Natures fury

Japan is the most developed country in Asia and one of the most developed countries in the world. Being in the ring of fire, a zone of seismic activity in the Pacific region Japan had taken every precaution and was fully geared up to meet the very real possibility of an earthquake.

Then disaster struck and despite being one of the most prepared nations in the world Japan cowered under natures fury.
First there was the massive earthquake and then an earthquake triggered tsunami. Over eight thousand people have lost their lives and eleven thousand are still missing.The coastline is covered with debris. Mangled cars, capsized boats,broken houses are scattered everywhere. Once genteel villages have vanished. There were fires everywhere. Japan is even now facing the challenge of a nuclear crisis.
Looking at the pictures and listening to the news , I cant even begin to imagine what the Japanese people must be going through.
It makes me realise just how vulnerable we all are.
We think we are so powerful with our fancy cars, our latest gadgets and our posh houses which we try to cram with every comfort possible. Japan had all the latest technology and a sophisticated system of nuclear reactors to guarantee an almost limitless supply of power.Everything was well organised, All contingency plans were in place.
Yet they were no competition for natures fury.
Looking back at the events of the last week I cant help but realise how very powerless we are and how we are no match for nature.
Anything can happen to any one at any time.
The thought scares me . I cower with the thought of my own helplessness and insignificance.



Image   http://www.shmula.com/japan-earthquake-2011-queueing/8321/

It all happened in an instant

. It was a calm peaceful Friday afternoon . People were already planning for the weekend ahead,when disaster struck.It just took an instant for life to change forever for the people of Japan

 First there was the earth quake.A massive 9.0 earthquake. Japan is in the ring of fire- a zone of seismic activity in the  Pacific region.They live under the constant threat of earthquakes. Their houses are built to withstand the impact of an earthquake,there are warning systems and disaster management plans in place..But they have never experienced such a high intensity earthquake.As the ground trembled with strong aftershocks people scrambled around in panic as they tried to protect themselves.

But the worst was not over.Within half an hour Japan felt natures fury once again as a violent tsunami swept over the north east coast, destroying everything in its path. Cars were lifted as if they were plastic toys, buildings were destroyed, ships were overthrown and a train was flung far away from its tracks.As the wild waters carried everything in its path, the debris caused even more damage.People were swept away and villages were destroyed. The death toll is mounting with each passing day.Today over six thousand people are reported dead and over seven thousand are still missing.

They say that trouble comes in threes. After a massive earthquake and a monstrous tsunami Japan is now battling against a nuclear meltdown. The force of the water destroyed the pumping systems which had been built to control the temperatures in the nuclear plants.The Japanese are cautious people. They had made alternate plans to be deployed in case of an emergency. Incredibly all plans failed.

Today many brave Japanese are courageously trying to save the situation. They are using helicopters to dump water over the reactors to try and cool down the spent fuel . But things can go either way and radiation levels are known to be rising.

Amidst all this tragedy and uncertainty the Japanese people have remained calm and cool. There is no fighting, no panic , no looting. They accept everything stoically.This is their worst disaster since World War when Hydrogen bombs destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Refusing to be defeated they went on to become the third most developed country in the world.

Today even as Japan struggles with widespread destruction and tragedy and even as they mourn for the loss of life and the misery of over four million people who have been evacuated form their homes one thing is clear. Japan is going to emerge from this disaster, stronger than ever.


Image   http://newamericamedia.org/2011/03/tsunami-country-man-vs-nature-in-japans-devastated-northeast.php