World News
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Earthquake and tsunami hit Japan
A massive earthquake has hit the north east of Japan causing a powerful tsunami.
The Prime Minister of Japan, Naoto Kan, has said the country is having its most difficult time since World War II as it tackles the devastation of the earthquake, tsunami and a nuclear crisis.
He said there was a grave situation at the quake-hit Fukushima nuclear plant after an explosion at a reactor.
Japanese media says 1,596 are known to have died in the disaster but police warn that more than 10,000 people could have died in Miyagi region alone.
Huge numbers of survivors are staying in emergency shelters with many people not having water, heat and power.
The huge 8.9 magnitude earthquake hit Japan in Tokyo at 05.46 am on Friday morning.
The huge earthquake shook Japan, causing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.
Officials says that the waves from the tsunami were a high as 10m (33ft).
The earthquake destroyed Tokyo's Disneyland car park and caused severe fires in the surrounding area, including one at an oil refinery.
Aftershocks are still shaking Japan since the quake hit, including one tremour that was felt in Beijing: almost 1,500 miles away from the epicentre.
A UK rescue team is to start work in Ofunato on the east coast. The team includes specialists from fire brigades across the UK, including Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Hampshire, Kent, Lancashire, Lincolnshire, West Sussex, West Midlands, and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services. The 59 search and rescue experts, four medics and two sniffer dogs will join the search for live victims who may be trapped in rubble and debris.
This is thought to be the biggest earthquake ever to hit Japan.
What do you think? Leave a comment below to let us know!
Please note: All comments are moderated before they go live.
Offensive comments will not be published.
Did you like this? Why not give it a Thumbs Up!
Give this article a Thumbs Up! by logging in
to your account or registering here.
30 Comments
You must be logged in to your account to add a comment about this article.
Latest News
Top News
Editor's Choice
MORE NEWS
RESCUED DOLPHINS RELEASED BACK INTO THE WILD
NEW JERSEY INTRODUCES TEXTING FINE
MEET NORMAN, THE CYCLING DOG!
SAVE OUR BUTTERFLIES WEEK
PEDALLING POOCH BECOMES INTERNET SENSATION
DO TEENAGE BOOKS PROMOTE SWEARING?
FACEBOOK TO CHANGE AGE RULES?
NHS TO OPEN FIRST DANCE INJURY CLINIC
£80 FINE FOR MESSY DOG-WALKERS
BOY RESCUED FROM 270FT DROP
NEW WOODLAND TO BE ESTABLISHED IN DUMBARTON
OLYMPIC TORCHES AUCTIONED ON EBAY
minnieme (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 15:50
This is so upsetting! We were talking about this in RE at school today. I feel for the poor peole and children! It is so sad! :(
falcon123 (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 17:15
It must be terrible for everybody over there and anyone with friends and family over there
Tigergirl (Age 13) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 18:35
we were just watching a video on the indonesian tsunami on thursday, and then this happens! what a coincidence!
toto2000 (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 18:47
I heard it hit a Neclear station. I hope the people get rescued
sillyglue (Age 11) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 21:15
i feel very bad for Japan and all the other countries that are having tsunami
sneha (Age 12) wrote on Friday, 11 March 2011 @ 21:16
That is so sad!
tvnews (Age 10) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 08:14
I wacht it on the news some of the cars were smasht by the buildings and people got pulled under
alicianpig (Age 13) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 09:27
this is really sad we were talking about it in PSHE. I would be really worried if anybody I knew lived there.
KatCandy (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 09:50
I almost started crying when I heard about it! One of my friends moved to Tokyo there and I wonder if she's alright! D=
PeaceLove (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 11:19
One Word - Terrible! :(
homer342 (Age 13) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 11:27
My best friends has really good friends over there and one of them have lost their family :( rip to all the people died and i hope to all the people who have survived are ok and that there is no more earthquakes or tsunamis. :(
Moodle (Age 10) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 12:28
My big bro is worried about game creater Shingiro Mi Moto! Boys?
Pasta123 (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 14:13
Its so sad :(
Bennyx (Age 10) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 15:28
I'm devestated
loxy123 (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 15:30
this is soo sad i feel so sorry for the poor children and adults
Ejc (Age 10) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 15:40
y them it should have been a small island or something
Ellie-mo (Age 13) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 16:40
i feel for the people living out there at the moment, they r all soo brave!!
Darcety101 (Age 13) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 18:21
There has been rumours that scientists think that Hawiaii could be completely wiped out from the earthquake. It must be horrible for the families over there especially the worried parents.
puppy8 (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 19:29
this is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo sad :(
54321jj (Age 11) wrote on Saturday, 12 March 2011 @ 19:55
my dad has a freind out there!
UKTrucker (Age 13) wrote on Sunday, 13 March 2011 @ 11:34
my dad told me the eath moved ten inchs from its xais because of the force from the eathquake
Cescychops (Age 13) wrote on Sunday, 13 March 2011 @ 12:13
i'm sure its hard for them-everything they own has been swept away :-(
puppy8 (Age 12) wrote on Sunday, 13 March 2011 @ 18:30
:( this is soo sad :(
doodle3 (Age 12) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 16:11
it is horrifying i hope it never happens in england evvvvvvvvvvvvvver
Oinky (Age 14) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 16:12
oh my goodness!!! Aparently it was the biggest eathquake Japan has had in 150 years... poor Japaneese people xx
doodle3 (Age 12) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 16:13
it is horrifying i hope it never happens in england evvvvvvvvvvvvvver
alexanda (Age 10) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 17:02
you now i have to do a roport on something and i think this will be great poor them
alexanda (Age 10) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 18:46
the chrildren are proply going to be scared of water for the rest of there life
anderson (Age 13) wrote on Monday, 14 March 2011 @ 19:40
Devastating news...It's horrible, Imagine it, everything normal and then wooooosh no house no family no friends no belongings no nothing.
UKTrucker (Age 13) wrote on Thursday, 24 March 2011 @ 19:10
my mum told me there was an eathquke in burma tody