Japan Earthquake 2011: Photographs Of The Humanitarian Crisis

Rescue workers in Japan's devastated northeast had to contend with a blanket of heavy snow as they went about their relief efforts Wednesday morning, adding to the list of woes endured by the area worst hit by last week's deadly earthquake and tsunami.

As Reuters is reporting, firefighters and relief teams continued to sift through massive mounds of rubble, hoping to find any sign of life in water-logged wastelands where homes and factories once stood. Unfortunately for desperate family members and friends, the snow weakens chances of finding loved ones alive.

"People are still working, the army is out here," said Patrick Fuller of the International Red Cross Federation. "But the fire service has taken off because they are worried they won't get back to their base because of the snow."

View live updates from Japan here.

View photos of survivors and the ongoing relief efforts below:

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Evacuees carry bowls of soup back to their makeshift shelter in Minamisanriku, northern Japan.

Evacuees carry bowls of soup back to their makeshift shelter in Minamisanriku, northern Japan.

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Comments

[Ljilja]

11:14 AM on 03/17/2011

We are all in this together. Today, we are all Japanese.

[General Armchair]

09:09 AM on 03/17/2011

Somewhat grainy TV image just showed on NHK pretty clearly shows white smoke/steam coming from the seemingly undamaged Unit 2 reactor house.

More than we saw yesterday on Digital Globe satellite image.

[Lunamoth]

08:49 AM on 03/17/2011

thank all that's good - a site with a reasonable mod

[priceut]

09:07 AM on 03/17/2011

Thank you. Fanned.

[2ndamend]

07:41 AM on 03/17/2011

Still haven't seen looting or rioting. The Japanese must be more civil than the people of New Orleans.

[jbh2009]

08:22 AM on 03/17/2011

Me neither....It's a nice story - considering the scale of the disaster is like nothing I've ever seen. I wish there were more stories about the character of the people thus far.

[killmenow]

09:09 AM on 03/17/2011

No, their government is far more civil in providing immediate response and getting basic necessities to the affected as quickly as possible.

[2ndamend]

09:24 AM on 03/17/2011

And since you only rely on the government for help you have become a slave which is what the government wants. It's much better to keep it to a grounded level and rely on each other.

[GorgyPorgy]

01:34 AM on 03/17/2011

Every time I see these pictures I imagine Obama playing golf, and the new images will be Obama enjoying a pina' colada on the beaches of Rio.

[lostnspace]

03:51 AM on 03/17/2011

Every time is read stupid comments like these I imagine an overweight teabagger sitting in their trailer eating donuts.

[waldopepper]

04:52 AM on 03/17/2011

Perfect comment.

[Candide33]

06:30 AM on 03/17/2011

LOL, a new fan for you

F&F!

[fishnetdiver]

04:04 AM on 03/17/2011

no doubt!
he should break-out St. Ronnie's Superman costume and fly over their where he can singlehandedly put out the fires, suck-up the radiation and rebuild the nation all while waving the american flag and kissing babies!

weak

[GorgyPorgy]

08:17 AM on 03/17/2011

And to the other extreme; a game of golf.

[CaitlinO]

01:28 AM on 03/17/2011

Just when you think it can't get worse, it does.

It's no longer a triple disaster - monster earthquake­, devastatin­g tsunami and evolving nuclear disaster - the Japanese are also facing an especially virulent outbreak of H5 avian flu in Chiba prefecture­:

http://www­.japantoda­y.com/cate­gory/natio­nal/view/b­ird-flu-ca­se-confirm­ed-in-chib­a-culling-­of-35000-b­irds-begin­s

[Candide33]

06:32 AM on 03/17/2011

And it is snowing!!! It is absolutely heart breaking

[AJ76]

09:04 AM on 03/17/2011

I heard that yesterday on Rachel's show. The guest said they had a bird flu outbreak in 5 areas in Japan!

[Malik Skyy]

01:12 AM on 03/17/2011

While events in Japan continue to drive the news cycle, and the images an angry tsunami sweeping away humanity like toys forces us to be material witnesses of another tragedy, the debates of nuclear energy is just beginning to heat up. Like many debates initiated by an event/events presented to the world by the world’s most dominate medium, television, it forces us to question our policies and, eventually ask ourselves, “Can it happen here?”

While debates rage on, and fear mongers compete to spread fear, the death and destruction of others have taken on political overtures, the bobble heads of faux have found another opportunity to bash Obama and the left, and once again those constantly searching for signs from God have announced once again that THE END IS NEAR.

Tragedies and sadness have a tendency to appear all consuming, complete and absolute—as if we are experiencing it for the first time. However, time is the sedative, the anesthesia that is most affective after life performed open-heart surgery on us. In between tragedies, as we covalence, let us not forget lessons learned, or the heroes of the latest tragedy—those Japanese workers working heroically at the Fukushima nuclear plant to save the lives of a nation.

[fishnetdiver]

04:08 AM on 03/17/2011

F&F
There will always be those who trumpet the End Days or spin tragedy to fit their own agenda all the while glossing over the true human horror that is happening right under their noses.

