Japan Tsunami Relief

[Ahmed Razak]

On 11 March 2011, an earthquake hit off-shore of Japan at 14:46 (local time). The epicentre has

a latitude of 38.0N and longitude 142.9E (373km northeast of Tokyo, about 130 km off the eastern

coast of Japan) with a depth of 13.5 km and magnitude of 8.8.

 

In Japan

 

Since the earthquake struck, there have been repeated earthquakes, with magnitudes of 6.6, every

30 to 60 minutes at the inland of Honsyu Isle. According to local news reports, about 300,000 people

in the affected areas have been evacuated to safer public facilities.

 

The tsunami alert is still active, preventing the recovery of several hundred bodies on the shore.

However, in many areas, the estimated scale of the tsunami has decreased. Landslides have been

reported in 37 areas. More than 2,500 houses have totally collapsed while a further 2,500 houses are

damaged as a result of the earthquake and tsunami. Ten villages in Iwate prefecture and 1,800

households in Fukushima prefecture have been devastated by the tsunami.

 

The Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) continues to assess the situation at both national

headquarter and branch levels. A total of 62 National Disaster Response Teams (NDRT), with more

than 400 staff members including doctors, nurses and administration support are currently conducting

assessments in the affected areas as well as providing first aid, health and possible psychosocial

support (PSP). More NDRT teams are on standby for further deployment.

 

Some assessment teams are having difficulty in accessing some areas, as there is still a

red-tsunami-alert for four prefectures which are mostly the worst-hit areas.

 

The Government has opened many evacuation centres (halls, gyms etc) which are currently

housing people. JRCS are supporting these centres with health, psychological support and

relief items. 30,560 blankets have been sent to the affected area for further distribution.

 

With regards to restoring family link, the JRCS, in cooperation with the International Committee of

Red Cross (ICRC) has set up a family link website: http://www.familylinks.icrc.org/eng/familylinks-japan.

 

We the Malaysian Red Cross Society is sending out this emails for a donation to the Tsunami victims

they really need our help, every cent makes it worth it for them.

 

For further details please contact:

 

Ahmed Razak

Manager Communications

Malaysian Red Cross Society

Tel: 603 пїЅ 56301764

Mobile: 6016 пїЅ 6971776

E-mail: sup...@redcrescents.com