Letter about the Crisis in Japan

Blk 411,  Kasaki Street, #08-114, 
Sendai, Miyagi, 204-4911 

4 April 2011

                                                                          Crisis In Japan

Dear Uncle John,

         

                 How is your life in Singapore? Still going well? Assuming you have watched the news in Singapore, I think you know what is happening in Japan. I have sent you this letter to tell you that my whole family is safe and my experience when the earthquake and the tsunami wave struck and how I am coping currently. 

              

                 Before the earthquake and the tsunami wave struck, I was working in an office. I was sorting some documents out when the earthquake struck. The entire room was shaking violently, with televisions falling over tables. The entire room was in a mess, with files scattered all over, sheets of papers flying around and stationeries strewn all over the floor. Immediately, I ran out of the building as fast as I could and did not look back. When I reached the road, I realized the floor was cracking, I could not maintain my balance as the floor was vibrating very violently. Thereafter, I got call from my friend to get away from the sea as he said there was a tsunami coming, thereafter he hung up and never got a call from him until now. Instantaneously, I drove my colleagues to higher ground as my office building was quite close to the sea. As I drove the car, I could feel some parts of the road sinking down. Instinctively, I stepped on the accelerator and we sped like a bullet. On the way, I could hear the tortured screams of people as I sped down the road.
                  

                  Once we reached a hill which was at least 30 feet high from the ground, my colleagues and I stepped out of the car and the sight before us was unbelievable. We saw the sea going very far back, when all of a sudden; a huge flock of birds started chattering and flew across the sky, as if signalling the arrival of something. Then we all saw it. A huge monstrous wave of at least 15 feet high appeared. The monstrous wave swept through the place like a big army of armoured horses galloping through, destroying everything in its way. The houses were swept away like the pieces of paper, trees were uprooted like they were toys. I saw a lot cars speeding down the road but they were too slow, the huge wave just swept them aside. It was like watching the movie "2012" in real life. As I watched the place getting destroyed, I could not help but wonder if my family was safe. I made a silent prayer for my family and for my country. The whole place had the scent the death and saltwater as the tsunami raged on. The tsunami raged on for a few hours but the aftermath was worse. 
                 The rescue team came around in the evening after the tsunami had subsided. We were brought to a stadium where there were many people crying for the loss of their loved ones and there were many people praying for the safety of their loved ones who have not been found yet. I ran to the board where people's names were pinned up when I heard my parents calling me. I looked at them as tears stared rolling down my cheeks, I ran up to them and hugged them as I was thankful that they were safe.
                 

                 Food and water was given and I felt the warmth of the Japanese people when some Japanese people offered me some food when I gave most of my food to my parents. In the night, the temperature dropped to almost zero which was very cold. So far, I am coping very well. I will update you my situation another day.

Cheers, Aloysius Ong