Overview A powerful 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on Friday (March 11) at 1446 local time (0546 GMT), unleashing massive tsunami waves that crashed into Japan’s eastern coast, leaving at least 1,000 people dead thus far, approximately a little over one hour after the quake hit, according to latest media reports. Widespread damage from both the quake and tsunami has been reported. The earthquake sparked widespread tsunami warnings across the Pacific that stretched from Japan to North and South America. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the shallow quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 km), around 80 miles (125 km) off the eastern coast of Japan, and 240 miles (380 km) northeast of Tokyo. It was reportedly the largest recorded quake in Japan’s history and the fifth largest in the world since 1900. Hundreds have also been injured and hundreds of others are reportedly missing. The powerful quake was followed by at least 50 aftershocks so far, with many above magnitude 6.0. The quake was also felt in Japan’s capital city, Tokyo, located hundreds of miles from the epicenter and was also felt as far away as the Chinese capital Beijing, some 1,500 miles away. As initial assessments come in it is expected that the death toll will rise due to the extensive devastation along the coastline. Earthquakes had affected the region recently, including a 7.3-magnitude quake Wednesday (March 9) that did not cause any damage. Japan’s worst previous quake was an 8.3 magnitude quake in 1923 that left some 143,000 dead. More recently, the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Kobe in 1995 left some 6,400 dead. Request for assistance Japan has asked for international help to deal with the disaster and Prime Minister Naoto Kan is leading an emergency task force. Dozens of countries have so far offered assistance. According to the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has notified OCHA that Kan will soon make an announcement on the type of international assistance needed. The government has requested that foreign teams, making arrangements to respond and or to provide assistance, wait until requests and needs are officially announced, OCHA reported. Impact Japan’s news agencies have reported collapsed buildings, fires, power outages and transportation disruptions across Japan. Japan’s government said that the Defense Ministry was sending some 8,000 troops to the hardest-hit region. The tsunami that swept over Japan’s northeastern coast was reportedly as high as 33 feet at the port of Sendai city in Miyagi prefecture (state), the worst-hit area. The coastal city is located some 180 miles (300 km) from Tokyo, and is home to some one million people. At least 200 to 300 bodies have been found so far in the city. The tsunami waves reached as far as six miles (10 km) inland in Miyagi. Although official numbers are not yet in, tens of thousands of people have reportedly been displaced across the country. At least 60,000 to 70,000 people were evacuated to shelters in the Sendai area. The Sendai domestic airport was submerged, according to the UN. Dozens of fires have also been reported across the region. An explosion hit a petrochemical plant in Sendai while a huge fire swept through an oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture. OCHA’s Environmental Emergencies Section is monitoring the situation and says it can provide specialized assistance to help mitigate risks. Strong tsunami waves also hit Fukushima prefecture, causing widespread damage to coastal communities. There are also reports that a dam had broken in Fukushima and some 1,800 houses may have been destroyed. Hundreds of flights have been cancelled and thousands were reportedly stranded at the major Narita and Haneda airports, according to the Kyodo news agency. Tens of thousands reportedly remained stranded in Tokyo after nightfall where Japan’s rail network was still shutdown. Train service in Tokyo and northeastern Japan normally serves around 10 million people a day. Tokyo’s Narita airport was shut down indefinitely. Japan’s national broadcaster NHK, reported that more than 4 million buildings were without power in Tokyo and its suburbs. All ports were reportedly shutdown. Some 3,000 people living within a 3km-radius were evacuated around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture in northeastern Japan, located some 170 miles (270 km) northeast of Tokyo, after officials declared a state of nuclear emergency as a precaution following the failure of the cooling system. Latest reports say that the radiation level around the plant is 1,000 times more than normal and the government has increased the evacuation zone to 10 km. The US Air Force is reportedly delivering coolant to help assist the Japanese government, according to US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. The reactor was reportedly not leaking, but its core remained hot even after the plant was shutdown. Japan’s defense ministry says it has sent dozens of troops trained to deal with chemical disasters to the plant in case of a radiation leak. The UN’s nuclear agency said that four other nuclear plants had been shut down safely. The reactors shut down due to the quake account for some 18 percent of the country’s total nuclear power generating capacity, according to Reuters. Tsunami Warning At least 50 countries and territories in the region had been put on alert, stretching across the Pacific to North and South America, but the alert has since been lifted in most parts of the Pacific. The US states of Alaska and Hawaii and states along the US West Coast were affected by the warning. The Philippines had ordered the evacuation of coastal communities but no unusual waves were reported. Thousands of people also reportedly fled their homes in Indonesia after