Hundreds of people are feared dead after a vast torrent of water swept through part of Japan after one of the biggest earthquakes in recorded history.

The 8-point-9 magnitude quake struck off the north-eastern coast this morning.

Widespread fires broke out and there was a major explosion at a petrochemical plant.

But the real killer's the tsunami the quake's triggered - smashing into land carrying with it buildings, ships and trains.

Police say up to 300 bodies have been found in the coastal city of Sendai.

The quake struck the north east coast - but was felt hundreds of miles away in Tokyo.

David Gordon is a British software engineer who works in the city - and was in a sky-scraper at the time:

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