MANILA — The March 11 earthquake-tsunami is the worst natural disaster to hit Japan in modern times. Nobody who has watched the events of recent days can fail to be moved by the unprecedented scope of the tragedy and its toll on human lives and property — a toll that continues to climb.
The images we have seen in the aftermath are tragic and touching, and it is heartening to see the people of Japan responding calmly, with discipline, dignity and resilience.
Japan's swift and effective response is a clear reflection of the focused preparations the country has made in disaster preparedness, with even more determination since the Kobe earthquake in 1995. While the world stands ready to help, the vast majority of the burden for recovery will fall on Japan itself.