Tokyo commuters formed a 200-meter (220-yard) long line for taxis at the city's main railway station after a magnitude 8.9 earthquake forced a shutdown of the city's subways and train services.
Tokyo Metro Co. and Toei Transportation halted all subway services, they said in statements. They didn't say when operations were likely to resume. East Japan Railway Co., the nation's largest train operator, also stopped all Tokyo- area commuter services and its Joetsu, Tohoku and Nagano bullet-train operations.
"I want to get home before it gets dark, but look at this line," said Kazuko Kubo, 72, gesturing at a taxi queue stretching around a block in the city's Otemachi central business district. "I can't get a hold of my family. I hope they're OK."
Checks of the city's largest subway system revealed no casualties as of 4:25 p.m., Tokyo Metro said in a faxed statement. The company was conducting "walk-through" checks in the halted system's tunnels, according to the statement.
Buses were picking up passengers from the Marunouchi south side of Tokyo station, where a line more than 100 meters long had formed.
Flight Cancellations
Services were also interrupted at the city's two main airports after the world's largest quake in six years. Buildings shook in the Japanese capital and tsunami warnings were triggered for as far away as Mexico. Sendai airport, in northern Japan, was flooded by a tsunami, according to public broadcaster NHK.
All Nippon Airways Co. cancelled 131 flights affecting 32,700 people, the carrier said in a faxed statement. Twenty four flights were diverted, it said.
Narita International Airport closed runways for inspection, and Japan Airlines Corp. diverted flights headed to the hub outside Tokyo, said Taro Namba, a spokesman for the airline.
Japan Airlines redirected 22 flights to other airports and 5,290 passengers were affected by the earthquake, the carrier said in a faxed statement.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. advised passengers heading to Tokyo to check its website before traveling to the airport. China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp. delayed flights to the Japanese capital, said spokespeople.
Kansai Airport, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is operating normally, said Naoya Tani, a spokesman.
Tokyo Metro Co. and Toei Transportation halted all subway services, they said in statements. They didn't say when operations were likely to resume. East Japan Railway Co., the nation's largest train operator, also stopped all Tokyo- area commuter services and its Joetsu, Tohoku and Nagano bullet-train operations.
"I want to get home before it gets dark, but look at this line," said Kazuko Kubo, 72, gesturing at a taxi queue stretching around a block in the city's Otemachi central business district. "I can't get a hold of my family. I hope they're OK."
Checks of the city's largest subway system revealed no casualties as of 4:25 p.m., Tokyo Metro said in a faxed statement. The company was conducting "walk-through" checks in the halted system's tunnels, according to the statement.
Buses were picking up passengers from the Marunouchi south side of Tokyo station, where a line more than 100 meters long had formed.
Flight Cancellations
Services were also interrupted at the city's two main airports after the world's largest quake in six years. Buildings shook in the Japanese capital and tsunami warnings were triggered for as far away as Mexico. Sendai airport, in northern Japan, was flooded by a tsunami, according to public broadcaster NHK.
All Nippon Airways Co. cancelled 131 flights affecting 32,700 people, the carrier said in a faxed statement. Twenty four flights were diverted, it said.
Narita International Airport closed runways for inspection, and Japan Airlines Corp. diverted flights headed to the hub outside Tokyo, said Taro Namba, a spokesman for the airline.
Japan Airlines redirected 22 flights to other airports and 5,290 passengers were affected by the earthquake, the carrier said in a faxed statement.
Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. advised passengers heading to Tokyo to check its website before traveling to the airport. China Airlines Ltd. and EVA Airways Corp. delayed flights to the Japanese capital, said spokespeople.
Kansai Airport, about 400 kilometers (250 miles) southwest of Tokyo, is operating normally, said Naoya Tani, a spokesman.
