"DISASTER IN THE PACIFIC" - ABC NEWS ANNOUNCES SPECIAL COVERAGE PLANS

ABC News to Air Special Editions of its Broadcasts Beginning with "ABC World News with Diane Sawyer" and Continuing Throughout the Night with "20/20" and "Nightline"

David Muir to Anchor Weekend Editions of "ABC World News" from Japan And Will Also Contribute to "GMA Weekend"

"This Week with Christiane Amanpour" to Broadcast from Japan on Sunday, March 13

ABC News will provide viewers comprehensive coverage of the earthquake in Japan, the fifth largest earthquake in recorded history, and the aftermath of the tsunami that wiped out entire communities in Japan and reached the shores of the Hawaiian Islands.

"This Week" anchor Christiane Amanpour, "World News" weekend anchor David Muir and ABC's Clarissa Ward are en route to Japan to report on the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami. "Nightline" co-anchor Bill Weir is currently reporting from Santa Monica, California, and Akiko Fujita, ABC News' Tokyo-based digital journalist, has been reporting from Japan.

Tonight Diane Sawyer will anchor a special edition of "World News" from ABC News Headquarters. "Disaster in the Pacific" coverage will continue on "20/20," with Elizabeth Vargas and Chris Cuomo anchoring a special hour of coverage, including the most up-to-date news of the day. Bob Woodruff, Jay Schadler and John Berman will contribute reports.

A special edition of "Nightline" will be devoted to the earthquake and tsunami. Bill Weir anchors the broadcast from Santa Monica, CA and will bring viewers eyewitness accounts from Japan, as well as the latest on the tsunami warning that had been issued for the west coast.

ABC News will have continuing coverage from Japan throughout the weekend. Christiane Amanpour will anchor a special edition of "This Week" from there with all the latest developments. David Muir will anchor "World News with David Muir" from Japan throughout the weekend and will contribute reporting to "GMA Weekend."

ABCNews.com is providing up to the minute coverage from ABC News' team of reporters, as well as live-streaming video from Japan and Diamond Head, Hawaii. Online users can get the latest information coming via social media sites Twitter and Facebook through special widgets on the ABCNews.com homepage.

ABC News is also working closely with its international partner, NHK Japan, to bring viewers the latest on the magnitude 8.9 earthquake that has left several hundred dead and caused the 23-foot tsunami. ABC NewsOne, the network's affiliate news service, will provide reports for ABC stations as well as to all ABC clients and partners, including the BBC, Bloomberg, CTV Canada and Univision.

ABC News Radio is providing one-minute status reports twice an hour on the "Disaster in the Pacific." From 7:45 a.m. through 9:00 a.m., ET, ABC News Radio provided live anchored coverage of the earthquake and tsunami. ABC News Radio correspondent Alex Stone will be traveling to Japan.