Today, March 11th...
I received the tragic news...
...of an unprecedented earthquake...
...of magnitude 9...
...and the destruction...
...caused by the tsunami.
The number of victims is growing steadily...
...and the extent of the damage...
...caused by this disaster...
...is impossible to assess at this moment.
Foreign volunteers are joining...
...our massive rescue efforts.
We will overcome this setback...
--rebuild the ravaged areas, and Japan itself.
Join me in praying...
...for our success.