Every rescue, a miracle

It is a miracle to even survive the wrath of the Tsunami.

Japanese relief workers rescue a man who survived being buried for four days in the tsunami devastated remains of Ishimaki town, Iwate prefecture, Japan on March 15. (Source)

From Daily Mail

a 70 year survivor swaddles herself in blankets and gloves at makeshift shelter at Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture. Miraculously, she was found inside her house which had been washed away by the wall of water.
Her rescuers, from Osaka in western Japan, had been sent to the area for disaster relief. Osaka fire department spokesman Yuko Kotani said the woman was conscious but suffering from hypothermia and was being treated in hospital.

You can read more about this story here.

From ABC world news

A Japan Self-Defense Force member reacts after rescuing a four-month-old baby girl in Ishinomaki, northern Japan, Monday, March 14, 2011, three days after a powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the country’s east coast. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Hiroto Sekiguchi)
A beautiful, and much needed moment of joy.

“Two survivors in Japan, reunited by a rescuer. ”

This Tsunami victim waves to rescuers who spotted him floating on the roof of his home.

Via Washington Post

Hiromitsu Shinkawa clung to the roof of his home as he was pushed out to sea after a tsunami swept away his wife, the Associated Press reported. For two days, he drifted off Japan’s northeastern coast, trying to get the attention of helicopters and ships that passed by – to no avail.

On Sunday, a Japanese military vessel finally spotted the 60-year-old waving a red cloth. He was floating about 10 miles offshore from the earthquake-damaged city of Minamisoma, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Japanese troops used a small boat to pluck him from the ocean.

“I thought today was the last day of my life,” Kyodo News quoted him as saying.

Every rescue is a miracle as desperate search for survivors continues on:

Death toll from Japan quake and tsunami now at 1,353. At least 1,085 are missing and 1,743 injured. (see this photo gallery)

Many more are missing. I can’t even begin to imagine what this destruction is to their lives. While media is focusing on the nuclear meltdown, I will focus on the people that try to save lives, the survivors and Japan as a nation bent on recovering from all this, in time.

A dog stood loyally next to another dog that was injured or sick in Sendai, Japan.

Gary Bedard made this illustration below for Japan. He wrote ” My deepest and most sincere condolences go out to the people of Japan who have lost loved ones in the earthquake & tsunamis. This unimaginable disaster is one of the worst tragedies in recent history. Japan, I truly share your grief.”

..My deepest condolence for the families and friends Japan’s tsunami and earthquake victims. Here is how you can help Japan.

I will continue to source stories or tweets on the rescue operations.