Japan mourns one month after massive earthquake

Japan mourns one month after massive earthquake

2011-04-11 19:47:12 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- The people of Japan on Monday remembered and mourned the fatal victims of the March 11 earthquake and ensuing tsunami that has devastated the country and caused an ongoing nuclear crisis, one month after the disaster struck.

According to the latest death toll count by national authorities, more than 13,100 people have been confirmed dead and over 14,300 remained unaccounted for.

On Monday, at 2:46 p.m. local time, Japanese nationals around the country held a moment of silence, which marked the official time when the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck the northeastern region of the country, namely Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. Following the initial quake, a powerful aftershock shook the region only three hours later, which was strongly felt as far away as Tokyo.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan expressed his gratitude, saying the world rallying to help the disaster-struck country brought hope and inspired courage to the nation. He went on to thank every nation and helping hands around the world.

Meanwhile, Japan continues to face an ongoing nuclear crisis as the quake-hit Fukushima Daiichi power plant continued to leak radioactivity into the air and sea one month later. As the plant operator and Japan's Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency continue their struggle against further radioactive damages, the nuclear crisis will not likely be brought under adequate control in the near future.

On Sunday, about 2,000 people protested in the streets of Tokyo and outside the Industry Ministry and the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Company, urging the Japanese government to make a policy shift to use alternative energy resources and shut down all the nuclear power plants in the country.

Japanese officials have called the disaster the worst crisis since the end of World War II.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-11