Dear my weblog readers,

I dedicate this new post to all Japanese people who are affected by the recent earthquake and Tsunami. My heartfelt thoughts and prayers for them. Let us pray for their well being and safety.

Factbox: Toll of dead, missing from Japan’s quake, tsunami

Available at: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/14/us-japan-quake-toll-idUSTRE72D29R20110314

(Reuters) – The death toll is expected to exceed 10,000 from a massive earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on Friday, as rescue workers continue to search the ravaged northeastern coastal cities for survivors.

The quake and tsunami killed people in more than a dozen out of Japan’s 47 prefectures.

Following is a toll of the dead or missing, according to Japanese media.

MIYAGI PREFECTURE, northeastern Japan

— At least 785 people confirmed dead in cities such as Kesennuma, Higashimatsubara and Sendai, but local authorities fear more than 10,000 people may have died in the prefecture alone.

— Around 2,000 bodies found on two shores, including those in the town of Minamisanriku and Ishinomaki City.

— Minamisanriku has a population of 17,000, but 10,000 are missing after the tsunami.

IWATE PREFECTURE, northeastern Japan

— At least 574 people confirmed dead, including those in Ofunato and Rikuzentakata cities.

— The city of Rikuzentakata, with a population of 23,000 people, was “almost completely wiped out,” the fire department says. No information yet on how many survived. More than 80 percent of the city was flooded.

— In the town of Otsuchi, out of a population of 15,000 people, 12,000 people are missing.

FUKUSHIMA PREFECTURE, northeastern Japan

— About 420 people, including those in Iwaki and Minamisoma cities, are confirmed dead. Around 1,200 people are missing.

DEATH TOLL IN OTHER DISTRICTS

Tokyo — 7

Chiba — 15

Ibaraki — 19

Aomori — 3

Tochigi — 4

Kanagawa — 3

Hokkaido — 1

Yamagata — 1

Gunma — 1

(Compiled by Asia Desk)

Regards
ZULKIFLI HASAN