The United Nations stands ready to provide relief assistance to earthquake-striken Japan should the government request aid, a spokesperson said Friday.

Elizabeth Byrs, spokesperson for the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said "35 international search and rescue teams are on alert to be deployed."

Brys said the OCHA was monitoring the situation in Japan and is in close contact with Japanese authorities and emergency task teams.

Brys said Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan called the situation "grave" and was chairing an emergency team in response to the 8.9 magnitude earthquake that hit northeast Japan early Friday afternoon.

The largest earthquake in Japan's recorded history also triggered a tsunami that slammed the eastern coast Friday, sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people as widespread fires burned out of control.