Japan experienced the worst ever earthquake disaster in its modern history early Friday 11th March, 2011 followed by a deadly tsunami leading to massive destruction in the northern part of the country.
The world admires the resilience of Japan in facing geological instabilities. Although being the best earthquake prepared nations in the world, the most powerful earthquake of Japan (magnitude 8.8) that struck it on Friday 11th March, at 1446 local time (0546 GMT), highlighted the fact that the risks posed by such natural disasters can overthrow any human preparedness. The quake that hit about 400 km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo, triggered a massive tsunami that swept almost everything that came in its path. The death toll is unclear as the government officials are still trying to figure out the extent of destruction. Buildings, even far away in the Tokyo city shook vigorously.
Earthquake and Tsunami Devastate Japan
Several reports from Japanese media have cited that a ship carrying hundred people and a train with unknown number of passengers has also gone missing. The tidal waves that accompanied Tsunami were reported to be as huge as 33 foot destroying everything that came in their way. This massive destruction brought memories of the 2004 Tsunami in Asia and alerts were issued across Australia, Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia and New Zealand. Even in the regions of the Pacific, including areas as far away as South America, US west coast, Canada and Alaska high alert warnings were issued in the wake of Tsunami triggered by the earthquake.
“The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan,” Prime Minister Naoto Kan was quoted saying in a news conference. Thousands of people were evacuated from regions surrounding several nuclear power plants that were reported to have faced problems due to the earthquake. As per the Japanese prime minister, all nuclear plants were shut down safely and no radiation leak has been reported in zones affected by the deadly earthquake.
The disaster left most of the places in Tokyo in dark as the nuclear power reactors were shut down automatically due to the earthquake. In sections of Kesennuma, Miyagi; a town inhabited by nearly 70,000 people, the situation all night was worsened due to the fire that broke out after the tsunami knocked several vehicles causing oil and gas to leak.
Even though Japan has faced several earthquakes in its entire history, this one has been reported to be the most destructive. The extent of destruction is yet to be reported officially; however the earthquake was of horrific scale as the Tsunami waves penetrated several miles inland before they retreated. The video footage of water walls ravishing everything that was coming in their way and the uncontrollable fire erupting in several areas, as captured by various Japanese media news channels is no less than the disasters that is portrayed in Hollywood movies. People who were struck in offices or on roads said to media that walking, even on the streets was similar to crossing the deck of a ship at sea. Certainly, it is impossible to pen down the large scale destruction that this earthquake has caused to the nation. Hundreds of people have been dead and many deaths have not yet been officially reported.
Previously, Japan had experienced one of the deadliest earthquakes in the 20th century on 1 September 1923. Known as the Great Kanto earthquake, this earthquake hit the Kanto plain, destroying Tokyo and several parts of Yokohama. Nearly 1,40,000 people had died in this worst earthquake measured at 7.9 in magnitude on the Richter scale. Although the earthquake that struck Japan on 11th March is the worst in its history, we can only pray the causalities are minimum.
US President Barack Obama and UN Chief, Ban ki-Moon have send their condolences to the victims and their families. The United Nations, European Union, USA and China have come forward to provide relief to the victims of the earthquake. In fact, all major governments of the world are willing to help Japan in this time of loss and grief. Let us come forward to help people of Japan in such trying times.
Governments of several other countries must also make a note of the Japan’s remarkable disaster readiness. Japan has set gold standards for itself when it comes to emergency preparedness. Almost all the population is trained religiously in drills and other strategies to tackle emergencies. Even the public infrastructure is developed in a way so that natural disasters can cause minimum loss. For instance, even though few nuclear reactors did face problems during the earthquake, they were managed effectively and radiation leaks were not reported.
Similarly, there are no words to describe the abilities of Japanese architects and engineers whose efforts have made Japan, one of the best economies of the world. We have seen many countries in past reduced to rubble even due to an earthquake of magnitude between 7 to 7.5. It is only Japan that has been able to withstand such a massive earthquake. I don’t deny the fact that the loss due to this earthquake (as we all can see by media coverage) is certainly the biggest ever but some vital lessons must be learned in this time of crisis from Japan. Effective emergency preparedness and disaster management are some lessons that we can learn from Japanese people, not to mention the qualities of hard work and never say die spirit, for which they have been famous for, since ages. Japan will surely bounce back from the losses with time, as it has always done in the past natural disasters though it may take some time, as the destruction has been on a large scale.
As Japan fights with the biggest natural disaster in its history, let us pray for the victims and families who have lost their lives. May the almighty grant each one of us the wisdom and strength to stand the test of such trying circumstances.
