Early Friday morning eastern time, disaster struck as a massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan 150 kilometers off the northeastern coast.
The earthquake than triggered a tsunami moments after that was powerful enough to topple boats the size of cruise ships, throw cars around like Hot-Wheels and rip buildings from their foundations.
The wall of water covered the farmland miles inward and carried anything in its path including debris, houses, cars, telephone poles, boats and buses. Buildings were moved and cars toppled off of bridges.
In addition to this destruction, the earthquake has sparked various fires throughout the area of Tokyo including a blazing inferno at an oil refinery, which is unable to be calmed and must naturally die out.
It has been reported, that this earthquake was the fifth most powerful of all time and the most powerful earthquake to ever strike Japan. Immediately afterwards aftershocks were felt and one aftershock was even reported at 7.1 which was the same measure as the earthquake which destroyed Haiti a few months back.
Even though Japan is prepared for earthquakes, nothing could prepare them for this damage. Power has been cut in four million homes throughout Tokyo and the surrounding areas, while their currency the Yen has fallen sharply.
People have been left stranded as public transportation has been cut off and are now being forced to retreat to higher grounds to avoid danger. The government is urging people to remain calm as they do not want another crisis, this being a crisis of fear and disorder.
There is still a risk though as the damage has weakened many buildings left standing and there is a chance they may collapse. Other factors are landslides and mudslides which recently killed over 800 people in Brazil earlier this year.
People have been left stranded as public transportation has been cut off and are now being forced to retreat to higher grounds to avoid danger. The government is urging people to remain calm as they do not want another crisis, this being a crisis of fear and disorder.
There is still a risk though as the damage has weakened many buildings left standing and there is a chance they may collapse. Other factors are landslides and mudslides which recently killed over 800 people in Brazil earlier this year.
Many causalities have already been reported and I fear the death toll will continue to rise dramatically. I hope everyone remembers to keep Japan in their prayers, as the nation has suffered tremendous destruction and is in dire need of all of our help as this is an ongoing disaster.
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