UPDATE 6 -- Enormous earthquakes, huge tsunamis devastate Japan

2011-03-11 14:45:02 GMT+7 (ICT)

TOKYO (BNO NEWS) -- A series of enormous earthquakes struck off the Pacific coast of northeastern Japan on early Friday afternoon, seismologists said, generating huge tsunamis that devastated coastlines and has prompted tsunami warnings for dozens of countries.

The initial 8.9-magnitude earthquake at 2.46 p.m. local time (0546 GMT) was centered about 130 kilometers (80 miles) east of Sendai in Japan, on the nation's main island of Honshu. It struck about 24.4 kilometers (15.2 miles) deep, making it a shallow earthquake, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The USGS estimated that approximately 2.5 million people would have felt severe shaking, which could result in heavy damage. Another 11 million could have felt strong to very strong shaking.

Numerous large aftershocks struck soon after, the largest being a 7.1 on the Richter scale. In all, the aftershocks measured 6.4, 6.4, 6.8, 7.1, 6.3, 6.3, 5.8 and 6.3. One of the aftershocks, which had a 6.8 magnitude, struck only 67 kilometers (42 miles) northeast of the capital of Tokyo.

The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) immediately issued a tsunami warning, and large tsunamis could be seen hitting northeastern coastlines and regions near Tokyo, submerging entire cities and villages. In Tokyo, where people fled from buildings, fires were seen burning and clouds of black smoke were rising above the city's skyline.

There was no immediate information about casualties, but fears are that countless of people have been killed. Numerous buildings and bridges have collapsed.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center also issued a tsunami warning for Japan, Russia, Marcus Islands, Northern Marianas, Guam, Wake Islands, Taiwan, Yap, Philippines, Marshall Islands, Belau, Midway Islands, Pohnpei, Chuuk, Kosrae, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Johnston Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Howland-Baker, hawaii, Tuvalu, Palmyra Islands, Vanuatu, Tokelau, Jarvis Islands, Wallis-Futuna, Samoa, American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, Australia, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tonga, Mexico, Kermadec Islands, Fr. Polynesia, New Zealand, Pitcairn, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Antarctica, Panama, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

"Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated. It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter and could also be a threat to more distant coasts," the center said in a bulletin.

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