International recovery efforts continue in Japan - 04 Apr 2011

International recovery efforts continue in Japan. On Monday, April 2, the number of confirmed fatalities had risen to over 12000, with more than 15000 still missing in six prefectures after the mega-earthquake and tsunami on March 11. In a three-day joint recovery mission, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces (SDF), US military, and other rescue personnel had recovered 78 bodies by the end of the intensive searching along tsunami-ravaged coastal areas in the northeast. With more than 45700 buildings completely destroyed in the initial disaster, many communities were reduced to mud-covered debris, with some areas covered in salt water lakes formed by the tsunami. As over 161000 people remain in temporary shelters, these and other unfavorable conditions are causing public health concerns to grow. At a hospital in the badly affected Ishinomaki city of Miyagi Prefecture, most patients became ill in evacuation centers, some of which still lack running water, electricity and adequate heat. Despite receiving supplies, volunteers running the centers say they are still shorthanded in personnel. In an attempt to better meet residents' needs, the town office of the hard-hit Minamisanriku is relocating 1100 people to other municipalities of Miyagi Prefecture in a collective evacuation. As of Saturday, over 168000 households were still without electricity, and 220000 did not have running water. Auto sales in Japan have also plummeted after the disaster forced automakers to close factories ...
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