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 near the epicenter.

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

Officials were trying to assess possible damage from the quake but had no instant details.

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 first quake to a magnitude 8.8.

The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for the whole Pacific coast of Japan. National broadcaster NHK was warning these near the coast to get to safer ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in impact for Japan, Russia, Marcus Island as well as the Northern Marianas. A tsunami watch has been issued for Guam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Indonesia along with the U.S. state of Hawaii.

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

In downtown Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the street for safety. Tv footage showed a large constructing on fire and bellowing smoke inside the Odaiba district of Tokyo.

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

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

Numerous quakes had hit the same region in latest days, which includes a 7.three magnitude one particular on Wednesday.

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

“I’m afraid we’ll soon uncover out about damages, since the quake was so robust,” he stated