7th Largest Earthquake Rocks Japan [VIDEO]

TOKYO -- A powerful tsunami spawned by the largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control. Japan's Fire and Disaster Management Agency says at least 29 people have died in the quake and tsunami that hit the north.

The magnitude 8.9 offshore quake was followed by at least 19 aftershocks, most of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Dozens of cities and villages along the 1,300-mile stretch of the country's eastern shore were shaken by violent tremors that reached as far away as Tokyo, hundreds of miles from the epicenter in the sea off the northeastern coast.

A tsunami warning was issued for the entire Pacific, including areas as far away as South America, the entire U.S. West Coast, Canada and Alaska.

"The earthquake has caused major damage in broad areas in northern Japan," Prime Minister Naoto Kan said at a news conference.

Even for a country used to earthquakes, this one was of horrific proportions.

[Via Fox News]