Earthquakes have triggered major tsunamis in many parts of the world over the years.

An 8.8-magnitude quake shook Chile in Feb. of 2010, generating a tsunami that killed 524 people.

And a magnitude 8.0 earthquake brought tsunamis of up to 40 feet that killed 194 people in the South Pacific, which includes 34 in American Samoa, on Sept. 2009.

July of 2006 saw the death of at least 600 people off Java island's southern coast due to a tsunami triggered from a magnitude 6.1 earthquake.

Back in Dec. of 2004, a 9.0 magnitude quake triggered the infamous Indian Ocean tsunami. It killed 230,000 people in 12 countries.

Also, in August of 1976, at least 5,000 people were killed when a magnitude 8.0 earthquake hit the Philippines, generating a tsunami.

CBN News Sr. International Correspondent George Thomas has covered earthquakes in Chile, China, Haiti, Taiwan and the 2004 Asia tsunami.  He's also experienced several earthquakes himself.  Click play for his comments on the most recent Japan quake and tsunami warning.