The Salvation Army in Japan has three emergency service relief teams operating in areas devastated by the earthquake and tsunami that hit the north-east coast of the country last week. One of the teams is assisting people who have been evacuated from areas where there is potential danger because of damage to nuclear power generation stations.

At this time there are no reports of any loss of Salvation Army personnel or damage to corps buildings.

Immediately following the earthquake and tsunami an assessment team was sent from Tokyo to Sendai (the city nearest the centre of the earthquake). It took the team 20 hours to travel a journey that usually is accomplished in six hours.

Road and rail systems have been severely affected. There is a shortage of petrol, with many petrol stations closed and queues up to three kilometres long at stations that are open.

The disaster has affected a 2,000 kilometre north-south stretch of Japan. Official reports now state that more than 10,000 people are dead or missing.

Arrangements are being made for emergency service personnel from The Salvation Army International Headquarters (IHQ) to go to Japan to assist with the Army's relief effort.

A number of Salvation Army territories have informed IHQ of financial and prayer support for the Army's relief effort in Japan. The Salvation Army in South Korea has set aside the next four weeks specifically for prayer and fundraising for Japan.

A Japan Disaster Fund appeal has been established at IHQ.