Tremor de 8.9 com tsunami arrasam região norte do Japão

A magnitude 8.9 earthquake has rattled Japan, causing a 13-foot tsunami that damaged buildings and washed away homes along the northeastern coast, Friday afternoon.

Thousands brace for shockwaves as a veja o  vídeo ABC NEws tsunami flood towns after a 8.9 earthquake.The quake hit at 2:46 p.m. local time as several powerful aftershocks followed including a 7.4 quake.It was originally measured at 7.9 by Japan's meteorological agency but was later upgraded to 8.9.Aftershocks continued to rock the region as images on Japanese television showed cars and boats being swept away by tsunami waters.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said during an emergency news conference. "Some of the nuclear power plant in the region have automatically shut down, but there as no leakage of radioactive materials to the environment."
Several areas were submerged in water and the Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city in Chiba prefecture was engulfed by flames after a fire broke out.
Officials issued a state of emergency at a nuke plant following a cooling system failure.
In Tokyo, building shook and trains were halted during the middle of the workday.
At least 10 fires have been reported in Tokyo and Tokyo Disneyland's parking lot has been flooded.
Japanese officials confirm at least 17 people are dead.