this was a second quake. This happened at 1:25 on Saturday morning. On Thursday evening, another quake happened.

[03:05:00] That was slightly less powerful. But this newest quake was about 30 times more powerful. And the eyewitness described it as being an intense earthquake, intense movement of the building he was in. So it gives you an idea of what sort of damage this could have caused as far as older buildings.

And, remember, these -- and many of these buildings which have been hit by this second quake would already have been weakened by the first quake. So that is the real fear of authorities here that the many buildings that were left standing on Thursday have since collapsed and that could have people inside them. Given the time, 1:30 in the morning, most people would have been at home in bed. Natalie.

ALLEN. Absolutely. I was speaking with someone earlier that he was scared to go back in his apartment because it was now leaning. And in fact, I'm going to talk with him in just a moment here. But, Andrew Stevens, thank you so much for helping us out there from Tokyo.

We want to turn to the gentleman I was just talking about. He's a U.S. citizen who's living in Kumamoto for three years and he's joining us once again. Noel Vincent is on the line with me. Noel, thank you again so much for talking with me. I'm told that you just experienced an aftershock.

NOEL VINCENT, WITNESSED EARTHQUAKE: That's correct. Actually, just two within the span of about two minutes. So that just gives you an indication of the frequency. It's absolutely unbelievable. Frankly -- yes?

ALLEN: Well, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Continue, please.

VINCENT: No, sorry. Well, yeah, if anything, it's an indication of the frequency of these seismic events. And, frankly, I'm anticipating that another big one will hit sometime in the next 24 hours. But that's just speculation on my part.

ALLEN: Well, you're there feeling the rumbling of the earth and you were describing it earlier to me about the more severe one that was more shaking you from side to side when you were awakened there in your apartment. Where are you now in the city?

VINCENT: Well, so we have arrived at Gofuku Community Center. Gofuku is a district within the Kumamoto metropolitan area. It's essentially near downtown but it's kind of an older residential district, so you know what that means. There are lots of old buildings here. Right in front of me, I can see an old Buddhist temple. In fact, there are three of them adjacent to one another in this district. And then this community center seems to be a fairly recent construction. So, I'm hoping that this will be a good place to kind of stick out the night and maybe stay alive.

ALLEN: Yeah. I know this is a nerve-racking time, and certainly, I'm sure a lot of people there feel quite disoriented. Earlier when I spoke with you, you were standing in front of this famous castle and I was reading about it. It was built back in 1467. And can you describe what you saw, what damage had been done to it?

VINCENT: Yeah, that's correct. So it was built in the 15th century, as you said, by a Japanese man named Kato Kiyomasa. And the castle is considered among the top three best castles in Japan up there with Himeji Castle. So, you know, it's a really impressive structure. And frankly, I was really fond of going there. I had an annual pass that I would use to visit there about, you know, once a month or so. And so, you know, I was just devastated to see the damage today, devastated and kind of awestruck at the same time.

But as I mentioned in the previous segment, it's just all surreal. I can't really quite process it. But, yeah, nonetheless, I did observe some damage at the castle, in particular, sort of the outside retaining wall had almost entirely collapsed along its length. And one of the turrets of the castle was literally standing on its last leg. The walls had fallen away, and just the corner support of this turret was remaining. So it was very precariously, you know, situated and it was about to fall at any moment.

Luckily, you know, I wasn't down there trying to look at it up close. But I was just observing from a distance and, yeah, it was ready to fall. I was very shocked as well to see one of the other major retaining walls had completely come down, the wall and the turret above it. So, you know, there's just really extensive damage there.

[03:10:03] It's such a shame to see, you know, a treasure like that, a national treasure like that fall to pieces.

ALLEN: Yeah, a castle, people's homes, mudslides. You know, we're very glad you're OK, Noel, considering what this island has just been through.

VINCENT: Thank you so much.

ALLEN: Yes, and we certainly hope another big one is not coming, and we're glad you made it to a shelter. Noel Vincent, talking with us. We appreciate it so much. Thank you, Noel.

That young man has talked with us twice and he -- and we really appreciate. We've talked with a couple of people who have been through this nightmare and are able to explain it to us.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: And hearing the firsthand accounts, you know, Noel talking about the devastation that he's physically seen and experiencing himself. I was looking on the U.S. Geological Survey's website and they are saying that the potential impact from the devastation from this most recent earthquake could equal about 1 percent of the GDP of Japan which is fairly significant considering their GDP is about 4.9 trillion as of 2013. This is all taking into consideration previous earthquakes in similar high-density population areas and similar depths. So they have a way to analyze these types of things on the fly as they go and I'll explain a little bit more in just one second.

