Northern Japan was hit by an 8.9 magnitude earthquake that occurred roughly 80 miles off the nation’s coast this morning. It caused a 12 foot tsunami to hit parts of the country and has prompted a nuclear emergency for two nuclear power facilities.
Over 200 people were killed by the quake and hundreds more have been injured.
Chief government spokesman Yukio Edano said that the earthquake was the largest ever to hit Japan and it has already caused “enormous damage.”
According to MSNBC, there have been at least 90 fires reported, a train missing and the coast guard is searching for a ship that was carrying roughly 80 people.
Now, pressure is rising at a nuclear power plant in Fukushima after its cooling system failed.
Nearly 3,000 residents near the plant are being evacuated as pressure inside the reactor is approaching 1.5 times the normal level.
Shortly after the quake hit, a nuclear emergency was also declared at a nuclear power facility in Onagawa when a fire broke out at the plant.
This morning, President Barack Obama released a statement expressing his condolences for the people of Japan and saying that the U.S. “stands ready to help the Japanese people in this time of great trial.”
NYU vice president of student affairs Marc Wais said the university will be sending out e-mails offering support to students who list their permanent address as being either Japan or Hawaii.
Wais added that the university is monitoring the situation closely and given the current path of tsunamis may send letters to students with families on the West Coast later in the day.
‘NYU spokesman John Beckman said, “I am sure I speak for the entire NYU community when I express our sorrow at the events in Japan, and our deep sympathy for the Japanese people; the images of destruction are horrifying, and our thoughts are very much with people of Japan and all those who have suffered because of this natural disaster.”
Due to its sheer magnitude, the quake can now be categorized as a “mega-quake” and it is one of the largest recorded earthquakes in history.
Four million homes in Northern Japan are reported to have lost power and there are also concerns over fires started in oil refineries in the area.
The largest quake ever recorded occurred in Chile in 1960, and was a magnitude of 9.5. The earthquake that occurred in Haiti last year was a 7.
MSNBC footage shows water and mud flooding into small towns, clearing boats and cars, as well as the image of an incredibly large boat overturned. All modes of transportation have been suspended, and reports say Sendai Airport was destroyed by the flooding.
NYU’s Stern school had planned an annual trip, “Japan Trek 2011” in which Stern students would travel to the country, including to the city of Tokyo. It is currently unknown if that trip will proceed as scheduled.
A tsunami watch was put out for all of the Pacific, including the west coast of the United States and Hawaii. So far, no serious damage has been reported.