8.9 Earthquake and Tsunami Hit Japan -- 5th Largest Quake Since 1900

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Some reports say the Tsunami wave was 33 feet high. Only 32 are reported dead so far, but that number will very likely rise as the extent of the destruction becomes more evident.

This is a major tragedy. The previous largest earthquake recorded in Japan was 8.3. Each 1.0 is 10 times greater in magnitude. That means this earthquake was 6 times greater in magnitude than the previous largest recorded earthquake in Japanese history.



From AP:

TOKYO – TOKYO (AP) — A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as 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.

Authorities said at least 32 people were killed. The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along a 1,300-mile (2,100-kilometer) stretch of coastline were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles (kilometers) from the epicenter.

A utility company in northeastern Japan reported a fire in a turbine building of nuclear power plant.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions. It unleashed a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

Large fishing boats and other sea vessels rode high waves into the cities, slamming against overpasses. Upturned and partially submerged vehicles were seen bobbing in the water.

Waves of muddy waters swept over farmland near the city of Sendai, carrying buildings, some on fire, inland as cars attempted to drive away. Sendai airport, north of Tokyo, was inundated with cars, trucks, buses and thick mud deposited over its runways. Fires spread through a section of the city, public broadcaster NHK reported.

The tsunami roared over embankments, washing anything in its path inland before reversing directions and carrying the cars, homes and other debris out to sea. Flames shot from some of the houses, probably because of burst gas pipes.

"Our initial assessment indicates that there has already been enormous damage," Chief government spokesman Yukio Edano said. "We will make maximum relief effort based on that assessment."

Click image to see photos of quake, tsunami damage

REUTERS/KYODO

He said the Defense Ministry was sending troops to the quake-hit region. A utility aircraft and several helicopters were on the way.

US widens tsunami warning to most of Pacific

The US tsunami monitoring center on Friday widened a warning to virtually the entire Pacific coast, including Australia and South America, after a massive earthquake in Japan.

Tsunami warning sirens in Hawaii trigger evacuations while coastal residents from Southern Calif. to Oregon move to higher ground.

A tsunami warning has been issued for the central and northern California coast and Oregon, the National Weather Service announced early Friday.

In the San Francisco Bay Area, an emergency warning system announcement for a tsunami warning was braodcast just after 1 a.m. Waves could begin arriving in Crescent City, Calif., at 7:23 a.m. and the Bay Area shortly after 8 a.m.

A lower-level tsunami advisory was issued for the Southern California coast south of Point Concepcion, which includes southern San Luis Obispo County and the counties of Ventura, Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego.

According to the weather service, those living in tsunami warning areas near the beach or in low-lying regions “should move immediately inland to higher ground and away from all harbors and inlets, including those sheltered directly from the sea."

"Those feeling the earth shake, seeing unusual wave action, or the water level rising or receding may have only a few minutes before the tsunami arrival and should move immediately. Homes and small buildings are not designed to withstand tsunami impacts.”

Speaking of CNN, Breitbart.tv has a streaming live feed of CNN, which has wall to wall coverage of this disaster.

Breaking News on Twitter has numerous updates; more as it comes in here at the Tatler, and presumably Instapundit as well.

Horrific video of the tsunami that struck Japan has been going up on YouTube; Richard Fernandez has several such clip at the Belmont Club; here’s another:





Japanese tsunami creates whirlpool A huge whirlpool has been created by the earthquake in Japan.It was created after the sheer force of the tsunami hit another strong current in the water.The vortex-like motion is dragging anything nearby into its core.



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