Horrific Quake Hits Japan; Tsunamis Spread

Thumbnail image for japanquake1.jpg
Associated Press
Homes, boats, and debris in the floodwaters of Sendai.

 

Harrowing images are emerging from Japan, where an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and ensuing tsuanami with tidal waves in excess of 30 feet have turned the world upside down. ​Hundreds have already been confirmed dead. From the AP:

japanearthquake2.jpg
Associated Press
Houses burn in the floodwaters
TOKYO - A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing at least 60 people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control. Tsunami warnings blanketed the entire Pacific, as far away as South America, Canada, Alaska and the entire U.S. West Coast.

The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami and was followed by more than 50 aftershocks for hours, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Police said at least 60 people were killed and 56 were missing. The death toll was likely to continue climbing given the scale of the disaster.

The government ordered thousands of residents near a nuclear power plant in Onahama city to evacuate because the plant's system was unable to cool the reactor. The reactor was not leaking radiation but its core remained hot even after a shutdown. The plant is 170 miles (270 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

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This shows the tsunami about to hit Natori:

japanquaketsunami.jpg
Associated Press

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

More inside. 

 

 
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AFP
Cars moved by tidal wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki.

A refinery plant in Ichihara is engulfed in flames:

japanquakefire.jpg
AFP

​Ships are washed ashore:

japanquakeships.jpg
Associated Press

​From the Sendai airport:

japanquakeplanes1.jpg

 

Cars in raging waters after being swept from a bridge:

japanquakebridge.jpg
​More coming.
    

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