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Thursday, March 17, 2011
The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years unleashed walls of water on Friday that destroyed rice fields, involving the cities, roads and houses dragging launch vehicles and boats like toys, seemingly killing hundreds and evaucations forcing tens of thousands of people.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan, said the "enormous power" earthquake has caused "enormous damage over a wide area."
The quake, occurred at 14:46 local time, caused fires in 80 cities, reported Japan's Kyodo News Service reported, and led to the U.S. National Weather Service to issue tsunami warnings to at least 50 countries and territories.
Police say Miyagi Prefecture, between 200 and 300 have been found in the coastal city of Sendai alone, Japan's Kyodo News Agency reported Friday night. The death toll is likely to increase, as there are few accounts of victims of even the most affected areas.
Kyodo, citing Japan's defense forces, said between 60,000 and 70,000 people were evacuated to shelters in the area of Sendai.
President Barack Obama, while offering his condolences, said the United States stood by to help "at this time of great trial."
The images of the Japanese media and show the CNN iReporters smoke coming from the buildings and the water running through the fields taking complete structures.
"I had no fear when it started ... but I kept going and going," said Michelle Roberts, who lives in central Tokyo. "I will not lie, it was pretty scary. But we are all good. We live on the third floor, so almost everything shook and changed."
The quake toppled bridges and cars in the waters below. The waves of waste as the lava flowed through farmland, pushing the boats, houses and trailers. About 4 million homes had no power in Tokyo and its surroundings.