WASHINGTON, March 11 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Barack Obama on Thursday said there's no major damage to the United States from a tsunami caused by a massive earthquake in Japan, and the government is closely monitoring its impact.
At a White House press conference, Obama called the earthquake and tsunami "catastrophic," and the United States is prepared to send assistance to Japan, as one aircraft carrier is already in Japanese waters and another is on its way.
A devastating earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 jolted northeastern and eastern Japan on Friday, believed to be one of the largest ever observed in the country. The quake and the tsunami it triggered have caused heavy casualties and inflicted severe losses on the country.
Tsunami waves have reached Hawaii and grazed the U.S. West Coast. 
