Tsunami hits Japan after quake. Japan hit by 8.9-magnitude earthquake. [Updated Feb. 10, 2012: See before and after images] [Updated March 14 3:54 p.m.: USGS updates earthquake in Japan to magnitude 9.0] A magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the northeastern coast of Japan on Friday, shaking office buildings in Tokyo and setting off a devastating tsunami that swept away cars and boats.
The quake — the world’s fifth-largest since 1900, according to the U.S. Massive earthquake hits Japan.