Speedways towards tsunami-hit Japanese regions blocked
March 14th, 2011 - 12:11 pm ICT by IANSNatori (Japan), March 14 (IANS/RIA Novosti) Japanese authorities have blocked several speedways towards tsunami and tremor-hit regions to ensure that rescue vehicles are not hampered in any way, reports a RIA Novosti correspondent.
Japan’s northeastern Fukushima prefecture, one of the most seriously affected by the 9 magnitude quake and the tsunami, suffers a shortage of petrol and lines of cars can be seen waiting near fuel stations.
Natori, a town in Miyagi prefecture, still suffers a massive power outage, resembling an abandoned area with lights coming from several single buildings.
There is no drinking water and food in the town, Saito, a 60-year-old taxi-driver, said.
He said the tsunami had devastated the eastern part of the town.
“It was a tsunami wave, not the quake that swept away the buildings from the coastal line.”
“When the earthquake started, I was in my car. I thought I would die,” Saito said.
On March 11, known as Black Friday, Japan was stricken by the strongest earthquake in 78 years. It triggered a 10-meter tsunami wave that swept away people, houses and cars.
On Sunday, Miyagi prefecture police chief Naoto Takeuchi said the toll could go over 10,000.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
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Tags: black friday, coastal line, fuel stations, fukushima prefecture, japan march, japanese authorities, magnitude quake, massive power outage, miyagi prefecture, naoto, police chief, prefecture police, rescue vehicles, ria novosti, saito, speedways, strongest earthquake, takeuchi, taxi driver, tsunami wave