Having done numerous diaries on the earthquake in Christchurch, I cannot and will not ignore the unfolding tragedy in Japan, in the aftermath of the massive earthquake and resulting tsunami,
New Zealand is one the first countries Japan reached out to for help, so we are sending over some search and rescue teams. John Key, the Prime Minister, said it was " A Bloody mess".
Police say up to 300 bodies have been found in Sendai, the city that was worst-hit. Many more people are missing.
The official death toll from Japan's earthquake/tsunami disaster now stands at 402 - but the Kyodo News agency says it estimates that more than 1000 people died.
Japanese naval and coastguard helicopters have found a ship that was swept out to sea by the tsunami and have airlifted all 81 people aboard to safety, the Jiji Press reports.
The ship was owned by a shipbuilder in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture.
Five nuclear reactors, in Japan, have reported problems The Government declared states of emergency for five nuclear reactors at two power plants after the units lost cooling ability in the aftermath of Friday's powerful earthquake. Thousands of residents were evacuated as workers struggled to get the reactors under control to prevent meltdowns.
There have been at least 150 aftershocks since yesterday's 8.9 magnitude quake struck Japan.
Japan's military has mobilised thousands of troops, hundreds of planes and dozens of ships.
President Barack Obama said a US aircraft carrier was already in Japan, and another was on the way.
The town of Rikuzentakada, in Iwate prefecture, seemed mostly under water, with barely a trace of any buildings.
Japan Railways said it could not trace four trains along the north-eastern coast. A ship carrying 100 people was also reported missing.
This is a disaster of IMMENSE magnitude. The death toll will likely be in the thousands.
Japan will need all the help it can get and then more.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/...
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/...
Where to donate
Operation USA
International relief agency
Donate online at http://www.opusa.org/ or by phone at 800-678-7255 or by check made out to Operation USA, 3617 Hayden Ave, Suite A, Culver City, CA 90232.
GlobalGiving
Connects donors to their causes then provides feedback on results achieved
Donate by visiting http://www.globalgiving.org/ or text “JAPAN” to 50555 to give $10.
International Medical Corps
International humanitarian nonprofit providing health care training and relief
Donate to the Emergency Response Fund by visiting http://www.internationalmedicalcorps.org/
Save the Children
Humanitarian organization for needy children in the U.S. and the world
Donate to the Japan Earthquake Tsunami Children in Emergency Fund by ,calling 800-728-3843 or texting “JAPAN" to 20222 to donate $10.
Shelterbox
http://www.shelterbox.org/...
Updated by GlowNZ at Fri Mar 11, 2011, 11:09:24 PM
More than 215,000 people are taking refuge in emergency shelters in the east and north of the country following Friday's massive quake, Japan's national police agency tells the AFP news agency.
Updated by GlowNZ at Fri Mar 11, 2011, 11:27:00 PM
Yukinori Mesuda, from Tokyo, writes: "We are in an historical, deep grief. Thousands are searching for their families with no luck, and can only pray or cry now. We will never lose hope. We shall get back into peaceful life with unity, wisdom and love. Please be with us."
Updated by GlowNZ at Sat Mar 12, 2011, 12:19:57 AM
Thousands of people remain trapped in buildings surrounded by swirling floodwaters in Miyagi prefecture, authorities there tell the AFP news agency.
Updated by GlowNZ at Sat Mar 12, 2011, 12:22:17 AM
Japan is pushing 50,000 rescue staff into quake and tsunami-devastated areas as officials warn they expect the death toll to "rise greatly".
Updated by GlowNZ at Sat Mar 12, 2011, 01:33:23 AM
The quake death toll rises to more than 700, the AFP news agency reports
Updated by GlowNZ at Sat Mar 12, 2011, 02:04:22 AM
From the BBC's Damian Grammaticas: "In Sukagawa city, 130km south of Sendai almost all shops and businesses have closed - petrol filling stations, superstores, fast food outlets are all shut because of the earthquake. We passed one three story building that pancaked down. It was apparently a watch factory but nobody was hurt when it came down. The only petrol station we have seen was open, there were queues of people. The highway to Sendai is closed to traffic."