[Daniel Tavares]

12:36 AM on 03/17/2011

I currently work a part-time job and am looking for full-time work, but after seeing the devastation I was wondering if it might be possible to volunteer as a relief worker in the effort in Japan. Does anyone know?

[Sol76]

03:28 AM on 03/17/2011

Same here. I feel like going there to help.

[MamacitaOfLove]

09:09 AM on 03/17/2011

Americorps is looking for students...

[Klytemnestra]

12:31 AM on 03/17/2011

Heartbreaking!

[glpur1]

11:46 PM on 03/16/2011

As I felt with New Orleans as days passed without relief to those suffering I again wonder why it's taking so long to get food and water and warmth to these innocent, suffering people.
But there is something totally different here than New Orleans. There's no looting. No cries of racism. No violence. Instead a quiet dignity of a people who really trust that their government and their fellow countrymen are doing the best they can to get help to them. These Japanese are the best example of "a nation" I have seen in a long, long time.
As I read the attacks in these comments against members of different political parties I am sickened by what we've become. We are rapidly disenfranchising ourselves as "a nation". We are just a multitude of groups of different political beliefs; different races; different ethnicities; different religions and different socio-economic groups who happen to live in a defined geographic area.
The one and only time I recently felt part of a "people" known as "Americans" was after September 11th, when we were all one people, united. But it didn't last long.
As I see these photographs of suffering Japanese men, women and children, I envy them. And I wonder if that kind of unity will ever occur in America again.

[JustLeftOfRight]

12:28 AM on 03/17/2011

I couldn't agree more and I'm glad to call you my fellow countryman.

[Integrity4most]

05:43 AM on 03/17/2011

I also agree. I find all of the "us and them", bad guy, good guy stuff so silly. No government is perfect and there's a lot to complain about, but when crises reach this level, it's time to grow up and pull together as fellow humans. The people of Japan are teaching us plenty, let's pay attention as well as show them our strong side as a nation of compassionate people by actively pitching in in whatever capacity we can.

[booboo111]

11:13 PM on 03/16/2011

Except for the attire, you could be looking at pictures of the aftermath of Hiroshima.

[Sol76]

03:36 AM on 03/17/2011

The wealth and variety of photographs, videos and on the field reports would make this a much more documented event. Hiroshima was more or less seen after the fact, following a lot of misinformation and censorship in the media.

[fourtruth]

10:37 PM on 03/16/2011

I have been deliberatly NOT thinking about people pets - such human tragedy. They showed a dazed horse in the middle of the rubble on Nightline last night - the poor thing just stood there - hardly turned to look at them - and now these pictures today.

I know In Defence of Animals (IDA) and ASPCA have sent convoys - but how overwhelming that will be.

[JamesBondQuixote]

11:35 PM on 03/16/2011

I saw a video -- BBCnews I think -- of 2 dogs who had survived the tsunami. But one was injured and lying on the ground, though you can see it moving its legs. The other dog stood by his injured friend, and at one point nuzzled him as if to comfort him. Absolutely heartbreaking. I don't know if those dogs got any help at all. My heart is broken seeing the human suffering, especially the children and the elderly. And it is broken all over again to see (or think) about animals/pets who suffered or are suffering as well. They will be the last to get any help, if at all. Such is their plight. At times like these I wish I had super human strength and just scoop them all up -- humans AND animals -- and comfort them, and heal them, and feed them. Or lay them gently to rest if that is what is needed. I am ready to send some amount of $ to help out in the rescue effort...but it seems so paltry, so utterly inadequate. But will amount to something substantial and truly helpful when combined with everyone else's help. Please folks, let's help. And if you could find it in your heart to send a bit of some help, too, for the rescue efforts that I know will be undertaken now by humane societies (ASPCA, HSUS, etc.)

[fourtruth]

11:55 PM on 03/16/2011

A bit off topic - I visit Petfinder local about once a week - not for over a month though.

And just noticed today that they are down to 640 some chihuahuas - 1 to 3 years ago as forclosures were rampant there were over 12,000 chihuahuas in rescue at any given time.

Of course we will be flooded with dogs and cats from Japan and that is ok - looks like our own animal crises is letting up - this should be an indicator of the economy don't you think?.

[springchickennot]

01:09 AM on 03/17/2011

I heard a report that both dogs were rescued.

[fourtruth]

10:14 PM on 03/16/2011

Now it is snowing!?!?!?

Even the weather reporter in Japan on one of the other HP articles sounded so down and tired.

Chile had another qack today too - a pretty big one - ironcially not as big as Japans aftershocks. Wow - how quickly our point of reference changes.

This is like 9/11 - I can't stop keeping track - but the trajedy is non-stop - just one more new layer of insult on the Japanese people every day...and we have not even started getting to the world impact yet.

I'm not religious at all - but I am praying for Japan - just in case - can't hurt.

Wish I were employed so I could give more..