Yoshimi Okazaki lost her home and job in the Christchurch quake. Now her loved ones are missing in the devastating Japanese quake and tsunami.

Japanese officials have confirmed a second hydrogen explosion has occurred at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, while a warning of a second tsunami has been cancelled.

More than half a million people have been forced from their homes in quake and tsunami-hit northern Japan, petrol has run dry and supermarkets are empty in what its prime minister says is the worst crisis to hit Japan since WWII.

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

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.