eastern heal Japan earthquake: As it happened
7.46pm AFP are reporting at least eight people have been killed with three being crushed to death when their houses collapsed in Ibaraki prefecture northeast of Tokyo.
8.35pm The US Geological Survey reports the monster 8.9-magnitude earthquake which hit Japan was the countrys biggest ever and the seventh largest on record.
A sign of "SOS" is displayed at the playground of a school in the town of Minamisanriku / AFP
The picture below shows Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture as it is struck by the tsunami. Picture: AP
A house sinks into the ground at Sukagawa city， Fukushima. Picture: AFP
5.23pm US Geological survey updates magnitude to 8.8.
2.45am The death toll has
Reporters at the Associated Press Tokyo Bureau in Tokyo take shelter under a table as the earthquake strikes. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
AN 8.9-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan. Latest updates will be posted by news.com.au as they come to hand.
Vehicles ready for shipping being carried by a tsunami tidal wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki. Picture: AFP
3.18am Hawaii appears to have dodged the worst of the tsunami with the wave passing seemingly without major impact. White House Chief of Staff Bill Daley said:
12.15am The whereabouts of a ship carrying 100 people which was swept away by the tsunami are still unknown， the Kyodo news agency has reported.
"energy map" created by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the power of the tsunami that hit Japan following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake， Japans biggest on record.
A tsunami tidal wave washes away houses in Kesennuma， Miyagi. Picture: AP
POP provocateurs hit back at critics， saying their shows are not too hot for kids – "were one f—ing mily and a bunch of rabid misfits".
has told Al Jazeera that Japanese officials will have to manage a balancing act at the Fukushima nuclear power plant. He says there is a risk of exposing the public if they try to contain radioactive steam.
WIRE: A truck remains stranded on a road damaged by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki city， Fukushima prefecture (state)， Japan， Friday， March 11， 2011. The largest earthquake in Japans recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
Ive lived in Japan for 10 years and Ive never felt anything like this before，" he said. "It got to the point where I dont know whether its me shaking or an earthquake.
reportedly mobilised thousands of troops， hundreds of planes and dozens of ships， as the country kicks off a mammoth relief mission. According to the BBC， Japans Prime Minister Naoto Kan also plans to hold an emergency cabinet meeting early on Saturday local time， before visiting the disaster zones by helicopter.
5.49pm Two radioactive substances， cesium and radioactive iodine， have been detected near the reactor， Japans Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency told NHK World.
10.15am DFAT has said it remains concerned for54Aussies in earthquake-hit areas， but added there were no reports of Australian casualties or injuries.
WIRE: An aerial shot shows vehicles ready for shipping being carried by a tsunami tidal wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11， 2011. A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake shook Japan， unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS
WIRE: A helmeted man walks past the rubbles and a burning building after a powerful earthquake， the largest in Japans recorded history， slammed the eastern coasts in Iwaki city， Fukushima prefecture， Japan， Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
quotes nuclear physicist Dr Walt Patterson as saying the situation at the Fukushima-Daiichi plant is "the sort of thing that nuclear engineers have nightmares about … if it is not resolved in the next few hours it will get serious". Read their
I crouched next to the bed. All the lights went out. The whole building started swaying. I’m pretty high up. It was a very scary experience.
WIRE: Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed road at a carpark in Yabuki， in southern Fukushima Prefecture on March 11， 2011 after an earthquake rocked Japan. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan unleashing a monster 10-metre high tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS
11.59am The operator of the Fukushima No. 1 plant says they are preparing to vent some steam to relieve the pressure on the number 3 reactor.
The United States later placed the West Coast and Hawaii on tsunami "watch，" urging residents to stay tuned for more information， AFP reported.
11.42pm Latin Americas Pacific coast is on tsunami alert. Ecuadors President Rael Correa has declared a state of emergency and ordered people on the Galapagos Islands and the coast of the mainland to seek higher ground. Meanwhile， the tsunami is expected to reach Mexicos coastline within three to four hours.
10.43pm
Residents look over destroyed buildings half submerged in water after a tsunami hit the city of Kesennuma， in northeast Japan， March 12， 2011. Picture: AP
WIRE: The area is flooded by tsunami in Iwaki， Fukushima Prefecture (state) as Japan was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
BREAKING up is hard and a drink can ease the pain， but when youre John Singleton， why not just spend $50m on another pub or two?
Video: Radioactive emergency team despatched.
Residents look over destroyed buildings half submerged in water after a tsunami hit the city of Kesennuma， in northeast Japan， March 12， 2011 / AP
According to Al Jazeera， there are now five reactors under a state of emergency – two at Fukushima No 1 (Daiichi)plant， and three at the nearby Fukushima No 2 (Daini) plant.
11.20pm Japanese authorities continue to hose down radiation fears. Japans chief cabinet secretary says radiation levels near the Fukushima plant had llen， amid fears of a possible nuclear meltdown. (AFP)
there was shaking， white smoke at site. (msnbc) Twitter reports say a containment wall has blown off.The walls and roof of the quake-damaged nuclear plant in Japan have been destroyed in a blast， local broadcaster NHK reported. (NewsCore)
6.45pm Agence France Presse reports that No radiation leaks have been detected from Japans nuclear power stations after the quake.
9.27am Japan says radiation levels have surged outside nuclear plant， expands area subject to evacuation，
The friendship and alliance between our two nations is unshakeable， and only strengthens our resolve to stand with the people of Japan as they overcome this tragedy.
The picture below shows a power plant on fire in Ishihara. Picture: AFP / HO / NHK
9.27pm Japanese media are reporting that two people have been killed and several injured in the blast at the nuclear plant. (
troops have found between 300 and 400 bodies in the coastal city of Rikuzentakata， which was devastated by the tsunami. The death toll from the disaster is expected to be at least 1700. (AFP)
All five are reported to be unharmed.
key seismological cts about the quake. It also provides some of the tectonic background to the earthquakes that hit the area.
