Hundreds hurt as quake rocks north Japan

A MAGNITUDE 8 quake rocked Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido yesterday, injuring hundreds, cutting off electricity and water to thousands, igniting a spectacular oil-tank blaze and collapsing part of an airport roof.

The quake was the largest anywhere in the world this year, the US Geological Survey said. Still, no deaths were immediately reported a fact that experts attributed to sturdy Japanese buildings and the quake's location 26 miles below the ocean floor.

Two fishermen were missing and police suspected they may have been swept away by quake-triggered tidal waves.