Japan 8.9 earthquake triggers massiveTsunami Alert

 At 2.46 pm Japan time, an earthquake measuring 8.9 on the Richter scale struck at a depth of 24.4 km below the ocean's surface, 130 km (80 miles) from the coastal city of Honshu and 373 km (231 miles) from Tokyo 

-- The resulting tsunami, with waves in excess of 10 meters in height, struck the port of Sendai and devastated a large part of North East Japan 

-- This is reported to be the worst earthquake in 140 years
 

-- All public transport, rail, air, port and mobile services were shut down. Schools are providing shelter to stranded commuters

-- Nuclear power emergency declared. Five plants shut down. A fire broke out at Oganawa nuclear plant in NE Japan and has since been extinguished

-- The Yen dropped, Nikkei closed at a five-week low and all other world markets are trading lower than usual.

-- Honda has suspended operations at its assembly plant in Saitama, near Tokyo

-- As many as 80 buildings, many of them in Tokyo, burst into flames as a result of the quake

-- 4 million households have been deprived of electricity

-- Tsunami alert along the Pacific Coast; Hawaii experiences a 4.9 magnitude quake; Taiwan, Russia, Chile still on high alert

--Hawaii, Russia and Taiwan have evacuated people from the danger areas

--US, Britain and India have offered to help the Japanese

government. The Indian embassy has also assured that 25,000 Indians in Japan are safe

--The official toll stands at 59; true figures are expected only once communications are restored

 
 
To see more of Whats on your mind click here