Japan quake kills hundreds; Hawaii, U.S. West Coast brace for tsunami
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Discussion PolicyBy Chico Harlan
Friday, March 11, 2011; 9:41 AM
HIROSHIMA - A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake and a powerful tsunami devastated the northeast coast of Japan on Friday afternoon, leaving hundreds dead and triggering waves that threatened coastlines as far east as California.
The Japan Meteorological Agency said the earthquake was the strongest in the country's history. Television stations showed footage of tsunami waves, measuring upwards of 20 feet, that surged toward the northeastern shoreline, pulling cars into the water and knocking boats and buildings onto their sides.
In Sendai, the capital of Miyagi Prefecture and the population center nearest the epicenter, houses floated like rafts along the waves. In some areas, the wall of water looked more like a black shroud of debris and sludge, consuming the patchwork of farmland.
Japan's Kyodo News agency said between 200 and 300 bodies were found near Sendai about eight hours after the quake. Japan's national police agency had confirmed 59 deaths, with officials saying that number was sure to rise.
Tsunami warnings or alerts were issued for dozens of places, including the West Coast of the United States, Hawaii and Alaska. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said the tsunami struck Kauai about 3 a.m. (8 a.m. in Washington), and was headed to other Hawaiian islands. Hawaii Gov. Neil Abercrombie had told residents to head for higher ground, and news reports said roadways and beaches were empty as the tsunami struck the state.
Waves are predicted to hit the western coast of the United States between 11 a.m. and 11:30 a.m Eastern time.
Russian authorities on the Kuril Islands northeast of Japan evacuated more than 11,000 residents from coastal areas as waves as high as 10 feet hit the shore, according to Russia's Emergencies Ministry. Aftershocks measured at a magnitude of 5.0 were felt on the islands, but no deaths or serious destruction were reported.
In Japan, Prime Minister Naoto Kan addressed the nation, saying the government will do "everything possible to minimize the damage" and calling for international assistance. "We ask the people of Japan to exercise the spirit of fraternity and act fast and to assist one's family and neighbors," Kan said.
Several countries, including Russia and South Korea, pledged support, putting emergency crews on standby. The U.S. military - which said all its personnel in Japan were accounted for - announced it was coordinating with Japan's government.
President Obama, who was briefed on the quake about 4 a.m., said the United States "stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial."
Authorities ordered evacuations from low-lying areas on the U.S. island territory of Guam in the western Pacific, but the tsunami passed that area without causing significant damage, according to news reports.
In Japan, the quake struck at 2:46 p.m. local time (12:46 a.m. in Washington). According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake struck at a depth of about six miles, about 80 miles off the coast east of Miyagi Prefecture, a mostly rural but still densely populated part of Honshu, Japan's largest island.
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