Japanese tv showed cars, ships & even buildings being swept away by a gigantic wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake.
A gigantic earthquake has hit the north-east of Japan, triggering a tsunami that has caused extensive destroy.
The shake has sparked fires in several areas including Tokyo, & numerous casualties are feared.
It struck about 250 miles (400km) from the capital at a depth of 20 miles. There's been powerful aftershocks.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Middle said the wave could extend as far as Chile.
The tremor hit at 1446 local time (0546 GMT). Seismologists say it is one of the largest earthquakes to hit Japan for lots of years.
The tsunami warning was extended to the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Pacific coast of Russia & Hawaii.
Tsunami waves hit Japan's Miyagi & Fukushima prefectures, officials said, damaging dozens of coastal communities.
Japan's NHK tv showed a gigantic surge of debris-filled water sweeping away buildings, cars & ships & reaching far inland.
Farmland around the coastal city of Sendai was submerged & the waves pushed cars across the runway of the city's airport.
Motorists could be seen trying to speed away from the wall of water.
A gigantic earthquake has hit the north-east of Japan, triggering a tsunami that has caused extensive destroy.
It struck about 250 miles (400km) from the capital at a depth of 20 miles. There's been powerful aftershocks.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Middle said the wave could extend as far as Chile.
The tremor hit at 1446 local time (0546 GMT). Seismologists say it is one of the largest earthquakes to hit Japan for lots of years.
The tsunami warning was extended to the Philippines, Indonesia, Taiwan, the Pacific coast of Russia & Hawaii.
Tsunami waves hit Japan's Miyagi & Fukushima prefectures, officials said, damaging dozens of coastal communities.
Japan's NHK tv showed a gigantic surge of debris-filled water sweeping away buildings, cars & ships & reaching far inland.
Farmland around the coastal city of Sendai was submerged & the waves pushed cars across the runway of the city's airport.
Motorists could be seen trying to speed away from the wall of water.
