Japan – Six Israelis Remain Unaccounted for after 8.9 Earthquake

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    A news crew films the destruction caused by a tsunami in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, in northern Japan after the magnitude 8.9 earthquake struck the area, March 13, 2011. REUTERS/KyodoJapan – Six Israelis – five business people and a tourist – remained unaccounted for on Saturday night, according to a Foreign Ministry spokesman.

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    The spokesman said there were enormous problems with the communications system in Japan as a result of the earthquake, and that it was possible the six Israelis had been trying to call home.

    While the telecommunications system was badly damaged, it is possible to make contact via e-mail, and the embassy – relying on a recently drawn-up list of the few hundred Israelis who live in Japan – succeeded in making contact with the vast majority of them. On Friday afternoon the number of Israelis who had not yet been contacted stood at 28, a number that dropped to six in 24 hours.

    There are also believed to be 300- 400 Israeli tourists in the country.

    A civilian Israeli search and rescue team was to leave for Japan on Sunday morning to help victims of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and massive tsunami that struck the island nation on Friday.

    Israel was one of around 45 countries that offered the Japanese assistance, proffering help in identifying victims of the earthquake and in providing water sanitation systems.

    The Japanese have not yet said that they need the help.

    Read more in Jerusalem Post

    The remains of the destroyed Takekoma JR train station is all that remains in Rikuzentakata after it was a destroyed by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, in Iwate prefecture, northeast Japan March 13, 2011.   REUTERS/Lee Jae-Won


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