http://timesofearth.com/Worldnews/?NT=0&nid=34426 - A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake has struck off Japan's northeastern coast, triggering a 10 meter tsuanami that swept away boats, homes and cars along the coastline. Video footage showed widespread inundation as mud waves carried debris over farmland in Sendai, the capital of Miyagi prefecture. Large-scale damage could be seen in various locations along the coast. In Chiba prefecture, a massive oil refinery fire has broken out. Adressing the nation, Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the government would do anything it can to minimize the effects of the disaster.
TOKYO - Scores of people are dead and missing after one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded struck Japan, triggering a 10-metre-high tsunami along parts of the country's northeastern coastline.
The massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Friday morning, creating a gigantic wave which swept away cars, boats, homes and people as the surging water overwhelmed coastal barriers.
Widespread fires burned out of control and Japan's nuclear industry was on alert as reactors shut down automatically as a safety precaution. Millions are reported to be without electricity, airports are closed and public transport in Tokyo and other cities has come to a halt as Japan reels amid the devastation.
At least 60 people are confirmed dead and 56 missing, but the death toll is expected to climb, police say, with reports that hundreds of buildings have collapsed.
Meanwhile countries around the Pacific basin are on tsunami alert amid warnings that a wall of water could completely wash over low-lying islands.
Japan's NHK television reported many injuries and showed pictures of major tsunami damage in the north, with cars, trucks and houses being swept away in Onahama city in Fukushima prefecture following the quake on Friday.
Police said at least one person was killed in a house collapse in Ibaraki prefecture, just northeast of Tokyo and there were reports of at least one death in Fukushima prefecture,
A 10-metre tsunami hit Sendai airport in the north-east. Television footage showed people standing on the roof of the terminal building.
The tsunami roared over embankments in Sendai city, washing cars, houses and farm equipment inland before reversing directions and carrying them out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas
pipes.
Military airplanes were flying over the worst-affected areas to assess the need for rescue efforts and an emergency cabinet meeting was held.
The prime minister said in a televised address that the government was making "every effort possible" to minimise damage. He said activity at some of the country's nuclear plants had been automatically halted and the facilities were declared safe.
"This is a rare major quake, and damages could quickly rise by the minute," Junichi Sawada, an official with Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency, said.
Many people were reported injured after a roof caved in during a school graduation ceremony at a hall in east Tokyo, the fire department in the capital said, after the quake hit.
Yukiko Shimahara, a Japanese journalist, told AFP news agency that the airports and trains in Tokyo have been shut down following the quake.
Meanwhile, a huge fire engulfed an oil refinery in Iichihara near Tokyo, where four million homes were said to be without electricity. Plumes of smoke rose from at least 10 locations in city.
The quake that struck at 2:46pm was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later.
Japan's meteorological agency warned that a tsunami as high as six to 10 metres could strike the coast near Miyagi prefecture, closest to the epicentre and the US Geological Survey issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the US state of Hawaii.
Several earthquakes have hit the region in recent days, including a 7.2-magnitude quake on Wednesday.
Friday's quake struck at a depth of 24 kilometres, about 125 kilometres off the eastern coast, the country's meteorological agency said.
The quake was the biggest in 140 years. It surpasses the Great Kanto quake of 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area.
Japan lies on the "Ring of Fire"- an arc of earthquake and volcanic zones that stretches around the Pacific Rim and where about 90 per cent of the world's quakes occur.
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The Most Shocking Video of the Tsunami in Japan - El video más impactante del tsunami en Japón!by elojoquetodolove20201,147,746 views
Mankind should pray God for the Japan, especially to pray for the passed away, the dying & suffering. Then help them the best possible… Then pray for the whole world & repent too. Why? Because God’s forewarning that there will be the TDODC&D coming soon on the WHOLE EARTH. Jesus said: “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and lose his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?" (Matt.16:26) Le Nghia, "unworthy servant" (Luke 17:10) Capuchin Franciscan
le399 11 months ago
wow could u imagine being in one of those truckers??
eviltrucks101 11 months ago
daymmmn.
cranberryJOOSE 11 months ago