8.9 Earthquake hits Tokoyo, Japan

A whopping 8.9 earthquake hit Tokoyo, Japan last night. Hours after the quake happened,  fires still blazed and Tokoyo remained paraplyzed with phone and train service halted. The death toll is uncertain, but continues to rise. The earthquake, the fifth largest in recorded history, struck about 2:45 p.m. local time and lasted five minutes. The earthquake  triggered a tsunami that swept objects including ships, cars and homes. A ship with a crew of 50 people was reported missing. It is believed it was swept away during the tsunami. A "nuclear emergency" has been declared and nearly 3,000 people have been evacuated from the region surrounding the plant "Fukushima Daiichi" that lost power during the quake. It is feared that the reactors will melt down if power is not restored soon. The tsunami hit less than 15 minutes after the quake hit allowing little time for the people to evacuate and get to higher ground. The even t is being considered the worst event Japan has seen since World War II.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/japan-stunned-damage-earthquake-tsunami/story?id=13111113&page=3