Daily Lessons from Life 12 March 2011 - More than 1,000 dead, 10,000 missing after Japan quake

"More than 1,000 dead, 10,000 missing after Japan quake - 12 March 2011 CNA

SENDAI, Japan: An explosion at a Japanese nuclear plant triggered fears of a meltdown Saturday, after a massive earthquake and tsunami left more than 1,000 dead and at least 10,000 unaccounted for.

As workers doused the stricken reactor with sea water to try to avert catastrophe, Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the chaos unleashed by Friday's 8.9-magnitude quake was an "unprecedented national disaster".

The quake, one of the biggest ever recorded, unleashed a terrifying 10-metre (33-foot) wave that tore through towns and cities on Japan's northeastern coast, destroying everything in its path.

In the small port town of Minamisanriku alone, some 10,000 people are unaccounted for -- more than half the population -- public broadcaster NHK reported.

Even as Japan struggled to assess the full extent of the devastation, the nation faced an atomic emergency as cooling systems damaged by the quake failed at two nuclear reactors.

Smoke billowed from the Fukushima No. 1 atomic plant about 250 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of Tokyo, after an explosion blew off the roof and walls of the structure around the reactor.

Kyodo News agency cited the nuclear safety agency as saying that radioactive caesium had been detected near the ageing facility."

The morning after showed grim pictures of the devastation brought on by the earthquake and the tsunami triggered.

There is really no word to describe the scale of destruction. A most horrifying picture. We can only feel for the people being sucked into that situation. Aid and helps are on the way for those who can be there. Whatever is done will be appreciated as it meant the world felt for them. Yet, every single one of the victims or near victims will have to work this horrifying experience out and ask what is the true meaning of being a human being!!

May the rescuers rescue as many as humanly possible. May those missing, somehow, found safe shelter and bring some joy to the many anxious and desperate family, relatives and friends. Keep the faith.