Earthquake Strikes Japan This Afternoon

This afternoon, a devastating earthquake hit Japan. The following are the first (few) paragraphs of news reports from different media sources on this topic. You might like to read and compare them.

1. CNN

Widespread destruction from Japan earthquake, tsunamis

Tokyo (CNN) -- The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years unleashed walls of water Friday that swept across rice fields, engulfing towns, dragging houses onto highways and tossing cars and boats like toys, apparently killing hundreds and forcing the evaucations of tens of thousands.

Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the "enormously powerful" earthquake has caused "tremendous damage over a wide area."

The quake, which struck at 2:46 pm local time, sparked fires in at least 80 locations, Japan's Kyodo News Service reported, and prompted the U.S. National Weather Service to issue tsunami warnings for at least 50 countries and territories.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1

 

2. The New York Times

Huge Quake and Tsunami Hit Japan

TOKYO — An earthquake of 8.9. magnitude struck off the coast of Japan on Friday, the strongest ever recorded in the country. The quake churned up a devastating tsunami that swept over cities and farmland in the northern part of the country and threatened coastal areas throughout the Pacific and as far away the west coast of the United States and South America.Fragmentary early reports of the toll indicate that hundreds of people have been killed. Japanese police officials told the Associated Press that 200 to 300 bodies were found in Sendai, a port city in the northeastern part of the country and the closest main city to the epicenter.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/world/asia/12japan.html?_r=1&hp

3. BBC

Tsunami hits Japan after massive quake

The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since records began has struck the country's north-east and triggered a devastating tsunami.

Japanese TV showed cars, ships and buildings swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude quake.

A state of emergency has been declared at a nuclear power plant but officials said there were no radiation leaks.

At least 60 people have been killed by the quake, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo.

The death toll is expected to rise significantly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598

4. The USA Today

8.9 magnitude quake triggers deadly tsunami in Japan

TOKYO (AP) — A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday. Japanese police say 200 to 300 bodies have been found in a northeastern coastal area.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-03-11-Japan-quake_N.htm

5. Reuters

Huge tsunami kills hundreds in Japan, sweeps across Pacific

(Reuters) - The biggest earthquake on record to hit Japan rocked the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-meter tsunami that killed hundreds of people and swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships and cars.

The Red Cross in Geneva said the wall of water was higher than some Pacific islands and a tsunami warning was issued for almost the entire Pacific basin, although alerts were lifted for some countries, including Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/11/us-japan-quake-idUSTRE72A0SS20110311

Let's pray for Japan.