TOKYO - Japan was struck by a magnitude-8.eight earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, triggering a 13-foot (4-meter) tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast close to the epicenter.

In various places along Japan’s coast, Tv footage showed severe flooding, with dozens of cars, boats and also buildings being carried along by waters. A sizable ship swept away by the tsunami rammed straight into a breakwater in Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, according to footage on public broadcaster NHK.

Officials were attempting to assess achievable harm from the quake but had no immediate particulars.

The quake that struck two:46 p.m. was followed by a series of aftershocks, like a 7.4-magnitude one particular about 30 minutes later. The U.S. Geological Survey upgraded the strength of the very first quake to a magnitude eight.8.

The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the entire Pacific coast of Japan. National broadcaster NHK was warning these close to the coast to obtain to safer ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii stated a tsunami warning was in effect for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and also the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia and the U.S. state of Hawaii.

The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 kilometers), about 80 miles (125 kilometers) off the eastern coast, the agency mentioned. The region is 240 miles (380 kilometers) northeast of Tokyo.

In downtown Tokyo, big buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. Television footage showed a big developing on fire and bellowing smoke in the Odaiba district of Tokyo.

In central Tokyo, trains were stopped and passengers walked along the tracks to platforms.

Footage on NHK from their Sendai workplace showed employees stumbling about and books and papers crashing from desks.

Several quakes had hit the identical region in latest days, such as a 7.three magnitude a single on Wednesday.

Thirty minutes right after the quake, tall buildings had been still swaying in Tokyo and mobile mobile phone networks had been not working. Japan’s Coast Guard has setup task force and officials are standing by for emergency contingencies, Coast Guard official Yosuke Oi stated.

“I’m afraid we’ll soon uncover out about damages, given that the quake was so strong,” he said