A huge earthquake ripped across Japan today bringing devastation to a wide area and prompting fears of a massive death toll.

The 8.9 quake unleashed a 13-foot tsunami that swept boats, cars, buildings and tons of debris miles inland, and warnings were issued to all countries with Pacific coastlines to be ready for it to hit them.

Experts said the tsunami wave could be higher than many small Pacific islands.

In Japan the initial official death toll was put at less than 20 but reports were fragmented as the country struggled to deal with the catastrophe.

The quake’s epicentre was hundreds of miles from Tokyo but there were reports buildings had collapsed in the capital.

Elsewhere fires triggered by the quake were burning out of control up and down the coast, including one at an oil refinery.

The US Geological Survey said the quake was a magnitude 8.9, while Japan’s meteorological agency measured it at 8.8.

It struck at 2.46pm local time (5.46am GMT) and was followed by more than a dozen aftershocks, including several at least 6.3, the size of the quake that struck New Zealand recently.