Hundreds killed as quake, tsunami pummel Japan

Hundreds of people people have been killed and over 500 are still missing as Japan tries to regain balance after one of the largest earthquakes on record struck the pacific nation, followed by gigantic waves.

The fury of nature struck Japan mercilessly as an offshore earthquake measuring 8.9 and a ensuing tsunami with over 20 feet high waves wiped out habitations sucking into its vortex humans, cars, ships and houses in the country’s northeast coast.

For hours islands felt over 50 aftershocks, many of them more than 6.0 on the richter scale.

About 200 to 300 bodies have been have been found on the in Sendai, a northeastern coastal city that was closest to the epicentre, police said.

Another 137 have been confirmed killed and 627 are injured, authorities said. About 531 people are still missing.

The quake caused extensive damage along the entire northeastern coastline. The worst affected is Miyagi Prefecture in Tohoku region on Honshu island where the tremor was felt most, especially in its capital Sendai.

Most of the deaths were reported from Iwate and Miyagi prefectures (which are local meaning for districts).

A surging wall of muddy water swept away cars, sea vessels and buildings in northern Japan and devoured whatever came in its path while fires raged in oil installations and people ran out in panic.

It is Japan’s biggest quake in the past 140 years, reports said, since it crossed the 7.9 registered in the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake in Tokyo that killed more than 140,000 people.

Japan’s Prime Minister Naoto Kan had earlier said there has been no radiation from the nuclear plants as feared and the units were shut down.

But a fire at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant has raised concerns worldwide. Authorities have had to evacuate at least 2000 people in the area.

Radiation levels in a building housing a turbine at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant was reportedly rising and the U.S. has sent emergency coolant after the plant?s cooling system failed.

Prime Minister Naoto is expected to inspect the reactor.

PM Naoto Kan said, ”Parts of nuclear plants (five) were automatically shut down but we haven’t confirmed any effects induced by radioactive materials outside the facilities.”

At Sendai port the tsunami was 10-meter high washing away coast guard vessels and submerging ports and runways.

There has been a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific basin, reports said.

Meteorological offices said there could be aftershocks and everyone should remain on alert for more than a month.

In Tokyo, the people rushed out of the buildings during the tremor. The offices shook and footage of Japan’s NHK TV station showed how inside the newsroom everything was stirring in the quake.

Across Tokyo people trooped into the streets in fear and panic.

The quake occurred about 400 km from Tokyo.

When contacted by IBNS, Japan resident and Indian origin entrepreneur Raj Adhikary said: “I am connecting you through my Skype Application on my IPhone by wifi. Otherwise we are 100% disconnected.”

“No telephone, no Internet. Nothing. Many states lost electricity completely. It was 7.9 on the Richter scale in Tokyo,” he said.

Cars and ships were swept away along with dwellings in tsunami in the Fukushima Prefecture in the Tohoku region on Honshu, TV footage showed.

Vast swathes of coastal farmland near the city of Sendai was engulfed by the tsunami waters which devoured houses, vehicles and carried with it the flames and debris of devastation.

The quake also triggered several infernos, including in an oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture near Tokyo, reports said.

The quake threw haywire the transportation systems. Tokyo’s Narita International Airport even was shut down its runways for safety.

Haneda airport in Tokyo was closed but later reopened, Kyodo reported.

Tsunami warning has been issued for Indonesia, Philippines, Taiwan, Russia, Hawaii, New Zealand and other nations.

US President Barack Obama said his country “stands ready to help” the Japanese people with military and other help if requested.

Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast are also on tsunami alert.

“Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan, particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis,” Obama said in a statement.

“We will continue to closely monitor tsunamis around Japan and the Pacific going forward and we are asking all our citizens in the affected region to listen to their state and local officials,” he said.

Kyodo News reports said Japan has asked for military cooperation from USA.

Meanwhile, there has been no report of any Indian casualty immediately in Japan, the External Affairs Ministry of India said.

“There are no reports of any casualties amongst the approximately 25,000 strong Indian community in Japan which is concentrated in the Kanto and Kansai regions,” the MEA said.

“Our Embassy in Tokyo and Consulate in Osaka are in touch with community members and verifying the situation on the ground. A control room has been established in the Embassy of India, Tokyo which can contacted on phone numbers 00813 32622391 to 97,” said the ministry.

The MEA said it is monitoring the situation closely and would take all necessary steps required as per exigencies.

Indians contacted by IBNS said they are safe till now.

“We are all doing ok. Shaken up and terrified but we are trying to remain calm,” said Bubai Ghosh, who is based in Tokyo, speaking to IBNS.

India has conveyed its sympathies to the Government and people of Japan.

“We are saddened by the loss of life and extensive damage to property and infrastructure,” India said.

The MEA said while letters of sympathy with offers of assistance are being issued from Prime Minister and External Affairs Minister to their counterparts, Foreign Secretary, Nirupama Rao has spoken to Ambassador Saiki of Japan in New Delhi and has conveyed heartfelt sympathies and condolences, as well as offered any assistance that may be required.

(With inputs from IBNS correspondents in Tokyo)