Prayers out for Japan

Japan is experiencing its greatest hardships since World War II as it tackles the aftermath of an earthquake, tsunami and a growing nuclear crisis, Prime Minister Naoto Kan says. In a televised statement, Mr Kan warned of sweeping power cuts to come. He said the situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant remained grave, a day after an explosion at a reactor. Meanwhile, police have warned that the death toll in tsunami-hit Miyagi prefecture alone could exceed 10,000. Millions of survivors remain without electricity and authorities are stepping up relief efforts as the scale of the tragedy becomes clearer. About 310,000 people have been evacuated to emergency shelters, many of them without power, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. (BBC)