The US Geological Survey reports that a 8.8 magnitude earthquake has rocked the northeast coast of Honshu Japan, shaking buildings in the capital Tokyo and as far away as Osaka.

People were seen rushing out of buildings, with numerous reports of injuries. Smoke has seen seen rising from a Tokyo port building.

Pictures from Japan's NHK shows cars been swept away by water. Aftershocks were felt minutes after the initial tremor.

The quake struck at a depth of 10 kilometers, centered around Japan's eastern coastal region of Miyagi Prefecture, about 300 kilometers northeast of the capital Tokyo. A major tsunami warning has been issued for a wide area on the western Pacific.