First, a massive earthquake triggered a catastrophic tsunami affecting the entire Pacific region. Then, in the aftermath, focus shifted to the ability of Japan's nuclear reactors to withstand the combination of natural disasters.

As an anxious world watched Sunday, Japanese engineers raced to prevent a nuclear meltdown by flooding reactors with seawater and releasing pent-up gasses from the plants.

The estimated death toll from Japan's disasters climbed past 10,000 Sunday as hundreds of thousands of people struggled to find food and water.

CNN reported that by Sunday afternoon, The United States, the United Kingdom, China, and South Korea were among 69 governments that have offered to help in rescue and humanitarian efforts.

Japanese Prime Minister: "In the 65 years after the end of World War II, this is the toughest and the most difficult crisis for Japan."
-- Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan calling on his country Sunday to join together and be prepared to make some sacrifices in the hard road to recovery.

Tokyo resident: "Now I have nuclear plants to worry about. We have an idea of what to do when an earthquake hits, but what should I do in a radiation leak?"
--Indri Rosid, who lives in Tokyo

Tsunami survivor: "I ran away after I heard a tsunami was coming. But I turned back to fetch something from home and was swept away. I was rescued while hanging on to the roof of my house."
-- Hiromitsu Shinkawa, 60, who was rescued Sunday nearly 10 miles out at sea on the roof of his floating house.