Major tsunami damage in N Japan after 8.9 quakeLINKBy MALCOLM FOSTER, Associated Press Malcolm Foster, Associated Press – 5 mins ago
(excerpt)
TOKYO – A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japan's northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast.
At least one person was killed and there were reports of several injuries in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers (miles) away, where buildings shook violently through the main quake and the wave of massive aftershocks that followed.
TV footage showed waves of muddy waters sweeping over farmland near the city of Sendai, carrying buildings, some on fire, inland as cars attempted to drive away.
"This is a rare major quake, and damages could quickly rise by the minute," said Junichi Sawada, an official with Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
===============================
Already reports of aftershocks in excess of 7.4.
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/140_40_eqs.phphttp://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Maps/10/140_40_eqs.php