11 March 2011

MONSTER 8.9 Quake Rocks Northeastern Japan, Tsunami Swamps Port (video)

Tsunami causes major damage after
earthquake strikes just-off the NE coast...

Screen cap via Al Jazeera

A massive 8.9 magnitude quake has hit northeast Japan, subsequently bringing a 4m tsunami to long parts of the country's coastline. NHK television reported many injuries and showed pictures of major tsunami damage in the north, with cars, trucks, houses being swept away in Onahama city.

The earthquake rated a absolute maximum value of "7" on the Japanese scale. A 10m tsunami hit Sendai airport in the north-east. Military airplanes were flying over the worst-affected areas to assess the need for rescue efforts and the PM called an emergency cabinet meeting. 

The devastating quake shook buildings in the capital for several minutes and sent people out onto the streets. Japan's NHK television showed black smoke billowing from a building in Odaiba, a suburb of Tokyo.

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. Tremors were felt as far away as in the Chinese capital, Beijing.

This video is unreal...



Live streaming coverage of latest developments -here-