The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that rocked Japan on March 11 at 2:46 p.m. struck after a series of smaller quakes earlier in the week. Aftershocks — as many as 12 to 15 an hour — now total in the hundreds, including more than 30 of magnitude 6 or greater.

Play the timeline map below to see quakes magnitude 5 and greater before and after the strongest temblor to strike Japan in 140 years.

The timeline begins two days before the great quake, when a magnitude 7.2 earthquake hit off the coast shortly before noon March 9. All times are Japan Standard. Click on any icon for more details.

— Ken Schwencke and Thomas Suh Lauder

3/16/11, 10:40 a.m. PST