The Horror of Japan's Megaquake Causes Tsunami and Devastation.

Below are some of the horrific photographs that are circulating yesterdays news.

My heart goes out to all the families involved, peace and love to all.

   The current statistics:

-  9,500 people missing in Minamisanriku 24 hours after double disaster struck

-  Official death toll hits 574, but hundreds believed to be buried under rubble or washed away 

-  Explosion at nuclear power plant, but experts say reactor is not at risk

-  Region hit by repeated aftershocks, some up 6.8-magnitude

-  Rescue operation begins but some areas still cut off by road damage and flood waters

-  Force of quake shifts Japan 8ft to the East

An estimated 230,000 people in 12 countries were killed after a quake triggered a massive tsunami on Boxing Day, 2004, in the Indian Ocean. My Uncle Einar was out at sea with his diving boat on his way back to Patong beach, Phuket, Thailand. He was told to go back to sea. When he did come back he was faced with death and devastation all around. As he lived in the area he became very much involved with the hands on immediate clear up.

We returned this year in January - and now everything looks bigger and better - It is hard to image it ever happened. 

And yesterday, it is even harder to imagine it has happened all over again. 

I loved to go to Japan, I often visited the great Buddha at Kamakura and would walk around the temples and look for all the shrines, often hidden in obscure places. 

 

Yesterday, on March 11, an 8.9 earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan near the city of Sendai. The earthquake generated a massive tsunami with waves as high as 30 feet, resulting in floods, fires and the closure of airports and transit systems. Hundreds of people were killed, and homes, fields and towns were flooded or destroyed.

To see more follow this link: Earthquake in Japan, Alan Taylor - In Focus - The Atlantic

To follow what is happening with the Japanese earthquake on the web follow this link

To give help towards aid please follow the links below:

To donate to the Red Cross Japan Tsunami Appeal

To donate to Give 2 Asia - Japan Earthquake & tsunami-2011

In light of yesterday's catastrophic events, Lady Gaga has designed a special charity bracelet and has asked her fans to spend just $5 (£3) on the white rubber prayer band.

Today she  posted on her website and Twitter page and said all proceeds from the band - which will be available from March 25 - will go to the Japan tsunami relief fund. The bracelet has 'We Pray For Japan' written in both English and Japanese as well as an image of her 'monster claw', a symbol her fans use to show their love for the singer.

To buy a We Pray for Japan Bracelet follow this link.