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JAPAN IN CRISIS: NUCLEAR CRISIS ESCALATES AS DEATH TOLL PASSES 4,300

DAVID ADAMS reports…

Concerns continue to grow over the state of nuclear generators on Japan’s north-east coast as the official death toll from last Friday’s earthquake and tsunami passes 4,300.

International experts were reported as questioning Japan’s handling of the nuclear crisis which has seen at least a partial meltdown in one reactor and rising fears that a Chernobyl-style incident could yet occur.

In his first ever televised address to the nation, Emperor Akihito reportedly said he was “deeply concerned” about the unpredictable situation at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and that he hoped the situation could be prevented from getting any worse.

Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Authority announced on Wednesday that he would travel to Japan as soon as possible, “to see the situation for myself and learn from our Japanese counterparts how best the IAEA can help”.

The official death toll from the earthquake, which was upgraded to a magnitude of 9.0, and subsequent tsunami has now passed 4,300 with more than 8,000 officially listed as missing. There remain fears the final toll could top 20,000.

In his first ever televised address to the nation, Emperor Akihito reportedly said he was “deeply concerned” about the unpredictable situation at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant and that he hoped the situation could be prevented from getting any worse.

“I hope from the bottom of my heart that the people will, hand in hand, treat each other with compassion and overcome these difficult times,” he said.

The earthquake was the biggest to hit Japan since records began and the fifth biggest in the world since 1900. With an epicentre based 13.5 kilometres below sea level about 130 kilometres off the north-east coast of Honshu, the earthquake struck at 2:46pm on Friday afternoon and sent a wall of water smashing into coastal communities including the porty city of Sendai, home to around a million people and located about 300 kilometres north-east of Tokyo.

Entire communities were wiped out by the quake and ensuing tsunami and tens of thousands of homes washed away. Footage captured by people as the quake struck shows cars and ships being tossed around like children’s toys. Fires broke out in numerous communities and were spread by the wave of water.

The UN have said 590,000 people were evacuated after the earthquake and tsunami.

The Japanese Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, said in a television address to the nation on Sunday night that the country was facing its worst crisis since World War II. “The earthquake, tsunami and the nuclear incident have been the biggest crisis Japan has encountered in the 65 years since the end of World War II,” he said. “Whether we Japanese can overcome this crisis depends on each of us. I strongly believe that we can get over this great earthquake and tsunami by joining together.”

A hundred thousand soldiers have been deployed in Japan to help deal with the aftermath as well as 250,000 police officers. Power rationing is in effect in some areas thanks to the damage to the country’s nuclear powerplants.

Rev Dr Richard Howell, general secretary of the Asia Evangelical Alliance, expressed the organisation’s shock and grief at the loss of lives and devastation caused by the quake. 

“The task for rebuilding before the government of Prime Minister Naoto Kan and the hundreds of relief workers is massive, and emotionally and spiritually exhaustive,” he said in a statement. “We express our support and confidence in their invaluable and courageous efforts.”

Kiyoshi Gushiken, general secretary of the Japan Evangelical Alliance, added: “People are still in fear, please pray for us”. 

Meanwhile, Dr Geoff Tunnicliffe, secretary general of World Evanglical Alliance, said that while Japan only has small percentage of Christians, “we know that already many have moved into action to respond with love and care”

“Now is the time to stand with the church in Japan,” he said.

Rev Dr Olav Fyske Tveit, secretary-general of the World Council of Churches, has called on churches around the world to pray for Japan and all those impacted by the earthquake.

The quake was so large that the entire island of Honshu has moved between two-and-a-half metres eastwards. The north-east part of the country has experienced more than 150 aftershocks since the quake including at least one of magnitude six.

The UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says the impact of the disaster is being exacerbated by winter weather with temperatures in the affected are dropped as low as one degree Celcius.

HOW YOU CAN HELP?

Red Cross Australia ‘Japan and Pacific Disaster Appeal 2011’

Phone 1800 811 700 or see www.redcross.org.au/japan2011.htm

World Vision Australia ‘Japan Disaster Appeal’

See www.worldvision.com.au

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