The Queen led Britain's response to the Asian earthquake, saying her "thoughts and prayers" are with the Japanese people amid their losses.
Flames rise from houses and debris half submerged following the tsunami in Sendai Photo: AP
The monarch's message to Emperor Akihito came as the Government offered to send rescue teams and other specialists to assist the Japanese response to the disaster.
"I was saddened to hear of the tragic loss of life caused by the earthquake which has struck north east Japan today," the Queen told the emperor.
"Prince Philip joins me in extending our heartfelt sympathy to your Majesty and the people of Japan. Our prayers and thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by the dreadful disaster."
Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, David Cameron pledged the Government's support for the Japanese emergency response.
"The first thing we should be thinking about today is sending our sympathies and our condolences to the Japanese people," he said.
"We've had a terrible reminder of the destructive power of nature and everyone should be thinking of that country and their people."
In Mr Cameron's absence, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, chaired a meeting of COBRA, the Whitehall emergency committee.
The Foreign Office contacted the Japanese government to offer British assistance dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.
Mr Hague said British help could take the form of humanitarian assistance, search and rescue teams or victim identification specialists.
Britain will offer "whatever assistance is required and whatever the Japanese government would like us to send in the coming days," he said.
Despite the offer, there were concerns that Britain's ability to help could be limited by existing commitments in the Middle East.
Andrew Mitchell, the development secretary, admitted that dealing with evacuations from Libya and now considering help for Japan had left his department "stretched." He said: "We are stretched, but we are on top of it and we are working on the two situations to ensure that help is brought to people who are in a desperate position".
However, he pointed out that by international standards, Japan was well-prepared for natural disasters.
"One of the points of some comfort in this is that the Japanese emergency services - the search and rescue - are amongst the best in the world," he said.
Mr Mitchell also raised the hope that early-warning systems put in place following the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 had left governments better prepared to react to this disaster.
"We hope very much that the lessons will have been learnt from that, and that we will be able to react rapidly when we see how we can help," he said
In Mr Cameron's absence, William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, chaired a meeting of COBRA, the Whitehall emergency committee.
The Foreign Office contacted the Japanese government to offer British assistance dealing with the aftermath of the earthquake.
Mr Hague said British help could take the form of humanitarian assistance, search and rescue teams or victim identification specialists.
Britain will offer "whatever assistance is required and whatever the Japanese government would like us to send in the coming days," he said.
Despite the offer, there were concerns that Britain's ability to help could be limited by existing commitments in the Middle East.
Andrew Mitchell, the development secretary, admitted that dealing with evacuations from Libya and now considering help for Japan had left his department "stretched." He said: "We are stretched, but we are on top of it and we are working on the two situations to ensure that help is brought to people who are in a desperate position".
However, he pointed out that by international standards, Japan was well-prepared for natural disasters.
"One of the points of some comfort in this is that the Japanese emergency services - the search and rescue - are amongst the best in the world," he said.
Mr Mitchell also raised the hope that early-warning systems put in place following the Boxing Day tsunami of 2004 had left governments better prepared to react to this disaster.
"We hope very much that the lessons will have been learnt from that, and that we will be able to react rapidly when we see how we can help," he said
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