JAPAN: Thousands missing in coastal town of Otsuchi after devastating earthquake and tsunami

Record ID: 465546

  • Title: JAPAN: Thousands missing in coastal town of Otsuchi after devastating earthquake and tsunami
  • Date: 15th March 2011
  • Summary: OTSUCHI, IWATE PREFECTURE, JAPAN (MARCH 14, 2011) (REUTERS) ***AUDIO AS INCOMING*** MOUNDS OF DEBRIS SELF-DEFENCE TROOPS PICKING THROUGH DEBRIS SELF-DEFENCE TROOPS WALKING OVER LARGE DEBRIS FIREFIGHTERS STANDING SMOKE RISING FROM DEBRIS
  • Embargoed: 30th March 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Japan, Japan
  • Country: Japan
  • Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
  • Reuters ID: LVACUZ4M6K8SMYGAMNBXGA5YBJSV
  • Story Text: Rescue workers combed the tsunami-battered region north of Tokyo for survivors on Monday (March 14) in what Prime Minister Naoto Kan has dubbed his country's worst crisis since World War Two.
    Japanese Self Defence teams searched through huge mounds of rubble in the town of Otsuchi, removing bodies on stretchers.
    The Iwate government said it had been unable to communicate with the mayor of Otsuchi and other officials, since the town office was swept away.
    Officials say at least 10,000 people were likely killed in the 9.0-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that followed it. Tens of thousands are missing.
    Kyodo news agency reported that 2,000 bodies had been found on Monday in two coastal towns alone.
    Whole villages and towns have been wiped off the map by Friday's (March 11) wall of water, triggering an international humanitarian effort of epic proportions.
    The earthquake was the fifth most powerful to hit the world in the past century. It surpassed the Great Kanto quake of Sept. 1, 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register