Definition: An earthquake is a shaking of the ground caused by the sudden breaking and movement of large sections of the earth's rocky outermost crust. The edges of the tectonic plates are marked by faults (or fractures). Most earthquakes occur along the fault lines when the plates slide past each other or collide against each other.
Japan is currently going through a struggle with the most powerful earthquake that occured since records began has struck the north-easy coast, trigging massive tsunamis.
Cars, ships and buildings were swept away by a wall of water after the 8.9-magnitude quake, which struck about 400km (250 miles) north-east of Tokyo.
The death toll is unclear, but police say 200 to 300 bodies have been found in the port city of Sendai; many more people are unaccounted for.
Walking was like crossing the deck of a ship at sea. People poured down from their offices and stood in the street staring up.
The tremor, measured at 8.9 by the US Geological Survey, hit at 1446 local time at a depth of about 24km.
A tsunami warning was extended across the Pacific to North and South America.
The Red Cross in Geneva warned that the waves could be higher than some Pacific islands, Reuters news agency said.
Coastal areas in the Philippines, and other parts of the Pacific were evacuated ahead of the tsunami's expected arrival.
The first waves, currently under a metre high, have started reaching Hawaii.
New Zealand downgraded its alert to a marine threat, meaning strong and unusual currents were expected.'Train missing' as well.
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