The mothers of two former All Blacks based in Japan feared the worst when Friday's deadly earthquake and tsunami hit.

Japanese officials warned of a possible second explosion at a nuclear plant crippled by the earthquake and tsunami as they raced to stave off multiple reactor meltdowns, but they provided few details about whether they were making progress.

Three nuclear power plants in Japan have suffered failure, with a top Government official warning a meltdown at one of the plants was "highly possible". Over 10,000 people are thought to be missing as officials fight to avoid a catastrope

Read the latest accounts from people around the world via Facebook and Twitter.

The Robinson family of Nelson breathed a huge sigh of relief this morning when they finally reached their daughter in Japan.

A compilation of some of the most remarkable video to emerge from Friday night's disaster in Japan

It is starting to feel like elements of Hiroshima, Kobe and the Asian tsunami combined.

Recent events have many asking what science is doing to forewarn us of major earthquakes.

All but "a few" New Zealanders registered as living in northeast Japan have been located.

There is no connection between February's Christchurch earthquake and the massive Japanese quake, scientists say.

How the tsunami is impacting Pacific Rim locations such as Hawaii, Guam, North and South America, Tahiti and New Zealand.

The tsunami has reached North Cape, Raoul Island, Great Barrier Island, East Cape and Tauranga.

As many as 6000 New Zealanders could be in quake-stricken Japan, says New Zealand's ambassador there.

Even in a nation accustomed to tremors, yesterday's massive earthquake in Japan, and the tsunami it triggered, were terrifyingly different.

Japan's biggest quake since records began triggered a shocking 10m tsunami. See how the quake ranks in history.

A 10-metre-high tsunami ploughed into the Japanese coast on Friday, dashing ships into the shore, washing away houses and leaving devastation in its wake.