Powerful earthquake strikes Japan

A powerful earthquake has struck off the northeastern coast of Japan, measured at 8.8 by the US Geological Survey, with several hundred people feared dead. It was the most powerful to hit Japan in 140 years, with its epicenter in the sea close to the coastal city of Sendai, euronews reports. Powerful earthquake strikes Japan 10-meter waves have swept away trees, cars, buildings and countless numbers of people. Japanese media are reporting that a ship with around 100 pepole on board was swept away by the tsunami. Tsunami warnings have been issued for the Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia as well as Hawaii and some areas on the west coast of South America. The Red Cross has warned that the waves are higher than some Pacific Islands which now face the real threat of being completely submerged. The quake todaywas the biggest in 140 years, surpassing the Great Kanto quake of 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area. The 1995 Kobe quake caused USD 100bn in damage and was the most expensive natural disaster in history. Japan's NHK TV video footage of vehicles washed away by tsunami eastern Japan (Beta/AP)

Powerful earthquake strikes Japan

10-meter waves have swept away trees, cars, buildings and countless numbers of people. Japanese media are reporting that a ship with around 100 pepole on board was swept away by the tsunami.

Tsunami warnings have been issued for the Philippines, Taiwan and Indonesia as well as Hawaii and some areas on the west coast of South America. The Red Cross has warned that the waves are higher than some Pacific Islands which now face the real threat of being completely submerged.

The quake todaywas the biggest in 140 years, surpassing the Great Kanto quake of 1923, which had a magnitude of 7.9 and killed more than 140,000 people in the Tokyo area.

The 1995 Kobe quake caused USD 100bn in damage and was the most expensive natural disaster in history.