The only good news is that the earthquake was relatively far from the large population in Tokyo. So far there is no news about any deaths. This is not the largest ever in Japan or the world, but 8.8 is extremely strong. Initial reports are saying this is the worst earthquake in 140 years in Japan.
A series of powerful earthquakes have struck north-east Japan on Friday afternoon, triggering warnings of tsunami as high as 10 metres and shaking buildings in Tokyo.
The first earthquake struck at 2:46 pm local time and measured magnitude 8.8, according to the US geological survey. Within 30 minutes the same region was rocked by two more big quakes of slightly lower intensity, Japanese news reports said.
The first quake, Japan's biggest for seven years, struck at a depth of six miles (9km) about 80 miles of the eastern coast, according to Japan's meteorological agency.
