Prayers are desperately needed for the Japanese as a devastating 8.9 earthquake shook the eastern coast of Japan this morning, triggering a massive 23-foot tsunami that swept away homes and killed hundreds of people. As reported by the Associated Press, tsunami warnings spread around the Pacific rim to Canada, Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and even South America. More than 500 people are missing and even more are injured. Brian Atwater from the U.S. Geological Survey told AP that “the energy radiated by this quake is nearly equal to one month’s worth of energy consumption.” Japanese officials are having trouble assessing the damage because of the washed-out roads and continuing aftershocks. The quake was one of the largest ever recorded and the largest on record in Japan. President Barack Obama said the U.S. “stands ready to help” Japan.