officials warned of a possible tsunami but only small waves were reported, according to the Associated Press. Although the tsunami warning has since been downgraded to an advisory for Hawaii, the initial warning sparked mandatory evacuations for some coastal areas of the state. The first tsunami waves hit Hawaii approximately 3 AM local time (1400 GMT) Hawaii. Initial reports from Hawaii indicate some minor damages, but nothing major so far. However, officials caution that people in Hawaii and the West Coast should remain on guard for strong currents. Evacuations were also ordered in parts of California, Washington and Oregon, along the U.S. West Coast, but so far little damage has been reported. CNN reported that one person in California had been swept to sea. Economic Damages Jefferies International Ltd., a global investment banking group, has put initial overall economic damages at around US$10 billion. The 1995 Kobe earthquake caused some US$100 billion in damage and was the most expensive natural disaster in history according to Reuters. Japan sits along the so-called Pacific Rim of Fire where seismic activity is common. Japan accounts for some 20 percent of the world’s earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater, according to Reuters. UN and International Assistance Dozens of international search and rescue (SAR) teams are reportedly on standby and ready to assist the government of Japan but are waiting for an official request. They are being advised to remain on standby until further notice. Government Response The Government of Japan (GoJ) has established an Emergency Response Team, which will be led by the Prime Minister, Naoto Kan. According to Japan’s Kyodo News Agency, the government has dispatched 8,000 troops to assist in the recovery effort and has requested for US military assistance. The GoJ has dispatched Japan’s Self-Defense Forces (SDF) for rescue operations and emergency response. The force includes a 900 strong rescue team deployed in the Tohoku region. PM Kan will soon make an official announcement on the need and or specific type of international assistance required, but so far the government was doing what it could itself. Due to the impact of the earthquake, Japan declared a state of nuclear emergency, after the failure of a cooling system at a nuclear plant in the Fukushima Prefecture. According to Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, no release of radiation has been detected. The central government has sent senior officials to the nuclear plant to help cope with any emergency as local authorities have called on 3,000 residents in the neighborhood to evacuate. National Response The Japanese Red Cross (JRC) has promptly mobilized staff and volunteers, and sent 18 national disaster response teams to conduct assessments and provide first aid and healthcare in the affected areas. Emergency relief planning is underway. (IFRC, Mar 11) The Bank of Japan established a task force led by Governor Masaaki Shirakawa, saying its online network system that processes transactions between the bank and financial institutions was operating normally. (Japan Times, Mar 11) UN/International Response United Nations UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon expressed deep sorrow and offered the UN’s full support in providing humanitarian assistance to Japan. According to the UN Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), 62 international SAR teams were on alert, monitoring the situation and ready to help. UN agencies are on standby to assist Japan and other countries affected by tsunami waves generated by the earthquake but are advised to remain on standby until further notice. The OCHA Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (ROAP) has been in contact with the OCHA Kobe office that will monitor government and media sources. OCHA has been using its regional offices in Bangkok and elsewhere in the Asia-Pacific region to monitor the situation, with a special focus placed on watching the tsunami triggered by the quake. A UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team is currently being mobilized. The UN Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and UN Operational Satellite Applications Program (UNOSAT) are monitoring the situation. Space Charter was triggered by Japan and UNOSAT is in contact with the Space Charter coordinator for the event. (UNOCHA, Mar 11) The UN’s World Food Program (WFP) reported staff on standby across the Asia-Pacific region ready to respond to calls for assistance. NGOs/IOs International Medical Corps (IMC): The US medical relief organization IMC says it is in contact with its partners in Japan and other potentially affected countries to assess needs and coordinate activities. IMC specializes in delivering health services and training to lessen human suffering in the aftermath of humanitarian crises and has been a leading responder to emergencies in more than 50 countries. International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC): The IFRC has informed all national societies in Asia-Pacific which are covered in the tsunami warning as well as the Europe and America zones regarding their specific countries. The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) is assessing the situation at both national headquarters and branch levels. A total of 11 National Disaster Response Teams (with focus on assessment, first aid, health, and possible psychosocial support program (PSP)) was sent to the affected areas. Possible relief/ supply distribution under planning. A communications delegate from the Asia Pacific IFRC office has been deployed to the affected area. In addition, the Asia Pacific Regional Logistics Unit has emergency stocks ready to be dispatched from Kuala Lumpur if needed. MERCY Malaysia, on standby, is monitoring the situation