Amritsar March 15:
Members of Sikh community gathered in large numbers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to offer special prayers for the victims of tsunami that struck northeast Japan on Friday.
Gurbachan Singh, the high priest of the Golden Temple, said: "Sikh community here today prays for the people who lost their homes and businesses and for the peace of the souls who lost their lives in the disaster. We have to help victims and their families in whatever possible manner" Japan is reeling under the devastating effects of a massive earthquake, measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale.
Japan's Meteorological Agency on Sunday raised the magnitude of the earthquake to 9.0, making it the largest to hit the country in 140 years and fifth most powerful to hit the world in the past century. The country is facing a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people left without water, electricity, homes or heat. Tens of thousands of people have taken shelter in schools and stadiums to escape near-freezing temperatures.
The Japanese Government has mobilised a widespread rescue effort to deliver food, water and fuel, and pull stranded survivors from buildings and damaged homes. In 1933, a magnitude 8.1 quake in Japan's northeast Pacific coast, Sanriku had killed over 3,000 people. Last year fishing facilities were damaged by tsunami, caused by a strong tremor in Chile. Japan is located in one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes.
Members of Sikh community gathered in large numbers at the Golden Temple in Amritsar to offer special prayers for the victims of tsunami that struck northeast Japan on Friday.
Gurbachan Singh, the high priest of the Golden Temple, said: "Sikh community here today prays for the people who lost their homes and businesses and for the peace of the souls who lost their lives in the disaster. We have to help victims and their families in whatever possible manner" Japan is reeling under the devastating effects of a massive earthquake, measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale.
Japan's Meteorological Agency on Sunday raised the magnitude of the earthquake to 9.0, making it the largest to hit the country in 140 years and fifth most powerful to hit the world in the past century. The country is facing a humanitarian crisis, with millions of people left without water, electricity, homes or heat. Tens of thousands of people have taken shelter in schools and stadiums to escape near-freezing temperatures.
The Japanese Government has mobilised a widespread rescue effort to deliver food, water and fuel, and pull stranded survivors from buildings and damaged homes. In 1933, a magnitude 8.1 quake in Japan's northeast Pacific coast, Sanriku had killed over 3,000 people. Last year fishing facilities were damaged by tsunami, caused by a strong tremor in Chile. Japan is located in one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes.