12.36pm Wondering how you can help? Save the Children has launched a Japan Earthquake appeal. Seeking donations now.
Minamisanriku town is submerged after the earthquake-triggered tsunami in Miyagi prefecture， northern Japan / AP
The city seems to be in pretty good shape. Theres no damage， no buildings crumbling that Ive seen. As I said some people are still eating in restaurants， even though its pitch black. Theres no power so I expect people are just trying to get back to normal.
10.30pm US President
7.41pm The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said that any tsunami generated by the earthquake would hit Hawaii at around 2:45am (1245 GMT) and the West Coast at 7:45am (1545 GMT).
Buildings burn in the town ofYamada， in northeast Japan， after the countrys biggest recorded earthquake hit， March 11， 2011. Picture: AP
American Jesse Johnson， who lives in Chiba， north of Tokyo， told Sky News he was at a sushi restaurant with his wife when the quake hit.
9.27am Authorities now say the number 3 reactor at the Fukushima Daiichi No. 1 plant has iled – not the Fukushima Daiichi plant number 3. its the same power plant that suffered from an explosion overnight. Clearly some translation problems with so many numbers and similarly named nuclear plants.
6.02am The situation at the nuclear power plant appears to be worsening， The Associated Press has quoted an anonymous official as saying if the outage in the cooling system persists， eventually radiation could leak out into the environment， and， in the worst case， could cause a reactor meltdown. However
10.23pm Japan has declared a state of emergency because of the ilure of the cooling system at one nuclear plant， according to the Associated Press. Officials say there has been no leak of radiation.
A tsunami-drifted ship sits on a pier in Sendai， Miyagi Prefecture， March 12， 2011 after Japans biggest recorded earthquake slammed into the countrys eastern coast / AP
6.30pm Japanese officials and experts dismiss suggestions of a repeat of a Chernobyl-type disaster. (
8.25am Japan Nuclear Safety Authority has confirmed issue with Fukushima Daiichi 3 power plant at a press conference， Reuters reports. Tokyo Electric power are urgently seeking another source of water to cool the reactor.
Fukushima nuclear plant occurred.
4.03am The tsunami is expected to hit Ocean Beach in San Francisco shortly， resident Mathew Honan has set up a
www.smh.com.au)
What are the different types， causes and effects? (Wikipedia).
"No Chernobyl is possible at a light water reactor. Loss of coolant means a temperature rise， but it also will stop the reaction，" Naoto Sekimura， a professor at the University of Tokyo， says.
3.36pm Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan:
WIRE: Houses and others burn in Natori， Miyagi Prefecture (state) Friday night， March 11， 2011 after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
8.12pm Google launches its person finder application for the tradgedy.
The tsunami triggered by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake hits Natori， Miyagi prefecture. AP Photo/Kyodo News
10.56pm Reports indicate New Zealand has
6:18am A magnitude 6.6 quake has now struck in central Japan， causing Tokyo buildings to sway， BBC reports. This new earthquake wasreportedly on a different ultline from the first 8.9 magnitude earthquake.No reports of damage so r and no new tsunami alerts have been issued.
7.33pm Three people have now been confirmed dead included a 67-year-old man crushed by a wall and an elderly woman killed by a llen roof， both in the wider Tokyo area.
AN 8.9-magnitude earthquake struck Japan on March 11， causing widespread destruction and triggering a tsunami. Here is how news.com.au reported the events.
4.00pm A third of New Zealands Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) personnel are off to Japan but New Zealand Fire Service spokesman Jim Stuart-Black told NZPA the departure of the 48 staff "wont compromise our capability". Japan sent 70 search-and-rescue personnel to assist in the Christchurch earthquake recovery including specialists from the coastguard， police and fire fighting service， as well as three sniffer dogs.
10.03pm BBC online has an
3.40am Reports indicate the situation at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is "under control". The World Nuclear Association has said it understands that water is now being pumped into its cooling system. Reuters has also reported the US has transported emergency coolant to the plant. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said:
1.32am Authorities are trying to locate thousands of Australians known to be living or staying in Japan， with DFAT saying it has received more than 4400 calls from milies seeking details of relatives and friends unable to be contacted in the area. (
But were a ir while past the event now， it seems to have settled to that level. Were relatively sheltered.
9.09pm Sky News has reported that four workers from the nuclear plant have been taken to hospital. Meanwhile， five million people are without power in Japan.
this account from Australian Luke Norris who was in his high-rise apartment in central Tokyo when the quake hit.
9.08am The Kyodo news agency is now citing a safety panel as saying that the radiation level inside one of the reactors at the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant is 1000 times higher than normal， according to BBC News.
9.50am Japan has been hit by a 6.3-magnitude aftershock about 7.12am (local time) today. The epicentre of the tremor just 131 kilometres from Fukushima and its stricken nuclear reactor， the US Geological Survey said.
People going outside were also told to avoid exposing their skin and to cover their ces with masks and wet towels.
Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton， speaking in Washington， said that American military planes had already delivered "coolant".
4.48am A man has died after he fell from a boat while trying to rescue mily members from the tsunami wave in
NEWS: SENDAI， Japan – A man seeks shelter under a desk at a bookstore in Sendai， Miyagi Prefecture， northeastern Japan， while a powerful earthquake was jolting the area on March 11， 2011. (Kyodo)
CBS5 reporting a dozen or so sunken boats. County spokesman says at least $2M damage.
Cars and other Debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves are seen in Kesennuma in Miyagi. Picture: AP
10.12am The death toll from the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan has reached 185， according to Kyodo News agency.
again concerned with the nuclear reactor at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant. The Associated Press reports pressure inside the reactor has risen to 1.5 times the level considered normal.
hours trapped on a bullet train that ground to a halt following the 8.9 magnitude earthquake in Japan. Labor MPs Stephen Jones said the atmosphere on the crowded train was surprisingly calm.
