The following is a list of key events since a massive earthquake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan on Friday:
Friday, March 11:
- An undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.0, one of the most powerful ever recorded, strikes off Japan's northeastern coast just before 3:00 pm local time. The authorities issue a tsunami warning.
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- A 10-metre (33-foot) tsunami wave smashes over the northeastern Japanese coast, causing massive damage and flooding. A series of aftershocks follows, many exceeding a magnitude of 7.0.
- Japanese authorities announce that four nuclear power stations in quake-hit areas have been shut down. Eventually 11 of the nation's roughly 50 plants stop producing power.
- The US Geological Service announces the quake was the most powerful to hit Japan since records began.
Saturday, March 12:
- The Japanese government orders the evacuation of residents living close to the Fukushima No. 1 nuclear power plant, where the disaster has caused cooling systems to fail and raised fears of a meltdown.
- An explosion occurs in a building housing one of the plant's reactors.
- Japan mobilises some 100,000 military and other rescue personnel. Aid pours in from around the world, including from the US military stationed in Japan.
- Video images show the extent of the damage, with the tsunami washing away houses and cars and hurling ships far inland, while fires blaze over large areas.
The US Geological Survey says the force of the quake moved Honshu -- the main Japanese island -- by 2.4 metres (eight feet).
Sunday, March 13:
- The government says 230,000 people have been evacuated from the vicinity of the crippled nuclear reactors.
- While the overall toll remains unclear, the police chief in badly-hit Miyagi prefecture said the number of deaths was certain to exceed 10,000 in his region alone.
- A man who was swept out to sea on a piece of the roof of his house is rescued by a naval vessel.
- The Japanese government announces energy rationing due to the shutdown of nuclear power stations. Millions of residents are without any power or water.
- The Japanese weather service says there is a 70-percent chance that a further aftershock with a magnitude of 7.0 or higher could occur within three days.
Monday, March 14:
- A second explosion occurs at the stricken Fukushima nuclear power station.
- Rescuers say they have found 2,000 bodies in Miyagi prefecture.
- Share prices plunge 6.18 percent on the Tokyo stock exchange.
- A United Nations humanitarian agency says 1.4 million Japanese are without running water and more than half a million have been evacuated.
Tuesday, March 15
- A third blast rocks Fukushima Dai-ichi.
- PM Naoto Kan warns residents within 10km of the plant to stay indoors with the windows shut, and all others to evacuate.
- The fate of 50-70 power plant employees still inside is unknown.
- Radiation reaches levels that are dangerous to human health.
- Radiation rises in Tokyo, 250kms away from Fukushima, but does not reach harmful levels.
