Massive quake, tsunami wreak havoc in Japan

The island nation was hit by an 8.9 earthquake, the biggest on record for the country, off its northeastern coast on Friday at 2.46 pm local time. A tsunami, triggered by the quake, had waves 10 metre high and washed away buildings, cars and tons of debris miles inland. Though the exact numbers are not known yet, it is feared that the death toll could be huge. Photos: AP

Thousands of stranded people roamed the streets of Tokyo or holed up in offices and train stations as the capital came to a standstill on Friday. Photo shows stranded shoppers sitting on the floor of a department store in Yokohama, near Tokyo. Photo: AP

Oarai town is submerged after a tsunami in Ibaraki Prefecture. Highways to the worst-hit coastal areas were severely damaged and communications, including telephone lines, were snapped. Photo: AP

Hotel employees squat down in horror at a hotel's entrance in Tokyo. Photo: AP

Parts of a beer factory's facilities are collapsed as the employees gather on the rooftops in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Photo: AP

Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Japan’s nuclear safety agency has ordered a state of emergency at a Fukushima plant and asked thousands of residents to evacuate. Photo: AP

Published - March 11, 2011 05:33 pm IST