As the extent of the destruction from the massive disaster in Japan comes into focus, religious NGOs are sending and supporting teams to assess the damage.

A meltdown threatens at one or more of Fukushima Daiichi's nuclear power reactors in northern Japan, a senior official has told CNN in the USA.

Church leaders have sent messages of support for the people of Japan after a devastating 8.9-magnitude quake and ensuing tsunami rocked the country.