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Lead Paragraph: A major earthquake has struck the Pacific coast of Japan, causing widespread damage and loss of life. The magnitude 8.9 quake, which occurred at 2:46 a.m. local time on Friday, triggered a massive tsunami that has devastated coastal communities and left thousands homeless. The earthquake was followed by a series of powerful aftershocks, the strongest of which was a magnitude 7.4 that struck at 5:01 a.m. local time. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue workers continue to search for survivors among the rubble.
The epicenter of the earthquake was located approximately 80 kilometers (50 miles) off the coast of Miyagi prefecture, at a depth of 24 kilometers (15 miles). The quake shook buildings throughout eastern Japan, including Tokyo, where people were evacuated from high-rise buildings and trains were halted. The tsunami triggered by the earthquake has caused widespread flooding along the coast, with waves as high as 10 meters (33 feet) reported in some areas. Coastal communities have been inundated, and thousands of people have been forced to evacuate to higher ground.
The earthquake has also caused widespread damage to infrastructure. Roads and bridges have been destroyed, and power outages have affected millions of people. The Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO) has reported that the quake has caused damage to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, and there are concerns about the potential for a nuclear leak. The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas, and rescue workers are working around the clock to search for survivors and provide aid to those in need.
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