Japan Tsunami Rikuzentakata Damage – Satellite Images

Tsunami Damage to Rikuzentakata City, Japan

Click Image to enlarge. Download larger image (6 MB, JPEG)  — acquired March 14, 2011

Click Image to enlarge. Download larger image (6 MB, JPEG) — acquired March 1, 200

The city of Rikuzentakata (population: 24,000) in Japan’s Iwate prefecture was almost entirely obliterated after the 9.0Mw megaquake and ensuing deadly tsunami struck. The above false-color images were taken by the ASTER instrument on NASA’s Terra satellite before and after the disaster. Source: NASA-EO.

The Human Toll

The official death toll in the Megaquake and the tsunami disasters, which is based on names registered with the authorities, stands at 5,695 perished with 9,503 people listed as missing, as of posting. Fire-Earth has previously stated that the actual death toll could reach into tens of thousands due to the severity of the twin catastrophes, a fear that has now been echoed by the Kyodo News Agency.

Homeless and Displaced

Up to 400,000 people are currently in temporary shelters, mostly school gymnasiums, enduring severe shortages of water food, warm clothing, heating fuel and all other basic essentials.

Aftershocks

The disaster zone is still bombarded with aftershocks, which are expected to continue for many weeks, possibly months. About 340 significant aftershocks (Magnitude ≥5.0) have swarmed the region since the Megaquake struck exactly a week ago.

Fukushima Nuclear Mess

An update will be posted later.

Related Links:

• Japan Earthquakes: FIRE-EARTH Forecasts and Recent History
• Global Disaster Forecast – UPDATE 17 Mar

Tsunami and Megaquake Satellite Images:

• Japan Tsunami Floods Kitakami – Satellite Images Posted on March 17, 2011
• Tsunami Damage at Ishinomaki, Japan – Satellite Images Posted on March 15, 2011
• Japan’s Tsunami Floods – Satellite Images Posted on March 13, 2011
• JAPAN MEGA QUAKE UPDATE 3 – March 12