Menu
Archives

Church assesses needs after Japan quake, tsunami

Related content:

Photo gallery

Japan earthquake and tsunami update

Video: Japan earthquake and tsunami update

LDS missionaries in Japan all safe

The Church is checking on members of missionaries in the wake of a magnitude 8.9 earthquake that struck the coast of northern Japan Friday, March 11, and triggered a massive tsunami.

Houses swept by a tsunami smoulder near Sendai Airport in Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnit
Houses swept by a tsunami smoulder near Sendai Airport in Japan March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9 magnitude quake hit northeast Japan on Friday, causing many injuries, fires and a ten-meter (33-ft) tsunami along parts of the country's coastline. | AP Photo

Hundreds of deaths have been confirmed in the fifth largest earthquake since 1900 and is the largest earthquake to ever hit Japan.

Further, strong aftershocks continue to shake the area, where thousands were displaced, hundreds of buildings and homes were destroyed and more than four million people were left without power.

Vehicles and debris carried by a tsunami tidal wave hitting Japan March 11, 2011.
Vehicles and debris carried by a tsunami tidal wave hitting Japan March 11, 2011. | AP Photo

As of Friday morning, tsunami warnings were issued for more than 50 countries throughout the Pacific region including Hawaii and the west coast of the United States. Tsunami waves as high as 25 feet hit towns along the eastern seaboard of northern Japan.

A worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito, Ibaraki.
A worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito, Ibaraki. | AP Photo Nexco East Japan

According to a Church Welfare report:

Leaders in the following areas outside of Japan report all members and missionaries are safe.

sarah@desnews.com

Church statement on missionaries in Japan:

newsroom.lds.org/article/church-statement-on-missionaries-in-japan" target="_blank">

Click here to read the statement and to follow details as the statement is updated.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Japan following the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami.

There has been a high volume of inquiries concerning the safety of missionaries serving in the area. The most immediate information is that five of the six missions in Japan have reported all missionaries are accounted for and safe. However, all communications systems in the Sendai area are down. We have not been able to contact each missionary in that mission yet. We continue to work diligently to account for the missionaries in this area and will update information as we are able to do so.

Initial reports from missions in areas affected by tsunami activity show all missionaries are safe.

We are also assessing how the Church might help meet the needs of people affected by the earthquake and tsunami.

Newsletters
Subscribe for free and get daily or weekly updates straight to your inbox
The three things you need to know everyday
Highlights from the last week to keep you informed