World

Japan disaster death-missing toll crosses 11,000: Police

A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake strikes in the Pacific, the Japan Meteorological Agency says.

Reuters/afp March 16, 2011

TOKYO: The official toll of the dead and missing following a devastating earthquake and tsunami that flattened Japan's northeast coast has topped 11,000, with 3,676 confirmed dead, police said Wednesday.

The total number of people unaccounted for in the wake of Friday's twin disasters rose by more than 800 to 7,558, the national police agency said in its latest update.

The number of injured stood at 1,990.

On Sunday, the police chief of Miyagi, one of the hardest-hit prefectures, said the number of deaths was expected to exceed 10,000 in his region alone.

Amid a mass rescue effort there were grim updates indicating severe loss of life along the battered east coast of Honshu island, where the monster waves destroyed or damaged more than 55,380 homes and other buildings.

WHO says no evidence of radiation spread from Japan

The World Health Organisation's representative in China said on Wednesday that there is no evidence of any significant international spread of radiation from Japan's crippled nuclear site.

"The World Health Organization (WHO) would like to assure governments and members of the public that there is no evidence at this time of any significant international spread from the nuclear site," Michael O'Leary, WHO's representative in China, said in a statement.

"Rumours have been circulating by text messaging and other means of a threatening radiation cloud spreading across Asia and beyond from the damaged nuclear facilities in Japan," he added.

"Governments and members of the public are encouraged to take steps to halt these rumours, which are harmful to public morale."

Strong quake sways buildings in Tokyo

A strong 6.0 magnitude earthquake struck in the Pacific just off Chiba prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said, with the force strong enough to sway buildings in Tokyo.

No tsunami warning was immediately issued but the agency warned of a possible change in sea levels.

COMMENTS (2)

Salim Akhtar | 13 years ago | Reply This not happened if Japanese were Muslims.

Farhan Qureshi | 13 years ago | Reply What brave, amazing heroes these workers are. I offer them my deepest bow. After this terrible tragedy I hope that we expand our alternative energy quest. It seems to me that Japan would be an ideal place to utilize tide, wave, and geothermal energy as well as OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion). Nuclear energy does not seem like the first best choice for an island, which by it's very nature is prone to earthquakes and geothermal disturbances, and of course the accompanying tsunamis. If they could harness those same energy sources which also threaten, it would be an incredible boon. Amazing and visionary engineers that the Japanese are, I hope they invest in exploring some of these alternatives and lead the way in new energy development. If anyone can do it, it's the Japanese. I truly believe that. We're all rooting for you Japan, today and tomorrow. Bless you. Be strong! @FMQureshi (Twitter)

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