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8.9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, causes tsunami
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March 11, 2011
Original URL: http://en.wikinews.org/wiki/8.9_magnitude_earthquake_hits_Japan,_causes_tsunami



A massive 8.9 magnitude earthquake occurred in northern Japan early on
Friday. The earthquake's epicenter is 130 km (81 miles) east of Sendai,
in the Honshu island of Japan. According to the U.S. Geological Survey,
the epicenter was at a depth of 24.4 km (15.2 miles).

The earthquake triggered tsunamis in various parts of the country. Japan
issued a tsunami warning immediately after the earthquake, followed by
tsunami warnings for New Zealand, Australia, Russia, Guam, Philippines,
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Hawaii, Northern Marianas (USA) and
Taiwan.

The tsunami attained a height of 10 meters, and swept houses, buildings
and cars according to reports. Shinkansen stopped the bullet train
service following the quake. According to reports, an oil refinery was
set ablaze by the quake at Ichihara, Chiba prefecture to the east of
Tokyo.

The National Weather Service said that earthquakes "of this size" often
"generate tsunamis potentially dangerous to coasts outside the source
region." "Based on all available data a tsunami may have been generated
by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far
from the epicenter," it added.

About 20 people were reportedly injured in Tokyo following the collapse
of a roof of a hall. 4 million people are estimated to be without power
in the capital. In Sendai, several people are feared to be buried under
the remains of a collapsed hotel.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said there had been no nuclear plant radiation
leaks caused by the disaster. He expressed sympathy to all victims in
his address, promising help, and stating that an emergency response
headquarters had been set up. No death toll has been confirmed yet.

== Sources == 

* http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/1115777/1/.html
* http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/japan/8375497/Japan-earthquake-causes-oil-refinery-inferno.html
* http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
* http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/?hpt=T1
* http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/us-japan-quake-idUSTRE72A0SS20110311
* http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/usc0001xgp.php
* http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/text.php?id=pacific.2011.03.11.073000



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