Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Devastation

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit the eastern coast of Japan and caused a massive Tsunami has had devastating effects on the area. It was the strongest quake to hit Japan in almost 1,200 years. The 23-foot Tsunami was followed for hours by more than 50 aftershocks, many of them being more than a 6 magnitude. Widespread fires have been burning out of control.

The total death toll has not yet been determined. In the coastal city of Sendai, police say 200-300 bodies have been found with 547 missing. Police also report that approximately 800 people were injured.

According to Japan's coast guard, 80 dock workers were on a ship that was swept away from a shipyard in Miyagi. A search is underway for those dock workers.

The core of a nuclear power plant in the city of Onahama remained hot after shutdown and although it was not leaking radiation, the government ordered thousand of residents near this nuclear plant to move back at least 3 km from it. Two other nuclear power plants have had similar problems, but with no radiation leak reported at either of them.

Areas have been put on alert in the Pacific including South America, Canada, Alaska, and the west coast of the United States.

Source:

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hTCtRxP_xkFQ2pfP3VmawSMJ4L5w?docId=9ab580866b31403993cced11f67c16b4

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/giant-quake-triggers-tsunami-devastation-in-japan/articleshow/7683382.cms