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

Tarmac, parking lot and surrounding areas are covered with mud and debris carried by tsunami at Sendai Airport in Miyagi Prefecture. A magnitude-8.9 earthquake hit northeastern Japan, triggering a tsunami as high as 10 metres Photo: AP

The epicenter of the quake is reported to be off the Oshika Peninsula, east coast of Tohoku, at 2:46 p.m. local time (11.16 a.m. IST) at a depth of 24.4 km. Here, parts of houses swallowed by tsunami burn in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture. Photo: AP

The earthquake is the largest to hit Japan in recorded history, and the seventh largest in the world since records began. Photo shows trucks sitting overturned and boats cast on a pier after tsunami waters ebbed away in a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture. Photo: AP

Giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture. Nuclear power stations in Miyagi and Fukushima Prefectures shut down operations automatically after the quake. Photo: AP

People watch the aftermath of tsunami tidal waves covering a port at Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture. Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the quake caused “major damage” in northeastern Japan, but dismissed threats to nuclear power facilities in the area. Photo: AP

Residents in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture walk through the rubble caused by the earthquake. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has also been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and Hawaii. Photo: AP

In this video image taken from Japan's NHK TV, water surrounds the airport building at Sendai Airport, Miyagi Prefecture. More than 100 people were injured and many were missing, including a number of children who were sucked into the sea, NHK reported. Photo: AP

Video image taken from Japan's NHK TV shows water flooding the runway as airplanes are seen parked, background, near the airport building at Sendai Airport, Miyagi Prefecture. Photo: AP

Passengers await information at Tokyo's Shinagawa station. Japanese train service, including bullet trains, was suspended in northeastern and central Japan, also in the Tokyo area. Photo: AP

A mother and child crouch on a street in quake-hit Tokyo. Hundreds of people were evacuated from Shinjuku station, the world’s busiest, to a nearby park. Tokyo’s main airport has been closed. Photo: AP

Iwaki in Fukushima Prefecture is flooded by tsunami after the earthquake hits Japan. A tsunami 7 metres high hit the city of Soma in Fukushima, triggering a landslide there. Photo: AP

This image from NHK TV footage shows vehicles being washed away by tsunami in a coastal area in eastern Japan. The Meteorological Agency said there were more aftershocks than usual, including three of more than magnitude 7. Photo: AP