and ready to respond as request for international assistance come in. (OCHA, Mar 11) Operation Blessing International: The US-based relief organization, Operation Blessing International (OBI) says it is deploying a medical team out of its Manila, Philippines office to Japan. OBI provides strategic disaster relief, medical aid, hunger relief, clean water and community development in some 23 countries around the world. Oxfam: Humanitarian relief organization Oxfam is saying that it is monitoring the situation and remains on standby to respond to affected regions. Save the Children (SC): SC said it is mobilizing its global resources to respond to the needs of children families affected by the quake and ensuing tsunami. Speaking from central Tokyo, SC spokesman Elichi Sadamatsu said his organization remains on standby to serve welfare of children and families of those affected by the massive natural calamity. World Vision: The US-based humanitarian relief organization World Vision said that it is preparing to respond to the emergency and its staff in the region and in Japan remains on standby. Foreign Governments Over 45 countries have offered to help Japan deal with the impact of the disaster, and are awaiting a green light from Japanese authorities to deploy, OCHA reported. Australia: Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan says the Federal Government is monitoring the situation in Japan closely and Australia is prepared to provide any assistance needed. (ABC News, Mar 11) China: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao expressed “deep sympathy” and solicitude to the Japanese government and people, and on behalf of the Chinese government, offered whatever aid that is necessary. According to the director of the China Earthquake Administration, Chen Jianmin, China’s International Rescue Team has mobilized its members, equipment, materials and medicines in place and is ready to depart for Japan at any time, Xinhua news agency reported. European Commission: The Monitoring and Information Center of the European Commission (MIC) is ready to assist Japan if a request for assistance is received. (OCHA, Mar 11) France reported they were prepared to offer whatever assistance was required. (Reuters, Mar 11) Poland has offered firefighters Russia: Russian President Dmitry said Russia was “ready to offer Japan all possible aid to cope with the aftermath of the tragedy.” ERMACOM, the Russian emergency services agency, has offered 40 people with three sniffer dogs. South Korea has prepared 40 emergency rescue officials to fly to Japan by government plane when they receive clearance. Singapore has civil defense forces on standby Switzerland has offered rescue teams Thailand: The Foreign Ministry of Thailand reportedly offered US$165,000 (5 million Baht) in aid to Japan and will consider further contributions when the extent of the damage is known. United Kingdom: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II said her thoughts and prayers were with the Japanese people. The Government of the United Kingdom pledged its support for Japanese emergency response and offered to send rescue teams and other specialists. (Telegraph, Mar 11) United States: US President Barack Obama has relayed to Japanese PM Naoto Kan that the US would assist Japan in any way. The US Navy initiated reconnaissance flights to map the disaster zone and Obama has ordered various ships to assist in aid, including an aircraft carrier joining the substantial US military presence there. Specifically, a Pentagon spokeswoman reported that the two carriers were the USS George Washington, which is based at Yokosuka near Tokyo, and the USS Ronald Reagan, which was en route to South Korea for exercises, but has been redirected to Japan. Another ship is reportedly on its way to US territories in the Mariana Islands to “assist as needed.” The US Department of Defense was mobilizing American forces in the Pacific to provide earthquake and tsunami relief. Pentagon spokesman David Lapan reported that US forces in the Pacific were assessing the situation and positioning forces to be ready to respond and provided disaster relief if requested. DoD resources include the USS Boxer, carrying the Boxer Amphibious Ready Group that is currently at sea en route to a scheduled replenishment to Guam, and the USS Essex, carrying the embarked 31s Marine Expeditionary Unit, who are in Malaysia preparing for an immediate departure to Japan. Meanwhile, the USS Blue Ridge, a command and control ship, had just arrived in Singapore and is set to leave Saturday (Mar 12) for Japan. The USS Tortuga, now in Sasebo, Japan, is gearing up boats to transport equipment and troops and could depart later on Friday. (AFP, Mar 11) According to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the US Air Force on Friday were reportedly delivering coolant to a nuclear plant facility, north of Tokyo, to help deal with a potentially dangerous breakdown of the cooling system. (Reuters, AP, Mar 11) The US Agency for International Development (USAID) is dispatching a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) and has mobilized its partners, the Fairfax Country Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team and the Los Angeles Country SAR team. Each USAR team will consist of about 72 personnel, SAR canines and approximately 75 tons of rescue equipment. Also, USAID disaster experts will accompany USAR teams, who will help with situation assessments. (USAID, Mar 11) Obama also noted that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was prepared to aid any of the US states or territories who needed help. CREDIT: The Santos Republic thanks the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance (Hawaii) for compiling a great snapshot report. – Lady Michelle Jennifer del Rosario Santos, Publisher/Founder
