TOKYO – A devastating tsunami triggered by the biggest earthquake on record in Japan killed at least 1,000 people along the northeastern coast on Friday after a wall of water swept away everything in its path.
Thousands of residents were evacuated from an area around a nuclear plant north of Tokyo after fears of a radiation leak, but officials said that problems with the reactor’s cooling system were not at a critical level. Underscoring concerns about the plant, the US air force delivered coolant to the facility, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.
The unfolding disaster in the wake of the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and 10-metre high tsunami prompted offers of help from dozens of countries. China said rescuers were ready to help with quake relief while President Barack Obama told Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan the US would assist in any way.
Stunning TV footage showed a muddy torrent of water carrying cars and wrecked homes at high speed across farmland near the coastal city of Sendai, home to one million people and which lies 300kms northeast of Tokyo. Ships had been flung onto a harbour wharf, where they lay helplessly on their side.
Other footage showed boats, cars and trucks tossed around like toys in the water after a small tsunami hit the town of Kamaichi in northern Japan. Domestic media said the death toll was expected to exceed 1,000, most of whom appeared to have drowned. Tsunami warnings were issued across the Pacific but were later lifted for some of the most populated countries in the region, including Australia, Taiwan and New Zealand.
The quake, the most powerful since Japan started keeping records 140 years ago, sparked at least 80 fires in cities and towns along the coast. Other Japanese nuclear power plants and oil refineries were shut down and one refinery was ablaze. The central bank promised to do its utmost to ensure financial market stability.
Auto plants, electronics factories and refineries shut, roads buckled and power to millions of homes and businesses was knocked out. UN chief Ban Ki-moon said the global body would “do anything and everything” to help Japan. “We will do all to mobilise humanitarian assistance” and help with “risk reduction” efforts, Ban said at the UN headquarters.
