Tsunami Hits Japan after Massive Quake

A powerful tsunami triggered by the largest earthquake in Japan’s recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people.

A massive earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale struck Japan on Friday.

Kyodo news agency said at least 15 people were killed while the government has confirmed only five deaths so far.

State-run NHK footage shows large waves of tsunami slamming the coastal areas of the country, sweeping cars and houses and destroying farmlands, and carrying them out to sea

The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years slammed the east coast of Japan’s main Honshu Island at 2:45 pm (0545 GMT), shook buildings in Tokyo violently.

The meteorological agency of Japan had issued a tsunami warning in wide areas of the eastern coast of the country.

The region was also hit by several other strong earthquakes measuring 6 or above on the Richter scale since Wednesday morning, according to the center.

Nuclear power stations on the Pacific coast in Japan’s Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures on Friday shut down operations automatically after a magnitude-8.9 earthquake hit off the country’s north-east coast, according to Kyodo News agency.

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