The Associated Press
Friday, March 11, 2011; 3:38 AM

TOKYO -- Japan's prime minister said Friday's 8.9-magnitude quake caused
"major damage" in northeastern Japan, but that nuclear power facilities
in the area were not damaged and there was no radiation leakage.

Friday's offshore quake triggered a tsunami that hit Japan's eastern
coast, sweeping away buildings and cars. TV footage also showed fires
burning in the northern city of Sendai. Officials were still trying to
assess the extent of destruction.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern
Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said during an emergency news
conference. "Some of the nuclear power plants in the region have
automatically shut down, but there as no leakage of radioactive
materials to the environment."

The government's top spokesman, Yukio Edano, said that the country was
sending troops to the quake-hit area to join relief efforts.

Kan also said that he has set up an emergency task force to manage the
rescue effort.

"The government will make an all-out effort to ensure the safety of all
the people and contain the damage to the minimum," Kan said.

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