UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-general Ban Ki-moon on Friday expressed his deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people and government, as the country suffered a lot in a powerful earthquake of magnitude 8.8.

"The world is shocked and saddened by the images coming from Japan," Ban said in a statement issued this morning. "On behalf of the United Nations, I want to express my deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the Japanese people and government, most especially those who lost family and friends in the earthquake and subsequent tsunamis."

Ban stressed that "the United Nations stands by the people of Japan" and "will do anything and everything we can at this very difficult time."

The UN chief expressed hope that under the leadership of Prime Minister Kan Naoto and with the full support and solidarity of the international community, the Japanese people and government will be able to overcome this difficult time as soon as possible.

Ban said the world body would do all to mobilize humanitarian assistance and disaster risk reduction teams to help Japan as soon as possible.