Tsunami Inundats Japan's Northern Coastlines

The largest recorded earthquake, an 8.9 on the Richter scale, hit Japan’s northern coast on Friday afternoon, generating a thirty-foot tsunami setting off warning systems in fifty-three countries (WSJ). The quake struck just two hundred and fifty miles from Tokyo, and caused fires to erupt in several parts of the city and causing a closure of all public transportation services (BBC). Additionally factories, airports, and seaports have also been closed temporarily.

There was also some alarm raised at Japanese nuclear facilities, as the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported a number of power plant shutdowns, in addition to a fire at the Onagawa plant, which has since been extinguished.  Children in Tokyo are now being tested for signs of radiation following an explosion and radiation leakage at Tokyo Electric Power Co’s Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. According to officials radiation around the plant has already decreased and it appears that a major catastrophic disaster has been avoided (CS Monitor). Nonetheless Edwin Lyman, a senior scientist with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said Japan must ensure that children are protected against any exposure to radioactive iodine (ABC).

The quake also led to the evacuation of the coastal regions of the Philippines, Hawaii, and other Pacific islands. Japanese authorities have already set the death toll at sixty, with dozens still missing, and more to follow. As more reports continue to come in emergency assistance is already under coordination across the globe to assist as needed.

Earlier today United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, stated that the UN “stands by the people of Japan and we will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time.”  Additionally UNICEF is on standby with staff and emergency supplies to assist children and families in tsunami-affected countries.  Save the Children‘s Eiichi Sadamatsu in central Toyko stated;

“This is a major natural disaster that has caused large scale damage along Japan’s east coast.  We are extremely concerned for the welfare of children and their families who have been affected by the disaster.  We stand ready to meet the needs of children who are always the most vulnerable in a disaster.”

The organization has stated that they are positioned to respond to the needs of children and families affected by the quake and have sent an international emergency team to assist staff in Japan.