11 March 2011 Last updated at 14:47 GMT

Japan Earthquake: Hawaii Struck by Tsunami

A tsunami has struck Hawaii hours after the devastating earthquake off Japan, but with little damage reported. Thousands of people were evacuated from the outlying US state's coastal areas ahead of the waves' arrival at about 03.07 local time (13.07 GMT). US President Barack Obama said he was monitoring the threat to Hawaii, his home state, and the US West Coast which is expecting waves later on Friday. About 30,000 residents live in Hawaii's coastal inundation zones. The first wave of the tsunami passed through Midway Island - a small atoll at the north-western end of the Hawaiian archipelago, about 500 miles (800km) from Hawaii's main islands - at about 11.25 GMT, bringing a wave of more than 8ft (2.4m), the local Star Advertiser newspaper reported. But waves were measured at 1.6ft at Nawiliwili on the island of Kauai and 2.3ft on Barbers Point on Oahu, local officials said. Earlier reports suggested waves of up to 6ft might hit Hawaii's main islands. The governor of Hawaii ordered the evacuation of coastal areas and warned residents to take the threat seriously. The main airports on Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii were shut down, and the US Navy ordered all warships in Pearl Harbor to remain in port in case they are needed for rescue missions.

'Difficult situation'
On the tourist hub in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, long queues built up at petrol stations overnight and reports said people were rushing to shops to stock up on emergency supplies and water. Central Honolulu and Waikiki were packed with motorists trying to leave for higher ground and for shelters set up by the state, Reuters reported. The tsunami was triggered by a massive earthquake which hit the north-east of Japan, at 14.46 local time (05.46 GMT). Japanese television showed cars, ships and even buildings being swept away by a vast wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude earthquake. Seismologists say it is the most powerful earthquake to hit Japan since records began. A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to North and South America. The West Coast of the US is expecting any tsunami generated by the quake to hit land at 07.45 local time (15.45 GMT). Source : http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12714558

M. RASYID RIDHO/9 RSBI I SMPN 3 BALIKPAPAN