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Quake, tsunami slam Japan

March 11, 2011 / 7:09 AM EST / CBS News

The Yomiuri Shimbun,AP Photo/Yasushi Kanno

Houses are in flames while the Natori river floods the surrounding area by tsunami tidal waves in Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, March 11, 2011.

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Kyodo via AP Images

A massive tsunami engulfs a residential area after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011.

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Tsunami wave washes through Sendai, northern Japan — AP Photo/Kyodo News

Part of houses swallowed by tsunami burn in Sendai, Miyagi Prefectureafter Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast, March 11, 2011.

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Japan oil refinery — AP

An aerial view shows a refinery facility burning in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

People at a book store react as the store's ceiling falls in Sendai, northern Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. Japan was struck by a magnitude-8.9 earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, triggering a 13-foot tsunami that washed away cars and tore away buildings along the coast near the epicenter.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Earthquake-triggered tsunami waves sweep along Iwanuma in northern Japan on Friday March 11, 2011. The magnitude-8.9 earthquake slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, unleashing a 13-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

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Tsunami washes through Miyagi Prefecture, Japan — The Yomiuri Shimbun/AP Photo/Keichi Nakane

A tsunami tidal wave washes away houses in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, March 11, 2011, after strong earthquakes hit the area.

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

A tsunami smashes vehicles and houses in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.

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The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images

A huge tidal wave covered the ports in Kesennuma, Miyagi and Miyako, in Iwate Prefecture, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Buildings are damaged by an earthquake-triggered tsunami in Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture, Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

A vehicle washed away by tsunami, sits over a guard rail in Rikuzentakata, Iwate, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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Kyodo via AP Images

Sendai Airport and its vicinity are submerged after a tsunami following a powerful quake in a photo taken from a Kyodo News helicopter in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Sendai Airport is surrounded by waters in Miyagi prefecture, Japan, after a ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast, Friday, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye

Container cargoes gets displaced in Sendai, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant, quake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland, while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor.

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Kyodo via AP Images

Airplanes and cars are covered with debris at Sendai Airport in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011, after a tsunami following a powerful quake hit Japan.

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Japan earthquake damage in Ibaraki prefecture — Getty

Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011, after a massive earthquake rocked Japan.

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AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun

Buildings burn in Yamada town, Iwate prefecture (state) after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake hit Friday March 11, 2011.

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Darren Gubbins/AFP/Getty Images

Vehicles rest on a damaged road at a carpark in Yabuki, in southern Fukushima Prefecture, March 11, 2011, after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan.

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Darren Gubbins/AFP/Getty Images

Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed road at a carpark in Yabuki, southern Fukushima Prefecture, March 11, 2011, after an earthquake rocked Japan.

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AP Photo/Nexco East Japan via Kyodo News

A worker inspects a caved-in section of the Joban Motorway near Mito, Ibaraki Prefecture, after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded in Japan slammed its eastern coast, Friday, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

A man looks over tsunami-drifted debris and mud filling rice paddies in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Tsunami swirls near a port in Oarai, Ibaraki Prefecture, after Japan was struck by a strong earthquake off its northeastern coast Friday, March 11, 2011.

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

Black smoke raises from a building in Tokyo's waterfront Daiba, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

People gather outside Sendai station after a powerful earthquake hit northern Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011.

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JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images

People leave a department store in Sendai, Fukushima prefecture, March 11, 2011. A massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit Japan unleashing a monster 13-foot-high tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.

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The Yomiuri Shimbun,AP Photo/Keichi Nakane

Cars and other debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves are seen in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake hit the area, Friday, March 11, 2011.

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

An aerial shot shows vehicles ready for shipping being carried by a tsunami tidal wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011. A massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake shook Japan, unleashing a powerful tsunami that sent ships crashing into the shore and carried cars through the streets of coastal towns.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Destroyed oil tank at generating power plant in Minami Soma, Fukushima, northern Japan is pictured Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Broken bottles litter on the floor of a food shop in Sendai after a powerful earthquake hit northern Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011.

The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing scores of people as it swept away boats, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control.

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YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images

Broken China is scattered on the floor at a porcelain shop following a massive 8.9-magnitude earthquake in Japan on March 11, 2011.

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Kenji Shimizu

Vessels get stranded in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

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AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Keiichi Nakane

An earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, Japan, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Fishing boats get stranded on shore at Oarai town, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, after a ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts Friday, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Vehicles remain overturned at Oarai town, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan, after a ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, slammed Japan's eastern coasts, Friday, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye

Flames engulf buildings in an industrial complex in Sendai, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant, quake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland, while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor.

