More than 1000 feared killed in monster quake
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- Two more quakes hit
- Ship with 81 on board found
- Tsunami waves from quake hit US coast
- Officials try to contact 45 Australians
- Radiation levels 1000 times normal
At least 402 people have been killed in the massive quake and tsunami disaster that hit Japan - but Kyodo News agency said it estimated that more than 1000 people died.
As dawn broke over the shellshocked country the morning after the disaster, Japan's Jiji Press News agency said police and other data showed that the total number of quake dead and missing topped 1000.
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Waves from a tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture. Photo: AP
The reports came as grim updates indicating appalling loss of life kept emerging from along the hard-hit east coast of northern Honshu island, where the monster waves destroyed more than 3000 homes on Friday.
The National Police Agency said 202 people had been confirmed dead and 673 missing, with 991 injured in the massive quake and tsunami disaster that devastated large parts of northern Japan's Pacific coast.
Police in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, separately said 200 to 300 bodies had been found on the shore.
Flames rise from houses and debris half submerged in tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast. Photo: AP
Fears rose for greater losses as reports came in of several trains missing and a dam break flooding more homes.
The defence ministry said about 1800 homes in Minamisoma, Fukushima prefecture, were destroyed, while in Sendai authorities said 1200 houses were toppled by the tsunami.
The small town of Ofunato further north reported 300 houses collapsed or swept away.
Click for more photosEarthquake, tsunami slam Japan
Fishing boats and vehicles are carried by a tsunami wave at Onahama port in Iwaki cityin northern Japan. Photo: AFP
More than 80 fires blazed in and around Tokyo and in the Iwate, Miyagi, Akita and Fukushima prefectures, Kyodo reported, quoting Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The monster quake was the strongest recorded in the seismically unstable archipelago, located on the "Pacific Rim of Fire".
In better news, Japanese naval and coastguard helicopters have found a ship that was swept out to sea by the tsunami and airlifted all 81 people aboard to safety, Jiji Press reported.
Bid to contact Australians
Embassy officials in Japan are trying to contact at least 45 Australians known to be in the region hardest hit by the 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami, Prime Minister Julia Gillard said.
Ms Gillard expressed her condolences to the Japanese people and government as she prepared to board a flight from New York to San Francisco - diverting from her intended trip to Hawaii because of a tsunami warning.
"What of course we know is there will be more Australians there than the 45 who are registered - we don't know the total number at this stage," she told reporters.
A strong 6.7-magnitude earthquake hit Japan's mountainous Niigata prefecture northwest of Tokyo, causing landslides and avalanches and destroying some wooden houses this morning.
Kyodo News said there were no immediate reports of casualties and no fresh tsunami alert was issued after the quake which hit before dawn today.It was followed by an almost equally strong quake in the same area half an hour later.
The defence ministry said about 1800 homes in Minamisoma, Fukushima prefecture, were destroyed, while in Sendai authorities said 1200 houses were toppled by the tsunami.
The small town of Ofunato further north reported 300 house collapsed or swept away.
More than 80 fires blazed in and around Tokyo and in the Iwate, Miyagi, Akita and Fukushima prefectures, Kyodo reported, quoting Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency.
The quake was the strongest recorded in the seismically unstable archipelago, located on the "Pacific Rim of Fire".
Tsunami waves triggered by the earthquake began arriving on the US West Coast about 12 hours after the quake, officials and witnesses said.
"The tsunami has arrived now and the ocean is surging as though it were between high tide and low tide every 30 minutes instead of the usual six hours," said Mike Murphy, emergencies chief in Port Orford, Oregon.
A Japanese nuclear safety panel says radiation levels are 1000 times above normal in a reactor control room after a huge quake damaged a plant's cooling system.
Public broadcaster NHK, quoting nuclear safety officials, said there was "no immediate health hazard" to nearby residents from a possible minute leakage, and people were urged to evacuate the area calmly.
The elevated reading was taken in the control room of the No.1 reactor of the Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant, said the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.
Kyodo News said that the discovery suggested radioactive steam could spread around the facility, which is located about 250km northeast of Tokyo and operated by Tokyo Electric Power.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan said early on Saturday that residents living within 10km of the plant must evacuate, before stepping onto a helicopter to head for the area.
His government yesterday declared an atomic emergency and told thousands of residents living within a smaller radius of three kilometres, to evacuate, warning a small amount of radiation could be released.
More than eight million homes lost power, mobile and landline phone systems broke down for many and gas was cut to more than 300,000 homes, meaning many people could not heat their dark homes during a terrifying and cold night.
Five Australians MPs have arrived safely in Tokyo after spending hours trapped on a bullet train that ground to a halt following the earthquake.
The federal Liberal member for Fadden, Stuart Robert said he and four other MPs were on the train when the quake hit.
Mr Robert said he was with Labor MPs Stephen Jones and Amanda Rishworth, Liberal Senator Michaelia Cash and Victorian Labor MP Natalie Hutchins on the train from Kyoto in the south.
The train stopped about 200km outside Tokyo and remained there for more than five hours.
AFP/AAP (smh.com.au)
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