Major tsunami damage in N Japan after
8.9 quake
Japan
was struck by a magnitude-8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday,
triggering a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away
buildings along the coast near the epicenter.
In various locations along Japan's coast, TV footage showed severe
flooding, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by
waters. 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.
Officials were trying to assess possible damage from the quake but
had no immediate details.
The quake that struck 2:46 p.m. was followed by a series of
aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later.
The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a
magnitude 8.8.
The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire
Pacific coast of Japan. National broadcaster NHK was warning those near the
coast to get to safer ground.
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 U.S. state of Hawaii.
The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80
miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said.
The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.
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.
In central Tokyo, trains were stopped and passengers walked along
the tracks to platforms.
Footage on NHK from their Sendai office showed employees stumbling
around and books and papers crashing from desks.
Several quakes had hit the same region in recent days, including a
7.3 magnitude one on Wednesday.
Thirty minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in
Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working. Japan's Coast Guard has set
up task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast
Guard official Yosuke Oi said.
“I'm afraid we'll soon find out about damages, since the quake
was so strong,” he said.
The
Source: The Korea Herald