8.9-magnitude quake triggers devastating Japan tsunami

TOKYO — Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter.

TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by the water. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.

A tsunami warning was also issued for Hawaii and the coasts of Oregon, California, Washington and parts of Alaska.

"A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along the coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center's bulletin said. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property."

The first tsunami wave was expected to hit Hawaii at 2:59 a.m. local time (7:59 a.m. ET), officials said.

Black smoke was also pouring out of an industrial area in Yokohama's Isogo area. TV footage showed boats, cars and trucks floating in water after a small tsunami hit the town of Kamaichi in northern Japan. An overpass appeared to have collapsed into the water.

Kyodo news agency said there were reports of fires in the city of Sendai in the northeast.

Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths from the quake but had no immediate details.

The tremor was felt as far away as Beijing, China.

The quake that struck at 2:46 p.m. local time (12:46 a.m. ET) was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.9.

NBC News reported that if the 8.9 reading is correct, it would be the fifth-strongest earthquake since 1900.
In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. TV footage showed a large building on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. Trains were stopped and passengers walked along the tracks to platforms.

Airports in the region were closed and Tokyo's fire department reported several people were injured when a roof caved in at a graduation ceremony in the city, Sky News reported.

Footage on NHK from their Sendai office showed employees stumbling around and books and papers crashing from desks. It also showed a glass shelter at a bus stop in Tokyo smashed by the quake and a weeping woman nearby being comforted by another woman.

Thirty minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working.

Hundreds of office workers and shoppers spilled into Hitotsugi street, a shopping street in Akasaka in downtown Tokyo.

Crowds gathered in front of televisions in a shop next to the drugstore for details. After the shaking from the first quake subsided, crowds were watching and pointing to construction cranes on an office building up the street with voices saying, "They're still shaking!," "Are they going to fall?"

Asagi Machida, 27, a web designer in Tokyo, sprinted from a coffee shop when the quake hit.
Japan's northeast Pacific coast, called Sanriku, has suffered from quakes and tsunamis in the past and a 7.2 quake struck Wednesday. In 1933, a magnitude 8.1 quake in the area killed more than 3,000 people. Last year fishing facilities were damaged after by a tsunami caused by a strong tremor in Chile.

Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20 percent of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

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my prayers to all the affected!

Japan is at particular risk, sitting in the 'Ring of Fire', an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching around the Pacific where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur.

More than 80 aftershocks greater than magnitude-5 have been felt since the Japanese rupture, a number that scientists say is normal for a quake this size.

sumesh wrote:

Japan is at particular risk, sitting in the 'Ring of Fire', an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones stretching around the Pacific where about 90 percent of the world's quakes occur.

More than 80 aftershocks greater than magnitude-5 have been felt since the Japanese rupture, a number that scientists say is normal for a quake this size.

that scary one... i mean the nuclear reactor..dunno whats next for the nation??

news update:

Quote :

Japan declared states of emergency for five nuclear reactors at two power plants after the units lost cooling ability in the aftermath of Friday's powerful earthquake. Thousands of residents were evacuated as workers struggled to get the reactors under control to prevent meltdowns.

update news : (flash)

Japan's nuclear crisis worsens, tsunami puts economy at risk.

Radiation levels increase after Japan N-plant blasts, panic in Tokyo

update:

Japan's nuclear crisis appeared to be spinning out of control on Wednesday after workers withdrew briefly from a stricken power plant because of surging radiation levels and a helicopter failed to drop water on the most troubled reactor.

ennalum sorcerer avide chennappozhe japanithu sambavichallo