Houses are shown in flames while the Natori river floods over the surrounding area with tsunami tidal waves in Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Japan.

Hundreds killed in tsunami after 8.9 Japan quake March 11, 2011 TOKYO (AP) -- A ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes on record slammed Japan's eastern coast Friday, killing hundreds of people as it swept away ships, cars and homes while widespread fires burned out of control. Police said 200 to 300 bodies were found in the northeastern coastal city of Sendai, the city in Miyagi prefecture, or state, closest to the epicenter. Another 137 were confirmed killed, with 531 people missing. Police also said 627 people were injured. The magnitude-8.9 offshore quake unleashed a 23-foot (seven-meter) tsunami and was followed for hours by more than 50 aftershocks, many of them of more than magnitude 6.0. Click to exit

Houses swallowed by tsunami waves burn in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state), Japan

This aerial shot shows houses in flames after being hit by a tsunami at Natori city in Miyagi prefecture, Japan.

Giant fireballs rise from a burning oil refinery in Ichihara, Chiba Prefecture (state), Japan.

Houses and others burn in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture (state), Japan.

A building is in flames near Sendai airport, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan.

Smoke billows from houses in Natori, Northern Japan.

Houses, cars and other debris are washed away by tsunami tidal waves in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture.

Cars and other Debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves.

Flames rise from houses and debris half submerged in tsunami in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state), Japan.

Shores are submerged in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan.

Light planes and vehicles sit among the debris after they were swept by a tsumani that struck Sendai airport.

Earthquake-triggered tsumanis sweep shores along Iwanuma in Northern Japan.

Waves of tsunami hit residences after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan.

Fishing boats and vehicles are carried by a tsunami wave at Onahama port in Iwaki city, in Fukushima prefecture, Northern Japan.

A tsunami tidal wave washes away houses in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.

A tsunami, tidal wave smashes vehicles and houses at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, Northern Japan.

A tsumani triggered by a powerful earthquake makes its way to sweep part of Sendai airport in Northern Japan.

Tarmac, parking lot and surrounding area are covered with mud and debris carried by tsunami at Sendai Airport in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture (state), Japan.

Sendai Airport is surrounded by waters in Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan

The tarmac and surrounding area of Sendai Airport is covered with water after a tsunami at in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture Japan.

Vehicles remain overturned at Oarai town, Ibaraki prefecture (state), Japan.

An aerial view shows debris that remained on the ground after a tsunami wave to have hit Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.

An area flooded by a tsunami in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan.

Vehicles being washed away by a tsunami in Japan after that country was struck by a magnitude 8.9 earthquake.

Local residents watch the devastation provoked by a tsunami tidal wave smashing vehicles and houses at Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture, Japan.

A tsunami-drifted house sits under a bridge in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture.

Earthquake and tsunami victims make their way past debris and water in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

People make their way past cars carried by a tsunami to the entrance of an elementary school after an earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan.

A light plane mingles with debris following a massive tsunami triggered by a huge earthquake at Sendai airport in Sendai, northern Japan.

A ship lifted up into a town by a tsunami following an earthquake is seen in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

A factory building has collapsed in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, Japan.

Residents check the damaged done on a road a house in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, Japan

A whirlpool is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 11, 2011 A ship tossed ashore by a tsunami following an earthquake is seen in Aomori Prefecture, Japan.

Workers inspect a caved-in section of a prefectural road in Satte, Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

An aerial shot shows vehicles ready for shipping being carried by a tsunami tidal wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture, Japan.

People gather outside Sendai station after a powerful earthquake.

Hundreds of people wait for busses at a Tokyo bus terminal as commuter trains stopped their services in the Tokyo metropolitan area.

Commuters sit stranded at Tokyo railway station as train services are suspended due to a powerful earthquake.

Train passengers wait at Tokyo's Shinagawa station to get first-hand information on train service which was halted following a very strong earthquake.

Stranded commuters sit inside Tokyo railway station as train services are suspended due to a powerful earthquake in Tokyo.

Evacuees stand around Shinjuku Central Park in Tokyo on March 11, 2011.

An energy map provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) shows the intensity of the tsunami in the Pacific Ocean caused by the magnitude 8.9 earthquake which struck Japan on March 11, 2011 THE END