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Japanese Red Cross - Emergency Relief for Tsunami Victims
(19th March 2011)
On March 11, a devastating magnitude 9 earthquake hit Tōhoku, Japans north east region. Minutes after the quake, one of the most destructive tsunamis on record was triggered, with waves of up to 10 metres. In some cases, it travelled up to 6 miles inland, consuming everything in its path, sweeping whole towns away within minutes.
The earthquake and tsunami caused extensive structural damage in Japan, including 125,000 collapsed buildings, heavy damage to roads and railways, as well as causing fires in many areas. Around 4.4 million households in north eastern Japan were left without electricity and 1.5 million without water.
The death roll rose to over 9,200 with 13,700 people missing, across eighteen prefectures. It is thought that there may be over 15,000 fatalities and half of those missing may not be found having been swept out into sea.
The earthquake also caused an extreme build up of hydrogen gas within their outer containment buildings when the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant suffered serious explosions. On 18 March, the International Atomic Energy Agency described the crisis as "extremely serious." Residents within a 12 mile radius were evacuated due to radiation fears and the country was placed in a state of emergency.
The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan was also one of the five most powerful earthquakes in the world, since records began in 19th Century. Whole cities have been wiped off the map and it has moved Honshu 2.4 m east and shifted the Earth on its axis by almost 10 cm. The World Bank estimated damage between US$122 billion and $235 billion.
Many thanks to:
• The National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
• Ms Ling for overseeing cash handling and directly transfer the funds to Japanese Red Cross via electronic transfer.
A grand total of £2021.00 GBP was raised.
More info here: www.redcross.org.uk/japantsunami/