1.17am Millions of people in greater Tokyo are stranded after the earthquake shut down the capitals massive subway system. Countless workers have found themselves stuck r from their milies， and unable to speak to them because the overloaded mobile phone system could not carry most calls.
"Reactors are not like your car that you can turn off and walk away. Theyre going to continue generating a great amount of heat until the core is disassembled" – US ScienceDaily
MORE properties sold for record prices in citys west than in any other region over the past year， defying the sales collapse in other areas.
compiled a page of contact numbers and websites that residents who need information or assistance will find useful.
WIRE: Cars and other Debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves are seen in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture， northern Japan， after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane， The Yomiuri Shimbun) JAPAN OUT， CREDIT MANDATORY
3.59am The Herald Sun has
7.42pm NHK says a high level of radiation has been detected in the area of the nuclear power plant.Levels measured 1015 parts: ifpeople areexposed to this level of radiation for one hour， it isequalto the amount people are normally exposedto inone year.
CONSPIRACY theorists take to the internet to claim that Japans devastating quake and tsunami was caused by a supermoon.
2.42am A Japanese news agency has reported a dam has burst in north-eastern Japan， washing away homes.
8:16am DFAT advisory – If you are in Japan and require assistance， you can contact the Australian Embassy in Tokyo on 03 5232 4111 and you will be transferred to the Crisis Centre.
radioactive caesium had been detected near the Fukushima plant， citing information from the nuclear safety agency.
200 to 300 bodies on a beach at Sendai. NHK television said the victims appeared to have drowned. Police are now putting the death toll at 88 with 349 missing， not including the bodies found at Sendai.
MILITIA eastern health australiaopposed to the Southern Sudanese government launched a iled overnight raid， killing dozens of rebels and government soldiers.
A worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito， Ibaraki. Picture: AP / Nexco East Japan
the Guardian mentions a nuclear expert speaking to CNN has said this was only a remote possibility.
1.33pm Back from her US trip Prime Minister Julia Gillard says Australia stands ready to help in any way we can. A team of about 75 search-and-rescue workers as well as sniffer dogs just back from Christchurch is due to leave Brisbane today in the first of what could be a series of Australian contingents.
9.46am Japans nuclear safety agency has confirmed the damaged FukushimaNo 1has been leaking radiation outside the plant， the Guardian.co.uk reports. According to the Guardian， there arenow alsoreports from nuclear plant operator Tepco that the Fukushima No 2 plant has lost cooling to three of its reactors.
12.03pm AFP reports that Japanese naval and coastguard helicopters have found a ship that was swept out to sea by a massive tsunami and airlifted all 81 people aboard to safety.
Forecaster Chris Ryan from the National Meteorological and Oceanographic Centre said there was a chance that could change if the quakes magnitude is found to be higher.
9.44am Japans public broadcaster NHK， quoting nuclear safety officials， said there was "no immediate health hazard" to nearby residents from a possible minute leakage at the Fukushima No1 nuclear power plant.
Champion fundraiser Debra Singh， General Manager for Dick Smith， goes bald for this years World Greatest Shave.
People wait in queue to receive water distributed at a park in Koriyama， Fukushima prefecture， a day after Japans biggest recorded earthquake slammed into the countrys eastern coast， March 12， 2011 / AP
"At the moment， it is higher than some islands and could go right over them，" he said.
Concerned for Australians missing in Japan? Call DFAT on +1300 555 135
8:05amA California man has been swept out to sea after travelling into dangerous waters to take photos of incoming tsunami waves.
NEWS: TOKYO， Japan – Photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter shows black smoke emerging from a building in Tokyos Koto Ward on March 11， 2011， shortly after a powerful earthquake hit northeastern Japan. (Kyodo)
On behalf of the people of Australia I want to express our very sincere condolences to the people of Japan and the government of Japan on the death and devastation we are seeing following the earthquake and tsunami. Like people around the world Ive been watching the images on our TV screens – they are truly shocking.
WIRE: A tsunami tidal wave washes away houses in Kesennuma， Miyagi Prefecture， Friday， March 11， 2011 after strong earthquakes hit the area. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane， The Yomiuri Shimbun) JAPAN OUT， CREDIT MANDATORY
"I was able to convey the condolences of the Australian people direct to him and indicated that we stood ready to provide any assistance that Japan might need at this time" – Kevin Rudd
2.47am A large section of Kesennuma， a town of 70，000 people in Miyagi， is burning furiously with no apparent hope of the flames being extinguished， public broadcaster NHK said. A witness told the broadcaster that the fire began after the tsunami knocked over several cars， causing them to leak oil and gas. The fire started hours later and rescuers have yet to arrive.
The waves have started to hit the US West Coast now. Mike Murphy， emergencies chief in Port Orford， Oregon said:
"The Coalition joins with other Australians in commiserating with the people from Japan. This has been a terrible disaster on a massive scale. Its good that Australia has been able to offer some practical help."
9.05am US Navy ships have arrived in Japan to join relief efforts.
"I was in a workshop on the 29th floor of a hotel. The chandeliers started to shake and we ran down the hallway trying to get to the elevator or the stairwell. We didnt make it that r and we had to just stop in the hall and brace and wait it out. Hotel staff were bracing us， this Japanese woman just had her arms around me， as I was against a wall.
8.53pm This clip from Russia Today shows the exact moment when the explosion at the
8:48am Radiation levels at the damaged Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear plant are continuing to rise. The Jiji Press news agency says the levels are eight times above normal， BBC reports.
