DFAT hotline for those concerned about family and friends in Japan - 1300 555 135
North Eastern Japan has been hit by a massive earthquake and tsunami Friday afternoon.
The 8.9 magnitude earthquake was recorded 125km off the east coast and 9.6km below sea level. Said to be the the biggest quake to hit Japan in 140 years, it set buildings alight and caused widespread destruction in Tokyo, 380km away from the epicenter.
Recorded as Fifth biggest earthquake since 1900, more than 50 aftershocks have continued to shake the country with the strongest recorded as 6.2 beneath western Honshu island.
LIVE VIDEO: Watch live streaming video from America's CNN covering the disaster in Japan
LIVE VIDEO: Watch live streaming video from Japanese television
The main quake triggered a 10-meter-high Tsunami engulfing the northern port of Sendi about 170kms north of Tokyo and since, there have been rolling tsunami waves hitting the coast and world spread Tsunami alerts.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre has issued tsunami warnings as far away as Indonesia, Hawaii and the Phillipines.
The affected location is shown in the map below.
6:00PM EST. Please be aware that the Bureau Of Meterology has NOT released a Tsunami Warning. Reports are incorrect.
7:05PM AEST. The latest warning from The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre can be found here. Australia is included in the list of countries on tsunami alert but local authorities do not believe there is a threat.
9:30AM AEST 12th March. Nuclear emergence declared for Japan with 6,000 evacuated from around nuclear power plant - Radio active levels 1000X above normal levels. Hawaii drops evacuation orders. Tsunami alerts still stands for the Central Pacific Basin. Minor warnings issued for New Zealand with 1 meter waves. Death Toll stands at 350 death toll, but expected to reach the thousands. Fears for 40 Australian's that were living in the affected area.
1:00PM AEST 12th March. More than 400 lives have been lost with whole villages been washed away and warnings remain in place as after shocks continue.
- Fears are held for safety of Australian's living in the community of Sendai - the largest hit by the quake and tsunami. The town is a popular location for Aussie English teachers. 54 Aussies are registered as living there.
- Australian emergency workers and sniffer dogs will be sent to Japan to asset with reuse and recovery operations.
- Japanese authorities are desperately monitoring radian levels at the Fukushima nuclear power plant after suffering major damage due to the earthquake. Radiation levels are still 1000x above the safe level. A Total of 45,000 people live within a 10km radius of the plant with evacuation still underway.
More details as they come to hand.
VIDEO: Japan Earthquake: High-rise sway as quake hits
VIDEO: Japan Earthquake: Shoppers capture quake Damage
VIDEO: Japan Earthquake: Inside a shaking house hit by quake
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