Videos: 8,9 magnitude earthquake hits Japan, triggers tsunami

A tsunami was generated by the magnitude 8,8 tremor that erupted 400km off the coast of Japan, at a depth of 32 km.

In addition to the earthquake itself, the gigantic wave hit Japan, causing great destruction. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, part of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, issued an alert saying the giant wave could reach Chile, Ecuador, Colombia and Peru.

According to the alert issued by the center, the tsunami also threatens countries neighboring Japan, such as the Philippines, Japan and Russia, and countries in the Americas with coasts on the Pacific Ocean, such as Mexico, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama and Honduras. Representatives of the Russian government in the Sakhalin Islands, in the far east of the country, promoted the evacuation of about 11 residents in the coastal region, anticipating the arrival of the tsunami that caused destruction in Japan. Philippine authorities ordered the evacuation of communities in the eastern coastal region of the country.

In Japan, nuclear power plants and oil refineries have been closed due to fears they could be hit. See below:

Source: BBC Brazil