TOKYO - A 8.9 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of northern Japan on Friday, causing a 13 feet (4 meters) by the tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and thousands of miles of debris into the interior. Fires caused by the earthquake burned control up and down the coast.

At least one person died and there were reports of several wounded in Tokyo, hundreds of kilometers (miles), where buildings shook violently by the main shock and aftershocks of the massive wave that followed.

Television footage showed waves of muddy water swept farmland near the city of Sendai, the performance of buildings, some in flames inside the car tried to drive away.

"This is a rare major earthquake, and the damage can quickly lead to a minute," said Junichi Sawada, an official of the Japan Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

The authorities have tried to assess the damage, injuries and deaths, but gave no immediate details. Police said at least one person died in a house collapse in the Ibaraki prefecture north of Tokyo.

A large fire broke out at Cosmo Oil refinery in Ichihara City Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo and burned out of control.

Public broadcaster NHK showed footage of a large ship, which was swept by the tsunami and the damage directly into a dock in the city of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Similar destruction was seen in dozens of communities along the coast.

At various places along the coast, found massive damage from the images of the tsunami, with cars, boats and even buildings, being transported by water.

The quake struck 2:46 p.m. ET was followed by five powerful aftershocks for about an hour, the strongest measuring 7.1. U.S. Geological Survey updated the strength of the first earthquake with a magnitude of 8.9, while Japan's Meteorological Agency measured at 8.4.

The meteorological agency issued a tsunami warning for Japan's Pacific coast. NHK has been warning those near the coast to safer ground.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said a tsunami warning was in force in Japan, Russia, Marcus Island and the Northern Marianas. A tsunami warning was issued for Guam, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia and the U.S. state of Hawaii.

The quake struck at a depth of six miles (10 km), about 80 miles (125 km) off the east coast, the agency said. The area is 240 km (380 miles) northeast of Tokyo.

The center of Tokyo, large buildings shook violently and workers poured into the streets safer. TV picture was a large building in flames and smoke bellowing Odaiba district of Tokyo.

In central Tokyo, the trains were stopped and passengers along the tracks of platforms. NHK, more than 4 million buildings without electricity in Tokyo and its surroundings.

The ceiling of Kudan Kaikan, a hall in Tokyo, collapsed, injuring an undetermined number of people, according to NHK.

Osamu Akiya, 46 years working in Tokyo, where a commercial office when the earthquake struck.

She sent libraries and computers to the ground and cracks appeared in walls.

"I've been through many earthquakes, but I've never felt anything like this," he said. "I do not know if we will be able to get home tonight."

NHK Sendai video showed the employees a stumbling block over, and books and cards fall from the table. It also showed the glass to protect the station was completely destroyed by earthquake in Tokyo, and a woman cries near the comforting another woman.

More aftershocks hit the same region in recent days, including a magnitude of 7.3 on Wednesday.

Thirty minutes of the earthquake were still swaying tall buildings in Tokyo and mobile networks do not work. Japan Coast Guard has established a task force and officials are ready for the expenditure of emergency, the Coast Guard official said Yosuke Oh.

"I fear that soon we will know the damage of the earthquake was so strong," he said.

Tsunami roared over the levees of the city of Sendai, washing cars, houses and farm equipment on the streets before reversing directions and take them to the sea. Flames shot some of the houses, which is probably due to the pipes burst.

Tokyo, hundreds of people were evacuated from Shinjuku Station is the busiest in the world, to a nearby park. The trains were stopped.

Tokyo's main airport was closed. Much of the roof at the airport at 1 year of Ibaraki, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) north of Tokyo, fell with a loud noise.

TV announcers urged viewers to switch to a strong close to the beach and concrete buildings to remain above the third floor.

Japanese Fire and Disaster Management Agency said, still assessing the damage, but had not confirmed any deaths.

One person was injured in a baseball stadium in Sendai, but his condition was not immediately known.

Dozens of fires reported in the northern prefecture of Fukushima, Sendai, Iwate and Ibaraki. Houses collapsed and landslides have also been reported in Miyagi.

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