"A seriously injured worker is still trapped in the crane operating console of the exhaust stack and his breathing and pulse cannot be confirmed. Currently， rescue efforts are under way，" nuclear company TEPCO said in a statement.
We just had our Air Force assets in Japan transport some really important coolant to one of the nuclear plants. You know Japan is very reliant on nuclear power and they have very high engineering standards， but one of their plants came under a lot of stress with the earthquake and didnt have enough coolant.
6.32am More images from Japan. This photo from AP shows the destruction of the small town of Minamisanriku. The hospital is the only building left standing.
8.27pm National Police Agency said it would be quite some time until the actual toll from the disaster would be known.
account of the quake from Shola Fawehimni， who was at Hokkaidos airport in northern Japan when it hit:
We send our sympathies and condolences to the Japanese people. Weve had a terrible reminder of the destructive power of nature and everyone should be thinking of that country and its people and Ive asked immediately that our government should look at what we can do to help.
An urgent appeal to help those affected by the deadly tsunami in Japan has been launched in Australia. Save the Children launched the appeal today， calling for funds to assist children and their milies in the areas devastated by the tsunami that struck Japans east coast yesterday. Save the Childrens Stephen McDonald said the organisation was extremely concerned about the welre of Japanese children:
2.09am At least three people evacuated from a Japanese town near
1.32pm Australian search and rescue teams stand ready to travel to Japan， as early as Saturday night to help， Mr Rudd said.
8:26am Kyodo news agency is reporting that radiation may have already been released at a nuclear plant and that four commuter trains are still unaccounted for in the Miyagi and Iwate prefectures.
The tsunami set off by Japans major earthquake is currently higher than some Pacific islands which it could wash over， the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said today.
risen to at least 310 people. The National Police Agency said 110 people had been confirmed dead and 350 missing， with 544 others injured in the tremor.
Hundreds of Australians live in one of the areas potentially worst hit by the tsunami in Japan. Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd today said there were 54 Australians registered as living in the city of Sendai but that there were probably hundreds of Australians living in the area. "The reason being is that it is a place where Australian language teachers have gone to work，" he said.
10.51am Japans nuclear safety agency is reportedly set to issue an unprecedented order for Tepco to open a valve at the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant to release pressure， according to the Guardian.co.uk.
northern coast of Indonesia has been struck by a small tsunami. There are no reports of how much damage has been caused and people are still on alert for future waves. Small tsunami waves have also hit the Philippines， but there were
The US Geological Survey reports seven more over the past half hour.
TV channels warned nearby residents to stay indoors， turn off air-conditioners and not to drink tap water.
Radiation leaked from the plant， but the government moved to calm fears of a meltdown， saying the blast did not rupture the container surrounding the reactor and that radiation levels had llen afterwards. Workers at the plant are dousing the stricken reactor with sea water to try to avert catastrophe.
11.53am Melbourne man Jason Brif called his parents from Sendai to say he was safe and he loved them after the earthquake struck. He has not been heard from since， the Herald Sun reports. The last thing he said was "I love you" and not long after that the tsunami hit.
She tells the BBC: "In the right conditions they can survive at least four， and up to seven days. In some earthquakes， if the person whos trapped has some water or food， they can maybe survive 10 days， and we have heard of some extreme cases of up to 14 days， but the conditions have to be right.
Saturday March 12， 12.03am The
9.21pm The tsunami moving across the Pacific is currently so large it could pass right over whole islands in the region， experts are warning. From Londons Independent:
6.44am Japanese workers in masks and protective clothing are scanning all evacuees from the nuclear plant explosion for radiation， Reuters reports.
Buildings are destroyed by a wall of water in Iwaki， Fukushima. Picture: AP
Houses continue to burn into the night at Natori， Miyagi. Picture: AP
6.07pm In this picture reporters at the Associated Press Tokyo Bureau in Tokyo take shelter under a table as the earthquake strikes. Picture: AP.
I couldve sworn I didnt set my alarm to earthquake last night – Joel Porter， based in Sendai， about 130km west of a quake epicentre.
See pictures of quake impact here.
Live NHK World feed.
hit Hawaii have been thankfully small. Waves were measured at 48cm at Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai， according to officials at an emergency centre in Honolulu. "Its not going to be a major damaging event， said Gerard Fryer with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre as the surge began to hit， although he added there might be scattered damage.
The earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma， Japan. Picture: AP
， said its critical to cool the reactor core to avoid a meltdown that would result in "a large release of radiation".
. The Jakarta Globe reported the tsunami also destroyed a number of homes and a bridge in Tobati village on a separate island in Youte bay.
9.50pm Authorities have said the death toll from the quake has risen to at least 32 people. The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks， most of them of more than magnitude 6.0.
10.00pm Japanese authorities say
WIRE: RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / HO / NHK" – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS A screen grab taken from news footage by Japanese public broadcaster NHK on March 11， 2011 shows the refinery plant on fire in Ichihara in Chiba prefecture. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan， unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. JAPAN OUT AFP PHOTO / HO / NHK
12.31am Tokyos Narita airport has partially resumed flights. Officials from the airport said some departing flights were now taking off from the airport， but that it was not accepting arrivals. Around 10，000 people were stranded at Narita， and 1100 at Sendai airport， which saw its runways submerged by sweeping black floodwaters.
This dramatic picture shows the tsunami as it hits Natori， Miyagi. Picture: AP / Kyodo News
Pressure of the reactor container is rising as its cooling system became dysfunctional due to a blackout and power generator breakdown. This has raised concern about possible damage to the container.
Ships blaze in the Bay of Kesennuma in Kesennuma. Picture: AP
WIRE: TOPSHOTS A pedestrian road has collapsed in the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Urayasu city， Chiba prefecture on March 11， 2011. The earthquake shook Japan， unleashing powerful tsunamis that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA
A worker trapped in a crane console of the exhaust stack has been brought to the ground and confirmed dead.
