Tsunami hits Japan after 8.9 magnitude earthquake

An earthquake measuring 8.8 struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Friday, shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo, causing "many injuries", major tsunami damage and at least one fire.

The Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed cars, trucks, houses and buildings being swept away by tsunami in Onahama city in Fukushima prefecture. Black smoke was seen billowing from a building in Odaiba, a Tokyo suburb, and bullet trains to the north of the country were halted.

Television showed cars bobbing in water along side fishing boats. A 50 cm tsunami hit Japan's northern coast.

"The building shook for what seemed a long time and many people in the newsroom grabbed their helmets and some got under their desks," Reuters correspondent Linda Sieg said.
"It was probably the worst I have felt since I came to Japan more than 20 years ago."
US officials said the 8.8-magnitude quake struck about 250 miles (400km) from Tokyo at a depth of 20 miles. The stock market extended its losses after the quake was announced.

A tsunami warning was in effect for Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and US state of Hawaii.

EARTHQUAKES SO FAR FOR 2011

*Magnitude 8.9 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 11, 2011
•Magnitude 5.4 MYANMAR-CHINA BORDER REGION March 10, 2011
•Magnitude 6.5 NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA March 09, 2011
•Magnitude 7.2 NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN March 09, 2011
•Magnitude 6.6 SOLOMON ISLANDS March 07, 2011
•Magnitude 6.5 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION March 06, 2011
•Magnitude 4.7 ARKANSAS February 28, 2011
•Magnitude 6.3 SOUTH ISLAND OF NEW ZEALAND February 21, 2011
•Magnitude 4.1 ARKANSAS February 18, 2011
•Magnitude 6.6 OFFSHORE MAULE, CHILE February 14, 2011
•Magnitude 6.8 OFFSHORE BIO-BIO, CHILE February 11, 2011
•Magnitude 6.5 CELEBES SEA February 10, 2011
•Magnitude 7.2 SOUTHWESTERN PAKISTAN January 18, 2011
•Magnitude 7.0 LOYALTY ISLANDS January 13, 2011
•Magnitude 6.6 VANUATU January 09, 2011
•Magnitude 4.1 NORTHERN CALIFORNIA January 08, 2011
•Magnitude 7.1 ARAUCANIA, CHILE January 02, 2011
•Magnitude 7.0 SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO, ARGENTINA January 01, 2011