engulf
ed 300 homes. The cooling system at a nuclear power station failed, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people living nearby.
As well as Sendai and the surrounding farmland which were swamped, areas nearby were engulfed by fire, including the town of Kesennuma. The Japanese government is deploying hundreds of planes and ships in a relief operation. It has also requested some foreign search and rescue teams to help.
The earthquake triggered tsunami warnings across the Pacific region. Mark Lobel reports.
The first waves have now reached the mainland of the United States along the Oregon coast, but no major damage is reported. There was also relief that little destruction was caused after tsunami waves about 1m high flooded several of Hawaii's beaches. Relatively minor waves reached the Philippines, the Kuril Islands and Taiwan. The International Red Cross has suggested the waves generated by the quake could be higher than some of the Pacific islands in their path. Warnings have been issued in around 50 countries.
World News from the BBC
Libyan military aircraft have again bombed a
refinery
and a rebel checkpoint near the oil port of Ras Lanuf, east of Tripoli. The attacks took place as forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi continued a fierce battle to regain control of the town. Jon Leyne reports from nearby Brega.
Slowly but
relentlessly
, Colonel Gaddafi's forces seem to be winning the battle for Ras Lanuf. Opposition fighters are still in the town, but they are under intense pressure. The bombing from government warplanes continued today, and there's a big plume of smoke from the oil installation which was hit a couple of days ago.