Tsunami warning for Pacific region after 8.8 magnitude quake strikes Japan
THE Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii says a tsunami warning is in effect for a large swathe of the Pacific after a magnitude 8.8 earthquake hit Japan.
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 US state of Hawaii.
Japan's NHK says a small tsunami hit the shore near the epicentre around 3pm local time.
Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported major damage from the tsunami and showed cars, trucks, houses and buildings being swept away by the tsunami in Onahama city in Fukushima prefecture.
Japan's public broadcaster NHK reported major damage from the tsunami and showed cars, trucks, houses and buildings being swept away by the tsunami in Onahama city in Fukushima prefecture.
Scores of cars were seen floating in Iwate prefecture harbour, local TV said
The earthquake was initially reported as being 7.9 in magnitude but this was revised up by the US Geological survey.
The earthquake was initially reported as being 7.9 in magnitude but this was revised up by the US Geological survey.
Japan's meteorological agency warns that a tsunami as high as 6 metres could strike the coast near Miyagi prefecture, closest to the epicentre.
The agency says the quake struck at 2.46pm today at a depth of 10km, about 125km off the eastern coast.
Another quake struck only minutes later.
Another quake struck only minutes later.
Smoke could be seen rising from a building in Tokyo port and local bullet trains stopped when the quake struck.
CNN reporter Kyung Lah, who is in Tokyo, said the tremor lasted around four or five minutes.
"We felt a very significant quake. Everything was shaking. People became very alarmed," she said.
Several quakes had hit the same region in recent days, including a 7.3 magnitude one on Wednesday.
