Earthquake and tsunami: NW Pacific, Friday 11 March

By British Expat, 11 March 2011

A massive earthquake originating from an epicentre just off Sendai in north-eastern Japan occurred at 1446 local time (0546 GMT) on Friday 11 March, resulting in an equally massive tsunami. Thousands of people have now been reported dead in Japan, with many more missing. The tsunami caused massive devastation in Japan and also caused damage in several countries and territories in the Pacific and around the Pacific Rim, though not as severely as was initially feared.

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office are issuing advice on their website:

Foreign & Commonwealth Office: Earthquakes and tsunamis in the Pacific

and via Twitter: @britishabroad

Britons in Japan are asked to contact the British consular offices in the country:

Tokyo Embassy: 03-5211-1100
Osaka Consulate General: 06-6120-5600

or the FCO in London: +44-20-7008-1500

A consular helpline is available for those concerned about the safety of friends or relatives: 020-7008-0000.