AM | 03/13/2011 | Reading Time: 2 Min.
As surely all our visitors have learned through the media, an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9 struck the east coast of Japan. A tsunami flooded the coastal regions following the earthquake. Numerous aftershocks have continued almost hourly since then.
So far, 1,000 victims have been identified. However, in Minami-SanrikuchÅ alone, approximately half of the residents (around 10,000 people) could not be contacted, though a complete power outage is affecting the entire region. Accordingly, it is currently absolutely impossible to get even remotely accurate estimates. The death toll will undoubtedly rise into the thousands.
In one of the two affected nuclear power plants, Fukushima 1, according to the latest reports from the Japanese government, a partial meltdown appears to have occurred. Approximately 170,000 people have been brought to safety. The area within a 20-kilometer radius around the facility has been evacuated. Further developments must be awaited.
The crisis team of the Foreign Office has set up a hotline for relatives: 030/50003000.
Friends or acquaintances in Japan should not be called directly. The telephone networks are severely damaged, and the remaining resources are needed. It is recommended to make contact via the internet.
At this point, we would like to express our sincere condolences to the Japanese people and the many friends and relatives. Our sympathy goes out to the families in the affected crisis areas.
So far, 1,000 victims have been identified. However, in Minami-SanrikuchÅ alone, approximately half of the residents (around 10,000 people) could not be contacted, though a complete power outage is affecting the entire region. Accordingly, it is currently absolutely impossible to get even remotely accurate estimates. The death toll will undoubtedly rise into the thousands.
In one of the two affected nuclear power plants, Fukushima 1, according to the latest reports from the Japanese government, a partial meltdown appears to have occurred. Approximately 170,000 people have been brought to safety. The area within a 20-kilometer radius around the facility has been evacuated. Further developments must be awaited.
The crisis team of the Foreign Office has set up a hotline for relatives: 030/50003000.
Friends or acquaintances in Japan should not be called directly. The telephone networks are severely damaged, and the remaining resources are needed. It is recommended to make contact via the internet.
At this point, we would like to express our sincere condolences to the Japanese people and the many friends and relatives. Our sympathy goes out to the families in the affected crisis areas.
This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical support and editorially reviewed before publication.
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