Uranium fuel may be melting at the reactor. The Japanese Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says two radioactive substances cesium and radioactive iodine have been detected at the plant， indicating that some of the containers of uranium fuel may have started melting. (NHK)
The death toll has yet to include the 200-300 dead bodies which were (reportedly) found on the beach of Sendai.
An earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma， Miyagi prefecture， Japan， Friday March 11， 2011 / AP
Things were lling off the shelves . . . the microwave was centimetres away from toppling off. The TV stand， holding a 32-inch TV， wheeled itself a couple of metres across the floor – Maki Miyaguchi， an Australian copy editor with Kyodo News， Tokyo
5.14am Scientists said the earthquake was nearly 8，eastern ontaPublic health inspector 000 times stronger than one that devastated the city of Christchurch in New Zealand last month.
9am A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake which hit Japans mountainous Niigata prefecture， northwest of Tokyo， at 4am on Saturday (6am AEDT) caused landslides and avalanches and destroyed some wooden houses. Kyodo News said there were no immediate reports of casualties and no fresh tsunami alert was issued. It was followed by an almost equally strong quake in the same area half an hour later.
Chief cabinet secretary Yukio Edano says the nuclear power plant in Fukushima developed a mechanical ilure in the system needed to cool the reactor after it was shut down in Fridays earthquake.
of two trains and a ship with over 100 passengers that were swept away by the tsunami.
This shows some of the metal containers of uranium fuel may have started melting. The substances are produced by fuel fission.
Sunday March 13， 12.13am About 10，000 people are unaccounted for in the Japanese port town of Minamisanriku in quake-hit Miyagi prefecture， Japanese public broadcaster NHK reports. (AFP)
WIRE: residents check the damaged done on a road a house in Sukagawa city， Fukushima prefecture， in northern Japan on March 11， 2011. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan， unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / FUKUSHIMA MINPO via JIJI PRESS
6.11pm
6.09pm The Japanese Government has expanded the evacuation area around a nuclear power plant in the Fukushima Prefecture because of a radiation leak. It increased the radius to 10km from 3km earlier.
no reports of local damage or casualties. Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology director Renato Solidum told a news conference the waves ranged from 30cm to one metre.
4.18am Kyodo news agency now puts the
8.43pm Acting Prime Minister Wayne Swan says Australia stands ready to assist Japan.
officials have said 1800 homes in Fukushima prefecture have been destroyed， the BBC reported.
"All the functions to keep cooling water levels in No. 3 reactor have iled at the Fukushima No. 1 plant，" a spokesman for the operator said.
The quake rattled skyscrapers in Tokyo further south， where the streets around the main train station were packed with commuters stranded after buses and trains were halted.
Houses are in flame while the Natori river is flooded over the surrounding area in Natori city. Picture: AP
It was a bit surreal. The chairs and the floor started moving and swaying. I wasnt really sure what was going on. Then the building started swaying and I realised it was an earthquake. Some ceiling panels fell down.
the quake-hit nuclear plant have been exposed to radiation. They were randomly chosen for examination from 90 patients moved from a hospital in the town of Futaba-machi.
8.38pm The pictures below show the scale of the damage to stricken cities following the earthquake and tsunami.
Sunday March 13， 1.46pm Stories of the ordeal from Australians arriving back home in Sydney. This from Jennifer Jones:
10.36pm More tragic images from disaster-stricken Japan.
pledged their support and offered aid to Japan in the wake of the largest quake to ever hit the country.
12.04pm The Japanese Government is currently holding an emergency meeting on the subject of the Fukushima nuclear plants，
Part of houses swallowed by tsunami burn in Sendai， Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
The team will be made up of firefighter rescue specialists， supported by two structural engineers， eight paramedics， two doctors， and a police specialist.
WIRE: Vessels burn at the Bay of Kesennuma in Kesennuma， northeastern Japan， Saturday， March 12， 2011， one day after an 8.9-magnitude quake and the tsunami it spawned hit the countrys northeastern coast. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) MANDATORY CREDIT， NO LICENSING ALLOWED IN CHINA， HONG KONG， JAPAN， SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE
11.31pm Some 2，000 residents living near Japans Fukushima nuclear plant have been urged to evacuate.
The graphic below shows the quake as a star and the estimated time the tsunami will take to hit surrounding Pacific regions.
7:58am The towering wall of water generated by Japans 8.9-magnitude earthquake – the seventh biggest in history – pulverised the countrys northeastern city of Sendai， where police reportedly said that 200-300 bodies had been found on the coast. Japaeastern heal Japan earthquake: As it happenedns National Police Agency said 137 people had been confirmed dead and 531 missing， with 627 others injured in the tremor， not including the bodies reportedly found on the Sendai coast.
6:29am Tsunami waves have hit Mexico， according to AFP. Initial waves were half-a-metre high but subsequent waves could be as high as two metres， the Scientific Research Centre in the town of Enseada said.
"Our biggest concern is the Asia and Pacific region， where developing countries are r more vulnerable to this type of unfolding disaster. The tsunami is a major threat，" Paul Conneally， spokesman for the Federation， the worlds biggest disaster relief network， told Reuters in Geneva.
He said the measure was a precaution and there was no radiation leak at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant. He said the cility was not in immediate danger.
(First Lady) Michelle (Obama) and I send our deepest condolences to the people of Japan， particularly those who have lost loved ones in the earthquake and tsunamis. The United States stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial.
WIRE: Flames rise from houses and debris half submerged in tsunami in Sendai， Miyagi Prefecture (state) after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
10.09pm Radiation is reportedly leaking from the nuclear plant as engineers scramble to determine if the cility has gone in meltdown. (Sky News)
9.12pm The Bureau of Meteorology says there is no tsunami threat for Australia. The latest Bureau of Meteorology update says Australias mainland， islands and territories are safe.
