Japan Earthquake 2011: Hardest Hit Regions Reel From Devastation

Though rescue workers continue their frantic search, Japan's death toll is already expected to exceed 10,000 following Friday's magnitude-8.9 earthquake and deadly tsunami.

Asia's richest nation faces a mounting humanitarian and economic crisis in the wake of the disaster, further compounded by ongoing nuclear fears following the second hydrogen explosion in three days at a power plant.

As Reuters is reporting, Japanese media have already released preliminary figures of the dead and missing in more than a dozen of the nation's 47 prefectures. You can learn about some of the hardest hit areas below.

Read live updates from Japan here.

All captions courtesy of Reuters.

Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan

BIG SHOTS

Launch the fullpage Big Shots slideshow >>

At least 785 people confirmed dead in cities such as Kesennuma, Higashimatsubara and Sendai, but local authorities fear more than 10,000 people may have died in the Miyagi prefecture alone.

Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan

At least 785 people confirmed dead in cities such as Kesennuma, Higashimatsubara and Sendai, but local authorities fear more than 10,000 people may have died in the Miyagi prefecture alone.

comments(6)

1

 / 16

Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan

RATE THIS PHOTO

 | AVERAGE: 

RANK# 

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

CURRENT TOP 5 SLIDES

USERS WHO VOTED ON THIS SLIDE

loading...

CURRENT TOP 5 SLIDES

CHOOSE YOUR TOP 5 SLIDES

Share Your Top 5 With Your Friends

Close

Comments

[ohxpress]

08:40 PM on 03/14/2011

The photos and videos from the devastation are heartbreaking. The idea that some entire families were wiped out and that many will never have the closure for their loved ones makes me want to weep in sympathy.

[ohxpress]

08:31 PM on 03/14/2011

Since the 'send corrections ' function didn't work, I'll try it this way: There is no "Iware Prefecture" in Japan. It is "Iwate Prefecture". Some of the photo captions had it spelled incorrectly.

[SonyaInTx]

06:59 PM on 03/14/2011

George Bush can learn from the Japanese government what a real search and rescue operation looks like. The Japanese government sprung into action as soon as the tsunami and quake was over.

[maigesheng]

07:25 PM on 03/14/2011

Bush has no need to learn anything. He hasnt been pres for 3 years.

[Star2000dancer]

06:40 PM on 03/14/2011

Blessings for those gone, strength, love,& hope for those who remain.

[Azterix]

05:35 PM on 03/14/2011

Give credit to Japan for its early tsunami warning systems on top of years of implementation in earthquake-proof structures. For those who were left behind in the path of the tsunami is another matter. Nothing man-made is perfect, but Japan's have saved countless of lives due to its preparedness. My pain for the people of Japan.