One of the largest earthquakes ever recorded struck on Friday off the coast of Japan, spawning a tsunami whose violent effects were felt across the Pacific region - from the Far East to South America to the US West coast. Hundreds of people were killed, and many more were missing or injured. A summary of the day's developments:
IN THE FAR EAST:
The 8.9-magnitude quake and tsunami devastated northeastern Japan, killing hundreds and wreaking horrific destruction: Giant waves carried away houses, cars and even light planes. Fires burned out of control. A ship was caught in the vortex of a whirlpool at sea. Tokyo was largely shut down.
A cooling system failed at a nuclear plant and radiation levels surged to 1000 times their normal levels, prompting calls for the evacuation of thousands from the area.
Scientists said the quake ranked as the fifth largest in the world since 1900 and was nearly 8000 times stronger than one that devastated Christchurch, New Zealand, last month.
A global investment banking group estimated overall losses of about $US10 billion and President Barack Obama pledged US assistance following what he called a potentially "catastrophic" disaster.
IN THE US:
Soon after the quake hit, sirens blared in Hawaii, warning of a tsunami that swamped Hawaii beaches and pushed waves into hotel lobbies on the Big Island. The West Coast pulled back from the shoreline, fearing the worst. Residents were warned to stay away from beaches. Fishermen in northern California took their vessels out to sea and safety.
Docks were ripped from harbours in California and Oregon, and outside Brookings, Oregon, four people went to a beach to watch the waves and were swept into the sea.
All either got out on their own or were rescued. In Crescent City, California., the Coast Guard searched for a man who was swept out to sea while taking pictures.
In Oregon, hotels were evacuated and shops stayed shuttered in the northwest tourist town of Seaside.
But in the end, relatively little damage was reported outside Japan.
Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie said the islands were "fortunate almost beyond words. ... All of us had that feeling that Hawaii was just the most blessed place on the face of the Earth today."
ELSEWHERE:
Tsunami warnings were extended to a number of areas in the Pacific, Southeast Asia and Latin America, including Japan, Russia, Indonesia, New Zealand and Chile. In the Philippines, authorities ordered an evacuation of coastal communities, but no unusual waves were reported.
Latin American governments ordered islanders and coastal residents to head for higher ground. Coastal officials from Mexico to Chile hauled boats from the sea, closing ports and schools and preparing to evacuate thousands of people ahead of the tsunami's expected arrival.
Thousands fled homes in Indonesia after officials warned of a tsunami. In Guam, the waves broke two US Navy submarines from their moorings, but tug boats corralled the subs and brought them back to their pier.
In the Canadian pacific coast province of British Columbia, authorities evacuated marinas, beaches and other areas.