6.35pm First quake death reported
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12.55pm Rescue teams are frantically searching for people missing following the earthquake and tsunami. Here an elderly lady is rescued from debris in Natori， Miyagi. Photo: AP
A man walks past burning rubble in Iwaki city， Fukushima. Picture: AP
The value of radioactive material at the Fukushima No. 1 plant is increasing according to a monitoring car outside the plant.
8:10am If youre trying to contact someone in Japan or have information that could help those looking for loved ones，
Fox News is reporting that tsunami waves have hit Hawaii beaches and the US western coast.No reports of major damage， but scientists have warned that the first tsunami waves are not always the strongest.
webcam you can access here.
1.40pm As reports emerge of people calling for help， trapped under rubble， search-and-rescue expert Gillian Dacey assesses their chances of survivor.
5.10pm More than 215，000 people were in emergency shelters in eastern and northern Japan today， a day after a massive quake and tsunami struck the country， the National Police Agency said.
12.20pm Japans quake caused the day to become a bit shorter. NASA geophysicist Richard Gross calculated that Earths rotation sped up by 1.6 microseconds， according to an Al Jazeera report，which citedAP.
7:36am The final death toll from the devastating earthquake and tsunami is likely to pass 1000， according to Japans news agency Kyodo News.
A man shelters beneath a desk in Sendai， Miyagi Prefect. Picture: AFP
7:15am New Zealand has upgraded its tsunami warning， saying waves of more than one metreare nowexpected following the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan.
If you are concerned about Australians in Japan you should in the first instance try to contact them directly. If this is unsuccessful， you can contact the Department of Foreign Afirs and Trade 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 (from overseas) or 1300 555 135 (within Australia).
12.08pm Some good news: People who were trapped inside a school in Sendai have been rescued. Photo: AP
8.13pm Philippine officials are ordering an evacuation of coastal communities along the countrys eastern seaboard in expectation of a tsunami. The Philippine Volcanology and Seismology Institute director Renato Solidum says the first 1-metre high waves are expected to hit the northernmost Batanes islands by 5pm local time today.
8.48pm: Sky News has reported residents in the area have been told to stay indoors， not drink tap water and to cover their ces with wet towels or masks.
6.02pm DFAT said while fears of a large-scale tsunami impact in the Pacific had eased there were unsubstantiated reports of a small number of casualties in Papua New Guinea.
I was saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake which has struck north east Japan today. Prince Philip joins me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to your majesty and the people of Japan. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the dreadful disaster.
10.40am Grim updates indicating appalling loss of life are emerging from along the hard-hit east coast of northern Honshu island， where the monster waves destroyed more than 3000 homes on Friday， AFP reports.
WIRE: An earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma， Miyagi prefecture (state)， Japan， Friday March 11， 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japans eastern coasts. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun， Keiichi Nakane) JAPAN OUT， CREDIT MANDATORY
WIRE: Smoke rises over an area in flood in Sendai， northern Japan， Saturday， March 12， 2011. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant， quake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland， while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye)
2.02am The official Kyodo news agency is reporting that about 88，000 people are missing. The pictures below show the awful scale of the earthquakes impact.
The latest images from Japan in the wake of the Earthquake and Tsunami that hit the country on March 11， 2011
At the latitude of this earthquake， the Pacific plate moves approximately westwards with respect to the North America plate at a velocity of 83 mm/yr. The Pacific plate thrusts underneath Japan at the Japan Trench， and dips to the west beneath Eurasia. The location， depth， and focal mechanism of the March 11 earthquake are consistent with the event having occurred as thrust ulting associated with subduction along this plate boundary.
12.49am Prime Minister Julia Gillard has expressed her condolences to the people of Japan.
The task ahead for the Japanese people and， I believe， the global community in the hours， the days， the weeks ahead cannot be underestimated. At times like these we are not just Australians， or Japanese or citizens of any one country， we are citizens of the world.
Buildings burn in Yamada town， Iwate prefecture， after Japans biggest recorded earthquake hit， March 11， 2011 / AP
Smoke billows from a residential area in Sendai， northern Japan， one of the hardest hit regions. Picture: AP
9.20am A tsunami has swept at least five people watching the waves out to sea and ripped docks out of harbours in California， spreading the destruction of a devastating Japanese earthquake to the shores of the United States.
first waves are expected to hit about 1.00am (AEDT). Waves about half a metre high hit Wake Island in the Northern Pacific， meaning the biggest waves to hit Hawaii could reach near 2 metres， said Gerard Fryer， a geophysicist for the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre. Residents in coastal areas across the Pacific from Hawaii to Guam were ordered to evacuate to shelters and higher ground. In Hawaiis tourist district of Waikiki， visitors were being moved to higher floors of their hotels.
AN 8.9-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan. Latest updates will be posted by news.com.au as they come to hand.
10.36pm New Zealand has now issued its own tsunami warning and warns people to stay clear of beaches.
"We are calling on Australians everywhere to donate to our appeal so that we can meet the needs of the most vulnerable children and their milies.
4.30am US President Barack Obama has offered Japan his "deepest condolences， especially to the victims and their milies. I offered our Japanese friends whatever help is needed". He said that the US already had an aircraft carrier stationed in Japan and that another was on its way. "We also have a ship en route to the Marianas Islands to assist as needed. The defence department is working to account for all our military personnel in Japan. US embassy personnel in Japan have moved to an off-site location， and the state department is working to account for and assist any and all American citizens who are in the country."
10.56am The Tokyo Electric Power company has released a press release detailing the impact on power supply due to the earthquake.
6:50am The Japanese government has declared an atomic emergency and told thousands of residents living near a nuclear plant in Fukushima to evacuate， warning a small amount of radiation could be released， AFP reports.
