Sendai

The 8.9 to 9.0 magnitude earth quake that occurred on March 11, 2011 off the coast of Sendai and the tsunami that followed had a devastating effect on the entire country. The loss of human life is a terrible tragedy.

The famous Matsushima bay near Sendai - one of Japan's most scenic spots. The tsunami most likely will have caused devastation to the villages along the bay, to the islands as well as the oyster farms in the area. Image by David Ooms via flickr.

Seeing in particular the destruction in the area around Sendai is painful. As before and after satellite images of villages in the area show, this is the worst hit region of Japan.

Last spring I had the opportunity to visit Sendai, and met a lot of wonderful people there, particularly also from Tohoku University in Sendai.

Tohoku University, a world-class institution whose research I have highlighted before, is located at the foot of the hills that surround Sendai, sufficiently far away from the tsunami. From what I hear the buildings there are safe. The university websites came back online again today. Still, I can only hope that staff and students are all safe.

In a time like this, we all need to show our support for the Japanese people. From thousands of miles distance, the most immediate we can do is to support those professional institutions that are equipped to deliver immediate humanitarian aid.

Here are some selected institutions, and I am sure there are others, too. Please be generous with your help!

• American Red Cross
• British Red Cross
• Médecins Sans Frontières