More on Japan earthquake

The most powerful earthquake to hit Japan in at least 100 years struck offshore the island nation this morning, collapsing buildings, touching off widespread fires and unleashing walls of water up to 30 feet high.



The waves swept across rice fields, engulfed towns, dragged houses onto highways and tossed cars and boats like toys reaching as far about six miles inland in Miyagi Prefecture on Japan's east coast.



Hundreds of people were dead and hundreds more missing, Japanese media reported, citing local and national police. Tens of thousands of people were displaced, according to Japan's Kyodo News agency.



Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the enormously powerful earthquake had caused "tremendous damage over a wide area.