So why the differing opinion on whether the reactor has really exploded or not? Heres an interesting bit of analysis to explain.
five Australian MPs are trapped on a bullet train that ground to a halt following the quake.
10.38pm Australia will look to
7.55am The IAEA says it has been told by Japan that 110，000 people have been evacuated from around the Fukushima number 1 nuclear power plant. A further 30，000 people have been evacuated from Fukushima Number 2.
CLICK HERE FOR LATEST COVERAGE OF THE DISASTER
ynetnews.com)
provide self-contained field hospitals and disaster victim identification teams to Japan， Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd says.
at least 45 Australians known to be in the region hardest hit by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.
12.47pm Some confirmation of nuclear meltdown from the Japanese Government. The Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says the explosion at the reactor could only be caused by a meltdown of the reactor core. This is of course at odds with Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano who discounted the possibility of a significant leak of radioactive material from the accident saying: "The walls of the building containing the reactor were destroyed， meaning that the metal container encasing the reactor did not explode."
12.36am The first tsunami waves have hit Hawaii. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre says Kauai was the first island hit. Officials predicted Hawaii would experience waves up to two metres.
5.26pm Parts of the reactors nuclear fuel rods were briefly exposed to the air after cooling water levels dropped through evaporation， and a fire engine was pumping water into the reactor， Jiji news agency said. Kyodo News reported that
Four workers have been injured in an explosion at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear power plant in Japan.
4.47am Thereis amazing footage onYoutube of buildings swaying. View videos
Japans quake-hit nuclear power plant Fukushima No.1， about 250km northeast of Tokyo， "may be experiencing nuclear meltdown，" Kyodo News reported， citing the nations Nuclear Safety Commission.
Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture. Picture: AP
9.56pm Serious damage to the stricken reactor container is unlikely despite the force of the explosion， Japans Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency says. (AFP)
The tsunami has arrived now and the ocean is surging as though it were between high tide and low tide every 30 minutes instead of the usual six hours.
Friday March 11， 5:13pm Russia， Taiwan， Phillipines and Hawaii on tsunami watch after a reported 7.9-magnitude earthquake strikes off Japans northeastern coast.
Barack Obama has offered his condolences to the people of Japan and said his country stood ready to help them after the massive earthquake and tsunami.
11.44am Japans trade ministry hasannouncedthat Fukushimas plant operator Tepco is "considering releasing pressure" at the FukushimaNo 2 (Daini) nuclear plant， according to the Guardian.co.uk. The Government has also just ordered the evacuation of a three kilometre radius around the plant.
Roiling water swept away homes， highways and the cars driving on them as waves 10 metres high hit the countrys northeastern Pacific coast after the magnitude 8.9 quake， the biggest in nearly a century and a half.
Residents walk through the rubles of residents collapsed by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki. Picture: AP
3.06pm The Japanese National Police Agency says more than 215，000 people were in emergency shelters in eastern and northern Japan.
5.16am Despite earlier appearing to have been contained authorities are
"The situation has become desperate enough that they apparently dont have the capability to deliver fresh water or plain water to cool the reactor and stabilise it， and now， in an act of desperation， are having to resort to diverting and using sea water." – Robert Alvarez， Institute for Policy Studies.
7.03pm An explosion was heard today from a quake-hit Japanese nuclear plant and smoke was seen billowing from it， as several workers were injured and radioactivity rose 20-fold outside， reports said. (AFP) The explosion was NOT at the reactor， says Japan Nuclear Safety Agency
The federal Liberal member for Fadden， Stuart Robert said he and four other MPs were on the train when the earthquake hit. Mr Robert said he was with Labor MPs Stephen Jones and Amanda Rishworth， Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash and Victorian Labor MP Natalie Hutchins.
10.21am US nuclear experts warn that pumping sea water to cool a quake-hit Japanese nuclear reactor is an "act of desperation" that may foreshadow a Chernobyl-like disaster， AFP reports.
9.09am A sign of SOS is placed on the grounds of a school in Minamisanriku. Ten thousand people are believed to have been swept to the death by the tsunami in this one town alone. Photo: AFP
A tsumani triggered by a powerful earthquake sweeps its way into Sendai airport in northern Japan. AP Photo/Kyodo News
4.32pm The Japanese Government has declared a nuclear emergency.
here.
I think the enormous fears that that were there hours ago， for some of us hours ago， has diminished greatly， which is quite a relief for all of us.
A truck remains stranded on a road damaged by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki city. Picture: AP
The world is shocked and saddened by the images which we saw this morning. On behalf of the United Nations， I want to express my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people and government， and most especially to those who have lost mily or friends in the earthquake or subsequent tsunami.
WIRE: Buildings are damaged by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Iwaki， Fukushima prefecture (state)， Japan， Friday， March 11， 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japans eastern coasts. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) MANDATORY CREDIT， NO LICENSING ALLOWED IN CHINA， HONG KONG， JAPAN， SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE
Boats adrift in Santa Cruz; loose from damaged piers. Chopper 5 shows boats floating under overpasses， crashing into other boats on dock.
The picture below shows the tsumani sweeping its way into Sendai airport. Picture: AP / Kyodo News
WIRE: In this video image taken from Japans NHK TV， ships and boats are washed ashore in Hachinohe， Aomori Prefectur， Japan Friday March 11， 2011 following a masive earth quake. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake slammed Japans northeastern coast Friday， unleashing a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that swept boats， cars， buildings and tons of debris miles inland. Fires triggered by the quake burned out of control up and down the coast. (AP PHOTO/NHK TV) MANDATORY CREDIT， JAPAN OUT， TV OUT， NO SALES， EDITORIAL USE ONLY
WIRE: Houses are in flame while the Natori river is flooded over the surrounding area by tsunami tidal waves in Natori city， Miyagi Prefecture， northern Japan， March 11， 2011， after strong earthquakes hit the area. (AP Photo/Yasushi Kanno， The Yomiuri Shimbun) JAPAN OUT， CREDIT MANDATORY
WIRE: In this photo released by Nexco East Japan， a worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito， Ibaraki Prefecture， after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in Japan slammed its eastern coast Friday， March 11， 2011. (AP Photo/Nexco East Japan via kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， NO SALES
11.22pm More detail from The Associated Press on the state of emergency issued at a nuclear plant after its cooling system iled:
AN 8.9-magnitude earthquake has struck Japan. Latest updates will be posted by news.com.au as they come to hand.
