Major Earthquake in Japan

According to Japanese police, 200 to 300 bodies were found in Sendai, the coastal city closest to the epicenter. Another 137 people were confirmed killed, with 531 missing. At least 627 people were injured.

8:15am:  Reports are now coming in that waves are beginning to hit the western Hawaiian Islands.





8:00 am:  Evacuation now for folks around Japanese nuclear plant as cooling system on one of the towers seems to be malfunctioning

Reverse 911 calls now are being done for residents who live further north along the U.S. West Coast - calling for people in low lying areas to evacuate.  Tsunami is expected to be a little worse further to the north.

video:  KITV - Honolulu, HI:  Live Streaming Video

video:  http://www.ndtv.com/video/player/news/tsunami-wipes-out-sendai-airport/193304

Tsunami is now expected to hit Hawaii at any moment

Tsunami Warnings have been issued for the Hawaiian Islands along with the U.S. west coast.

7:15am: Several aftershocks have been felt following the earthquake
             Subway systems have been suspended in Japan
             This is the biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years



TOKYO(AP) — Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter. There were reports of injuries in Tokyo.  In various locations along Japan's coast, TV footage showed massive damage from the tsunami, with dozens of cars, boats and even buildings being carried along by waters. A large ship swept away by the tsunami rammed directly into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.  Officials were trying to assess damage, injuries and deaths from the quake but had no immediate details. 

The quake that struck at 2:46 p.m. was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, including a 7.4-magnitude one about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the first quake to a magnitude 8.9, while Japan's meteorological agency measured it at 7.9.  The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan. NHK was warning those near the coast to get to safer ground.  The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the U.S. state of Hawaii.  The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency said. The area is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.  In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. TV footage showed a large building on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo. 

In central Tokyo, trains were stopped and passengers walked along the tracks to platforms.  The ceiling in Kudan Kaikan, a large hall in Tokyo, collapsed, injuring an unknown number of people, NHK said. 

Footage on NHK from their Sendai office showed employees stumbling around and books and papers crashing from desks. It also showed a glass shelter at a bus stop in Tokyo completely smashed by the quake and a weeping woman nearby being comforted by another woman.  Several quakes had hit the same region in recent days, including a 7.3 magnitude one on Wednesday.  Thirty minutes after the quake, tall buildings were still swaying in Tokyo and mobile phone networks were not working. Japan's Coast Guard has set up task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast Guard official Yosuke Oi said.
"I'm afraid we'll soon find out about damages, since the quake was so strong," he said