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AP Photo/Hiro Komae

Train passengers wait at Tokyo's Shinagawa station to get first-hand information on train service which was halted following a very strong earthquake on Friday, March 11, 2011. The quake unleashed a 13-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland.

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AP Photo/Shuji Kajiyama

Stranded commuters wrap themselves in blankets as they brace for a chilly evening at a park in Yokohama, near Tokyo, following a strong earthquake that hit eastern Japan on Friday, March 11, 2011.

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AP Photo/Wally Santana

Travelers rest on the floor, stranded, at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo after a massive earthquake, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts.

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AP Photo/Wally Santana

Travelers rest on the floor stranded at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo after a massive earthquake, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts.

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AP Photo/Wally Santana

Travelers rest on the floor stranded at Haneda International Airport in Tokyo after a massive earthquake, Friday, March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Elderly women wrapped themselves in blankets after being evacuated to the street after a powerful earthquake in Tokyo, Friday, March 11, 2011. A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coasts Friday.

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The Yomiuri Shimbun,AP Photo/Keichi Nakane

People watch the aftermath of tsunami tidal waves covering a port at Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area, Friday, March 11, 2011.

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

An aerial shot shows a ship sitting on the ground in the port of Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011 after a tsunami tidal wave hit following a a large earthquake.

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STR/AFP/Getty Images

This aerial shot shows the tsunami tidal waves moving upstream (left side) in the Naka river at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011.

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FUKUSHIMA MINPO/AFP/Getty Images

A factory building has collapsed in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, in northern Japan on March 11, 2011.

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UKUSHIMA MINPO/AFP/Getty Images

Residents check the damaged done on a road a house in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, in northern Japan on March 11, 2011.

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Kiyoshi Ota/Getty Images

Houses are left damaged by landslides after an 8.9 magnitude strong earthquake struck on March 11 off the coast of north-eastern Japan, on March 12, 2011 in Fukushima, Japan.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Minamisanriku town is submerged after Friday's strong earthquake-triggered tsunami in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Residents looks over destroyed buildings half submerged in water from tsunami in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

A father and child who lost their home stand in front of debris in Sendai, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

A fishing boat drifted by tsunami sits on its side on the land near a port in Hachinohe, Aomori Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

People wait for rescue on the rooftop of a ruined building tangled with tsunami-drifted debris in Rikuzentakada, Iwate Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

People head to an evacuation center in Sendai, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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Anonymous

A derailed train lies near a home in Matsushima, Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011, after being washed away by an earthquake-triggered tsunami. The powerful tsunami created by one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded swept away Japan's east coast Friday.

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Anonymous

A man rides through a flooded street in Sendai, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Keiichi Nakane

People look at a burning port of Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, engulfed by dense smoke and flames Friday, March 11, 2011, after a strong earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the area, igniting leaked crude oil in the water.

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AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Naoki Ueda

An SOS sign is drawn on the partially snow-covered ground of a school in Minami Sanrikucho in Miyagi Prefecture (State), northern Japan, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011, a day after a strong earthquake-triggered tsunami hit the area.

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AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye

Container cargoes spread out on the ground in an industrial complex in Sendai, northern Japan, Saturday, March 12, 2011. Japan launched a massive military rescue operation Saturday after a giant, quake-fed tsunami killed hundreds of people and turned the northeastern coast into a swampy wasteland, while authorities braced for a possible meltdown at a nuclear reactor.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Fleeing to higher ground following a tsunami warning, local residents look out over a destroyed landscape in Rikuzentakata, northeastern Japan, on Saturday March 12, 2011, one day after a giant quake and tsunami struck the country's northeastern coast.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Cargo containers are seen scattered following Japan's biggest recorded earthquake in Sendai, northern Japan, on Saturday, March 12, 2011.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

A firefighter and official check the damage of the city, caused by Saturday's earthquake and tsunami, in Kesenuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011, after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Volunteer firefighters walk along train tracks covered with tsunami-drifted debris in Rikuzentakada, Iwate Prefecture, Saturday morning, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

People stand on the roof of an elementary school in Sendai, northern Japan as they take shelter Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Washed out vehicles are mingled with landslide and debris in Minami Soma, Fukushima, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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AP Photo/Kyodo News

Residents walk through urban area devastated by tsunami in Natori, Miyagi, northern Japan Saturday, March 12, 2011 after Japan's biggest recorded earthquake slammed into its eastern coast Friday.

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