They have also been extended to Australia， New Zealand， Hawaii， Guam， the Philippines， the Marshall Islands， Indonesia， Papua New Guinea， Nauru and Micronesia.
WIRE: RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – MANDATORY CREDIT " AFP PHOTO / HO / NHK" – NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS – DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS A screen grab taken from news footage by Japanese public broadcaster NHK on March 11， 2011 shows the power plant on fire in Ishihara. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan， unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. JAPAN OUT AFP PHOTO / HO / NHK
WIRE: Residents walk through the rubles of residents collapsed by a powerful earthquake in Iwaki， Fukushima prefecture (state)， Japan， Friday， March 11， 2011. The largest earthquake in Japans recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT， MANDATORY CREDIT， FOR COMMERCIAL USE ONLY IN NORTH AMERICA
7.39pm Tsunami warnings have been issued for Russia， the Philippines and the Mariana Islands， according to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
5.08pm New Zealands tsunami warning has been cancelled. A Civil Defence spokesmantold NZPAthat， according to scientific advice， no further tsunami threat existed for New Zealand coastlines. "Nonetheless， minor fluctuations in sea level may continue for up to 48 hours and caution is required on beaches and in marine environments，" the spokesman said.
Sayaka Umezawa， a 22-year-old college student， was visiting the port town of Hakodate， in northeast Japan，when the 8.9-magnitude quakehit. She told AFP abouther terrifying experience:
7.59am Unconfirmed reports just in that the Fukushima Number 3 plants cooling system is not working.
4.25pm Toll update … At least 613 people have been confirmed killed in the massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan – but the Government voiced fears that more than 1000 had died. Prime Minister Naoto Kans right-hand man and top spokesman， Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano， said "it is believed that more than 1000 people have lost their lives".
2.40pm NSW will send a 76-person specialist urban search and rescue team to Japan following the countrys devastating earthquake today.
11.15am Julia Gillard has warned Australians living near the Fukushima reactor to stay away and listen to authorities.
8.37pm Footage on Japanese TV shows that the walls of one building have crumbled， leaving only a skeletal metal frame standing. Puffs of smoke are seen spewing out of the plant. (AP) A government spokesperson has asked people to quickly evacuate to a 10 kilometre radius.
1.46am UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his condolences to the Japanese people. He said the UN will do "all it can to mobilise humanitarian assistance".
2.25am Residents in coastal parts of northern California have evacuated their homes in anticipation of an expected tsunami. Authorities warned waves could reach as high as two metres.
"We are now trying to analyze what is behind the explosion. We ask everyone to take action to secure safety." – Government spokesman Yukio Edano.
interactive map with video for selected regions showing the horrific impact of the quake and tsunami.
10.50pm Hawaii has ordered the evacuation of all coastal areas as the threat of a tsunami nears. Main airports have been shut down as a precaution and the US Navy has ordered warships in Pearl Harbor to remain in port to support rescue missions.
Smoke rises over an area in flood in Sendai， the area in northern Japan which is all but destroyed. Picture: AP
7.46pm From Agence-France Presse:
Australia is ready to throw anything as is required (to help in this emergency) … We will throw everything at it.
11.05am The death toll from the catastrophic earthquake in Japan has reached 202 in nine prefectures， including Tokyo， with the toll likely to rise to well over 1000， Kyodo News is reporting， citing the countrys National Police Agency and the Defense Ministry.
7.45am Tokyo Disneyland is going to close for 10 days for safety checks following the earthquake.
"Were putting a big burden on their shoulders … (but) its what theyre trained to do， its what they want to do，" Ms Gillard says.
4.08pm Jetstar passengers stranded at Guam International Airport are back en route to Tokyo after their flights were diverted to avoid Japans devastating earthquake.
Also， the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii widened its warning to include most of the Pacific Ocean region.
Its kind of crazy because restaurants and convenience stores have remained open despite there being no power. In the background you can hear sirens. People are still going to restaurants and getting food at convenience stores…
A few key points:
The tsunami， black with soil and thick with debris， some of it ablaze， submerged rmland near the coastal city of Sendai， and television images showed upended cars bobbing up and down in the water. Boats were floating in an inland sea.
Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard made an historic speech to a joint sitting of the US Congress to mark the 60th anniversary of the AN…
8:39am Around 11，000 Australians are believed to be in Japan， with 41 registered in affected areas， according to Sky News.
5.12pm Japan mobilised 50，000 military and other rescue personnel today to spearhead a Herculean rescue and recovery effort， a day after being hit by its most devastating quake and tsunami on record.
1.43pm A strong 6.8-magnitude aftershock has struck off the east coast of Japan， US seismologists said， less than 24 hours after a massive earthquake created a powerful and destructive tsunami. AFP reports the aftershock， which the US Geological Survey said hit at a depth of just 24 kilometres， was centred 174km east-southeast of the city of Sendai， the scene of huge devastation when a 10-metre tsunami struck on Friday.
WIRE: Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11， 2011 after a massive earthquake rocked Japan. massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan on March 11， unleashing a monster 10-metre high tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns. AFP PHOTO / JIJI PRESS
5.43pm Via