On March 11th just before 3pm local time (6 a.m. GMT), the biggest earthquake on record to hit Japan, struck the north east coast in Sendai, triggering a 10m tsunami that swept away everything in its path.
OM Japan faces the Japan Sea side, and so the team were not affected, although they experienced many aftershocks.
OM team members living in Tokyo are all safe. Although they have experienced many earthquakes, this one was longer and stronger than anything they’ve experienced. Pictures fell off shelves, books flew out of bookshelves, the TV crashed to the ground, the printer fell down and heaters shut down. They – along with many others, currently have no hot water nor can they use their oven. Huge aftershocks continued for hours. The café where they have ministry seems to have only sustained minor damage, the microwave falling down, the oven being moved and a lot of crafts falling with some breakages.
Emerita Sakai reports that the devastation of the tsunami is beyond description with people on the rooftops of tall buildings, cars flowing like plastic bottles. Throughout the area there has been significant flooding and a number of fires caused by the quake as well as tsunami warnings. A few nuclear plants have been affected by the earthquake and a petrol depot is burning. People reported seeing a flow of cars being carried by the waves like plastic bottles.
Many have died but numbers are not confirmed yet.
We value your prayers for ongoing safety, for those who have lost lives and properties and for the clean up process.
Our team in Japan thanks you for your prayers and concerns.
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