【新唐人2011年3月12日訊】 當地時間11號下午2點46分左右，日本東北部仙台附近海域發生8.9級強烈地震。地震及其引發的海嘯迄今已造成至少500人死亡，大量人員受傷或失蹤。這是日本140年來最強烈的的一次地震。（画面是电视台英语报道）
The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast on Friday (March 11) triggering a 10-metre tsunami that swept away everything in its path.
Houses, cars and farm buildings were washed away by the powerful tsunami that followed the quake which the U.S. Geological Survey put at 8.9 magnitude after initially verifying a magnitude of 7.9 at a depth of 15.1 miles.
TV footage showed the tsunami carrying debris and burning material across the large swathe of coastal farmland near the city of Sendai which has a population of one million.
By 0830GMT eight deaths had been reported but the pictures suggested the death toll was likely to rise.
All Japanese ports closed on Friday, with discharging operations halted, TV footage showed several vessels capsized or grounded due to the tsunami.
Some nuclear power plants and oil refineries were shut down on Friday and a major steel plant was ablaze after the quake rocked the country, buckling roads, triggering landslides and knocking out power to homes and businesses.
Japanese media reported many injuries and fires in Sendai city in northern Japan and Tokyo. A tsunami 10 metres high hit Sendai port but there were no immediate reports of damage.
Television also reported a major fire at Cosmo Oil Co’s Chiba refinery in Chiba, east of Tokyo. A fire was also reported at JFE Holdings Inc’s steel plant in Chiba.
The Miyagi prefecture and surrounding areas include major manufacturing and industrial zones, with many chemical, petrochemical and electronics plants.
The Bank of Japan said it would do its utmost to ensure financial market stability as air force jets raced toward the northeast coast to determine the extent of the damage from the quake.
Tsunami warnings have been issued for areas across East Asia and the western coast of South America following a huge earthquake that hit Japan on Friday, the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said.
Among the countries for which a tsunami warning is in effect are: Russia, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Honduras, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.
The quake was the biggest in 140 years. It surpasses the Great Kanto quake of September 1, 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9, killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area. Seismologists had said another such quake could strike the city any time.