From the Presiding Bishop's Office 

"We ask your prayers for the people of Japan and surrounding areas in the Pacific Rim following the earlier earthquake and tsunami. I have been in touch with Archbishop Nathaniel Uematsu of the Nippon Sei Ko Kai, who was in meetings in Kyoto during the time of the earthquake and is now in Osaka trying to communicate with the areas most affected by the devastation. He asks for prayers for Bishop John Kato and the people of the Diocese of Tohoku, which has been hit hardest. Our office continues to be in touch with Episcopal Relief & Development, as well as with Lambeth Palace. Your prayers and support are deeply appreciated, for Japan, as well as for all those in the Pacific Rim under a tsunami alert."

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami that struck Japan at 2:46pm local time (12:46 am EST). The effects of the disaster are widespread, affecting churches and partners around the Pacific region, including Hawai'i and the west coast of the US. Episcopal Relief & Development staff have reached out to local partners and are standing by, ready to offer assistance.

Friday's earthquake is the most powerful to hit Japan since officials began keeping records in the late 1800s. More than 30 aftershocks have followed, the strongest measuring 7.1.

"I have been trying to collect the information from the provincial office and from all the dioceses of NSKK [Nippon Sei-Ko-Kai; the Anglican-Episcopal Church of Japan]," wrote the Most Rev. Nathaniel M. Uematsu, Primate of Japan & Bishop of Hokkaido. "Because of the scale of damage and devastation, our communication has had great difficulty, and I have not heard anything from the Diocese of Tohoku which has been hit most by the earthquakes and tsunamis, and I am very concerned for Bishop John Kato and churches and people in his diocese."

Fires have broken out in 80 locations, and four nuclear plants in the quake zone have been shut down for safety. The death toll continues to rise; at least 200-300 bodies are reported to have been found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai.

The tsunami has swept away cars, ships and buildings in Japan, sometimes depositing them miles away. The US National Weather Service has issued tsunami warnings for at least 50 countries and territories around the Pacific.

Please continue to pray for those affected.