Several deaths reported, more tsunamis expected; Tokyo stock market extends losses, Bank of Japan says it will do everything to ensure financial stability

TOKYO: A massive earthquake of 8.9 magnitude hit northeast Japan on Friday, unleashing a tsunami that swept away cars and threatened buildings along the coast near the epicentre. There were reports of injuries and fires and power was cut off in large parts of the capital city Tokyo, according to news reports.

Television pictures on the public broadcaster NHK showed cars, boats and even houses being carried away by the waters and a large ship swept away crashing into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture.



The quake struck at 2.46PM (11.16AM  India time) and was followed by powerful aftershocks that shook buildings violently.  The US Geological Survey office verified a magnitude of 7.9 at a depth of 24 km located 130 km east of Sendai, on the main island of Honshu, and later upgraded the strength to a magnitude of 8.9. The area is 380 km northeast of Tokyo.

NHK also showed flames and black smoke billowing from a building in Odaiba, a Tokyo suburb, and bullet trains to the north of the country were halted. Smoke also poured out of an industrial area in Yokohama's Isogo area.

Japan's meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the US state of Hawaii.

"The building shook for what seemed a long time and many people in the newsroom grabbed their helmets and some got under their desks," a Reuters report quoted its correspondent Linda Sieg as saying. "It was probably the worst I have felt since I came to Japan more than 20 years ago."

The Tokyo stock market extended its losses after the quake was announced. The central bank said it would do everything to ensure financial stability.

Japan's northeast Pacific coast, called Sanriku, has suffered from quakes and tsunamis in the past and a 7.2 quake struck on Wednesday. In 1933, a magnitude 8.1 quake in the area killed more than 3,000 people. Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the world's most seismically active areas. The country accounts for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

The Associated Press reports that 30 minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working. Japan's Coast Guard has set up a task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast Guard official Yosuke Oi said. "I'm afraid we'll soon find out about damages, since the quake was so strong," he said.

Passengers on a subway line in Tokyo screamed and grabbed other passengers' hands, Reuters news agency reports. The shaking was so bad it was hard to stand, said reporter Mariko Katsumura. Hundreds of office workers and shoppers spilled into Hitotsugi street, a shopping street in Akasaka in downtown Tokyo.

Related video link: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598