The quake occurred as the Earth's crust ruptured along an area about 250 miles (400 kilometers) long by 100 miles (160 kilometers) wide, as tectonic plates slipped more than 18 meters, said Shengzao Chen, a USGS geophysics.
Japan is located in the "ring of fire". Known for high seismic activity and volcanic eruptions.The Friday's quake is the highest recorded quake in Japan's history. Tsunami created havoc across the coastal region of Japan triggering alert for across 50 countries.
Some devastating Numbers
Police confirm 402 dead, toll expected to exceed 1,000, with most people feared drowned.
- Japan is still experiencing some very moderate aftershocks. 5.1, 5.2, 5.2, 6.0, 6.8 hit within a just in 15 minutes.
- An explosion has been reported near a nuclear plant in northeastern Japan's Fukushima prefecture.
- A nuclear safety panel says radiation levels are 1000 times above normal in a reactor control room.
- Tokyo Electric Power has lost its ability to control pressure in some of the reactors of a second nuclear power plant.
- Contact lost with four trains along the coast area of northeastern Japan, Kyodo news agency says.
- A ship carrying 100 people was swept away by the tsunami, media reported.
- Tsunami alerts lifted from Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia and the Philippines.
Japan declared NUCLEAR EMERGENCY
As cooling mechanism have taken a beating in the quakes. A blast in one of the nuclear reactor also reported. Forcing the authorities to evacuate the surrounding areas.