I want you to see this video one more time because, Natalie, to me, it's quite indicative of really what took place during these moments. And, you know, no one is ...

ALLEN: Unreal.

VAN DAM: ... really sure what's happening here. Was it a dam break? Was there a levee that was broken because of the shaking? One thing's for sure, Natalie, there's an extensive amount of damage. It's widespread and, well, that could potentially be, well, a dam or perhaps a river break because of the earthquake.

Getting back to my graphics, this is a 3-D perspective of Kumamoto, and what you're looking at here is the most recent earthquake. These pillars are indicating the high population densities, the higher the pillar, the more people live within this particular area. And it's just amazing because this deep, dark shading of red is indicating violent shaking that was felt by this large population density. And this has the potential to bring down even the most resistant of structures. So this is significant considering the search and rescue operations that are going forward.

Look at these estimated economic losses according to the USGS. Again, as high as 1 percent of the GDP of Japan. That's where it likely falls between 10 billion to 100 billion U.S. dollars equivalent. This is a significant earthquake and the aftershocks are also going to compound that as well.

Not good news unfortunately, Natalie. There's a cold front coming through that is going to bring rain to the search and rescue efforts. We've got to consider the potential of hypothermia for the individuals that are stuck, perhaps, in buildings or under rubble.

ALLEN: Right, and sleeping in parks because they're scared to death to go back inside.

VAN DAM: That's right. There are so many people that have tried to get away from the buildings to sleep outside, to seek safety, and unfortunately, the weather is not going to be in their favor.

ALLEN: Really a disaster.

VAN DAM: It is.

ALLEN: Thank you, Derek. We will continue to stay on top of that story but we want to turn to other news that we're following.

The United Nation is threatening to isolate North Korea even more after the regime tried to fire a missile on Friday. China has more influenced than any other country on leader Kim Jong-un, and now, Beijing said its neighbor should stop making tensions worse than they are. This failed launch happened during an important tribute to the founder of North Korea, and our Will Ripley is there.

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

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 this successful mobile missile launch as a grand triumph but the U.S. and South Korea say the early morning launch failed. Most North Koreans will never know it happened, even those with smartphones 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 launch using a long-range rocket.

[03:15:01] Models of that rocket, the Kwangmyongsong-4, are on display in the North Korean capital.

Whenever I see these rockets, I feel very proud. We are all happy, says (inaudible). (Inaudible) 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. Seventeen thousand 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.

ALLEN: Pope Francis has just landed in Greece where he will meet with migrants living in limbo in a crowded camp. As you can see, his plane has arrived and we expect to see him soon. And we'll hear what he has to say about the migrant situation that has so many people stuck in the Island of Lesbos. We'll take a quick break and hopefully we'll see the Pope in just a moment.

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ALLEN: Back here, we're live. This is Pope Francis. He has just descended from his airplane and being greeted there by the Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras of Greece, and other religious leaders there with the Pope. He has arrived on the Island of Lesbos to make some major points to support the migrants, many of them who get stuck here being unable to head on to safety in Northern Europe. He left Rome just a couple of hours ago. As I said, he is meeting there with the Greek Prime Minister before he leaves to visit migrants living at a crowded camp.

On Friday, a Catholic church on Lesbos prayed for thousands of migrants who have died crossing from Turkey. Our Hala Gorani is covering the Pope's trip there and what he is going to say to support the migrants. And she joins me now live from Lesbos. Hello, there, Hala.

HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, hello. Yes, indeed. As you mentioned, the Pope has just arrived at Mytilini Airport. He met with the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, and it's also a highly symbolic visit because it includes other religious leaders from the Orthodox Church, the patriarch of Olive Greece, as well as Bartholomew, who is the head of the Orthodox Community based Istanbul.

[03:20:08] So they will be touring the island, this island at the forefront really, the goal line from many of the Syrian, the Iraqis, and other migrants and refugees who have traveled in the last two years-plus from Turkey to Greece, to the Islands of Lesbos here.

The Pope, of course, this is not the first time that the pontiff is highlighting the issue of refugees. One of his first significant trips in 2013 was to the Italian island of Lampedusa and that is where he was making a statement as well, telling world leaders, European leaders as well, that they must act with compassion toward those who are fleeing violence and persecution. So just looking down here for you at the official schedule that's been handed out to the press here and there's quite a press corps assembled here, there is a private meeting that is scheduled with the Greek Prime Minister. I believe if I look at my watch now, it's in about in 15 minutes' time. Then we understand that the pontiff as well as his Holiness Bartholomew and the head of the Greek Orthodox Church will be departing for the refugee camp of Moria.

