The BBC is reporting unbelievably untold damage to Japan by a massive earthquake measuring almost 9.0 0n the Richter Scale. The situation was further compounded by the triggering of a massive tsunami which worsened the impact of the quake. The initial death toll is in the region of 300.
The PowerHouse will present a feature on earthquakes and tsunami in the coming week.
Here is the BBC report:
"Japan's most powerful earthquake since records began has struck the north-east coast, triggering a massive tsunami.
Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
A state of emergency has been declared at a nuclear power plant but officials said there were no radiation leaks.
The death toll is unclear, but police say 200 to 300 bodies have been found in the port city of Sendai.
Many more people are unaccounted for.
The tremor, measured at 8.9 by the US Geological Survey, hit at 1446 local time (0546 GMT) at a depth of about 24km.
A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to North and South America.
The Red Cross in Geneva warned that the waves could be higher than some Pacific islands, Reuters news agency said.
Coastal areas in the Philippines, and other parts of the Pacific were evacuated ahead of the tsunami's expected arrival.
The first waves, currently under a metre high, have started reaching Hawaii.
New Zealand downgraded its alert to a marine threat, meaning strong and unusual currents were expected.
'Train missing'
Strong waves hit Japan's Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures, officials said, damaging dozens of coastal communities.
Kyodo news agency said a 10-metre wave (33ft) struck Sendai, which is in Miyagi."
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