8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s northeastern Honshu Island Friday

TOKYO, March 11 (Xinhua) — A 8.8 magnitude earthquake hit Japan’s northeastern Honshu Island Friday, and a six-meter tsunami warning was issued.

Japan Meteorological Agency said earlier that the quake was measured at 7.9 magnitude but the U.S. Geological Survey upgraded later the quake to magnitude 8.8.

The quake struck at 2:46 p.m. (05:46 GMT) is felt in almost all areas in Japan’s pacific coast, including Tokyo and Osaka. The powerful quake struck 382 kilometer northeast of Tokyo with depth of 10 kilometers under the seabed.

Numerous people reported injured and Black smoke was seen rising from building in Tokyo’s Odaiba waterfront area, and Major blackout throughout Yamagata Prefecture was reported, Kyodo news agency quoted police as reporting.

Damage from tsunami reported in Kamaishi, Iwate Prefecture, TV footage shows. A nuclear plant on the Pacific coast in Miyagi Prefecture has been automatically shut down Friday following the quake.

Japan has issued a six-meter tsunami warning and the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas.

A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, China’s Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and U.S. state of Hawaii. (Xinhua)