in VOA Special English.A huge earthquake and tsunamidestroyed a large partof northeastern Japan last week.Survivors and rescue workersstopped for one minute on Fridayto remember the hourwhen the earthquake struck.The quake and tsunami killedat least six thousand people.More than nine thousand othersare missing.About three hundredeighty thousand peoplehave left their homes after they wereheavily damaged or destroyed.Those displaced are now livingin more than two thousand shelters.There are shortages of food,water and fuel.Each day more roads are beingreopened for trucks to take suppliesto the survivors.But some communities remain cut off.On Friday night, Prime MinisterNaoto Kan spoke of the problemsin a speech to the nation.The Prime Minister said he understandsthat people in shelters are coldand do not have enough food.But he said the governmentis doing all it can.And he said he hopesto return a sense of securityto the survivors soon.Mister Kan also said the crisisat the Fukushima Daiichi nuclearpower center is the worstJapan has ever faced.He said police, firefightersand military workerswere risking their livesto prevent a wider disaster.On Friday, workers continuedto direct water on the damagedreactor buildings.It was an attempt to coolthe highly radioactive fuel rodsfrom overheating.Workers used powerful hosesto shoot fifty tons of wateron the buildings.But the militaryand civilian firefightershad to keep their distanceand limit the time they could bein the area because of the radiation.Fires, explosionsand a partial melting of coreshave taken place at fourof the six reactorsat the Fukushima nuclear center.Officials say the situationin the number three reactoris the most serious.Mixed oxide fuel rodsare partly made of plutonium.These fuel rods are partly exposed.Without water, they will continueto heat up and possibly releasea large amount of radiation.On Friday, the government raisedthe severity ratingof its nuclear disasterfrom four to five on a seven-pointinternational nuclear event scale.Level five means an accidentwith wider results, includingsome release of radioactive material.It also means a high possibilityof the materialmaking contact with people.In Washington on Thursday,President Obama said the United Stateswill stand with Japan as it containsits nuclear crisis, recovers and rebuilds.PRESIDENT OBAMA: "The Japanese peopleare not alone in this timeof great trial and sorrow.Across the Pacific, they will finda hand of support extendedfrom the United Statesas they get back on their feet."The president noted some of the stepsthe United States has taken to help.PRESIDENT OBAMA: "Search and rescue teamsare on the ground in Japanto help the recovery effort.A disaster assistance and response teamis working to confront the aftermathof the earthquake and tsunami.The U.S. military, which has helpedto ensure the securityof Japan for decades,is working around the clock."Mr. Obama said the militaryhas completed hundreds of flightsto bring food and water to Japan.And that's IN THE NEWSin VOA Special English.