First tsunami waves hit Hawaii islands, California coast after Japan quake

RussiaToday on Mar 11, 2011
Countries across the Pacific area, including Russia, South America, the U.S. and Indonesia have been put on alert for any tsunamis heading their way. But while the first waves have now reached America's mainland any major threat appears to be fading. 95 deaths reported in Japan, but that is rising quickly. One Japanese news agency suggests there are literally tens of thousands unaccounted for. Worst hit is the north eastern city of Sendai. Police say almost every house there has been damaged or destroyed. This 8.9 earthquake was the strongest in Japan since records began 140 years ago, in fact its the 6th- largest ever recorded in the world. Experts say it's around eight thousand times bigger than the quake which devastated the New Zealand city of Christchurch last month.