Japan has been hit by its most powerful earthquake in 140 years. The 8.9 magnitude quake struck early Tuesday morning near Miyagi Prefecture, on the northeast coast. The tremor lasted more than a minute, violently shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo, more than 300 kilometers away.
Seismic alarms alerted many people, allowing evacuations, but more than 3,000 deaths have been confirmed, and thousands remain missing. A massive tsunami followed the earthquake, with waves over 10 meters high that flooded coastal towns and swept homes, cars, and boats inland.
Japanās prime minister declared a national disaster and called for calm, saying, āThis is a catastrophe of historic magnitude. But Japan has risen again before, and it will do so again.ā Hospitals are overwhelmed, and more than 1.5 million homes are without power. Food, water, and essential supplies are in short supply.
The Japanese Self-Defense Forces and international teams are conducting rescue efforts. A major concern is the damage to nuclear plants, especially at Fukushima, where cooling systems have been severely affected. A 20-kilometer radius around Fukushima has been evacuated due to fears of radioactive leaks.
Seismologists have described this event as the strongest earthquake recorded in modern Japanese history and the worst since the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923. The energy released was equivalent to hundreds of atomic bombs.
Countries such as the United States, South Korea, Germany, and Mexico have sent aid and support. Despite the devastation, the Japanese people are showing remarkable resilience, with volunteers organizing to help those affected and donation centers receiving widespread support.
Reconstruction will take years, but Japanās spirit remains strong, ready to recover from this tragic event.
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