Now, Moria is quite a controversial site because after a deal that Turkey signed with the E.U., it turned from a registration center to a closed camp. Some are calling it a detention center. So it will be interesting to see what interaction the pontiff has with refugees who are there. We understand that he will be meeting with some minors, unaccompanied children as well. There are a few hundred of them at that camp. He will also be eating with them, having lunch with them. And that is significant because the Pope very rarely is seen actually eating in public. This, I understand, would be only the third time that it happens.

It's a lightning trip, five hours. It includes addresses, a signing of declarations with the other leaders of the Orthodox Church as well as, of course, the highlighting of this major crisis in Europe, though not always in the headlines in the last several weeks or so, certainly one that Europe is still very much having to deal with. Back to you, Natalie.

ALLEN: Yeah, absolutely, because, you know, we're not there every day covering it. But they still come everyday, don't they, Hala? And what real possible solutions to these people that live here might be brought to the attention of the world with the Pope's visit?

GORANI: Well, things have changed quite a bit since I was mentioning the signing of a deal between Turkey and the E.U. where you're seeing border closures on the ball can route. For instance, the closure of the border between Greece and Macedonia has left thousands of migrants and refuges trapped there. There was a camp not far from that where we are being told the conditions are quite difficult. It's also creating a situation where many of the refugees and migrants here are in --.

ALLEN: We apologize. We lost our signal there with Hala Gorani but she will be covering the Pope's trip. As she said, a quick trip, a few hours there. But interesting that she said Pope Francis will be eating with the migrants, and we rarely see him eating at all in public. So he is, of course, really going for symbolism here to bring attention to the plight of these refugees, so many of them fleeing the war and stuck and unable to move forward with their lives. So he's continuing down the red carpet, being greeted, and we'll continue to follow the Pope's trip there to Lesbos, Greece.

We want to turn now to Brazil and the President there, Dilma Rousseff, canceled a nationally televised address that had been scheduled for Friday evening. She was expected to make a case to the public to prevent her impeachment. No reason was given for canceling the event. Meantime, though, the lower house of Brazil's Congress is expected to vote Sunday on whether to impeach her. Ms. Rousseff is accused of breaking budget laws to hide a deficit ahead of her re-election in 2014.

Well, the royals from Britain are visiting the Taj Mahal today. They left Bhutan a short while ago and they'll soon be touring the Indian monument to love. It's a site that William's mother, Princess Diana, visited more than 20 years ago and took that famous picture you're looking at right there. That bench she's sitting on was nicknamed Lady Di's Chair after this iconic photo of the Princess made it a tourist attraction.

Today, William and Catherine hope to create some new memories. Our Sumnima Udas reports for it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUMNIMA UDAS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It's been an incredibly colorful and ambitious trip so far, no doubt, a whirlwind tour of India and of course Bhutan.

[03:25:00] But this is going to be the defining moment of the tour, the duke and duchess visiting the Taj Mahal behind me. Not only because this is the ultimate symbol of love but also because of the history associated with the Taj Mahal and Prince William's mother, Princess Diana.

Now, Princess Diana and Prince Charles were in India back in 1992. They were meant to visit the Taj Mahal together but Prince Charles ended up staying back in Delhi to meet with industrialists instead. So Princess Diana came here by herself. She took a tour of the Taj Mahal. At that time she told a tour guide she wished her husband had been there. Then she sat down for photos on a bench which is now called Lady Diana's Chair.

It was about a five-minute-long moment. She was looking very lonely, very wistful, almost sad, a princess without her prince. And then that became an iconic image because at that time not many people were aware that the two were not really getting along. And 10 months after that photograph was splashed all over the media, the world came to know that the couple, Prince Charles and Princess Diana, were separating.

Now Prince William and the duchess will be following in the footsteps of Princess Diana. They will be taking photos in front of that chair. We don't know if they will be sitting or standing, but here clearly, they will be sending a very different message. And the attempt here is to try to create new memories. That's according to the royal palace. Sumnima Udas, CNN, Agra.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: And, well, of course, have their tour of the Taj Mahal a few hours from now.

We want to take you now back to Lesbos, Greece where Pope Francis has just arrived about 10 minutes ago and has been greeted by religious leaders, including the patriarch of the Greek Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholomew. He's now sitting there with the Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras. And, of course, the Pope has come here to bring attention to the plight of the migrants who are stuck there at a refugee camp. Many of these, of course, fleeing the war in Syria and called up in the migrant crisis of Europe. So many of them coming, of course, from Syria to Turkey, to Greece, and then trying to move forward. So we'll wait and see what the pope has to say about the situation as he visits this refugee camp.

Thank you for watching. I'm Natalie Allen. "Political Mann" is next here on CNN and our top stories.

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[03:30:11] ALLEN: This is CNN News Now. I'm Natalie Allen.