Japanese earthquake: The immediate aftermath and three months later

A comparative look at Japan’s topography after the devastating March earthquake.

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In this photo combination, a sea coast is filled with destroyed houses and debris at Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 12, one day after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, top, and the same area, bottom, with the houses and debris cleared as photographed on June 3. Japan marks three months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation's eastern coast on June 11.

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In this combo of two panoramic photos, top, a ship swept away by tsunami sits amid debris-covered residential area March 15, while the ship stays in the same position in the area almost cleaned up June 3 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11.

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In this combo of two photos, a ship swept away by tsunami lies among other debris March 12, left, while a man on a bicycle pedals past a pedestrian on the same road June 4 in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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At left, an overturned car sits on the rooftop of a damaged building after being swept away by the tsunami March 18; right, the car still stays in the same position on the building while its surrounding area is almost cleaned up June 3 in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Saturday, June 11.

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Cherry blossoms are in full bloom along Kamiyama River with damaged cars and debris still scattered in the water April 28. At bottom, the river is almost cleaned up on June 6 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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Ships swept away by the tsunami are piled up on the ground March 24. They are in the same position in the area on June 3 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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Tsunami survivors walk with plastic containers and kettles to carry drinking water through a street blocked by a fallen tank and other debris March 14. Only one damaged house, center, stands along the same street June 3.

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Rescue workers search for tsunami survivors amid debris as ships swept away by tsunami sit aground in a residential area March 14. Below, the ships stay in the same position in the area almost unchanged on June 3 in Higashimatsushima, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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Left, residents wait for rescuers on the balcony of the debris-dangling house in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 12, one day after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area. At right, the same building with the debris almost cleared as photographed on June 3. Japan marks three months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation's eastern coast.

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A TV antenna leans near a stone statue of the guardian deity of children sitting among the debris in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 24. The same area with the debris cleared and the statue wearing a new red cap as photographed on June 4.

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Debris of houses swept away by the tsunami are left untouched March 15. Some buildings stand in the same area almost cleaned up on June 3 in Ishinomaki, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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A shinto torii, or gateway, leading to Kozuchi shrine stands among the debris in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 14. The same area, bottom, with the debris almost cleared as photographed on June 3.

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A tsunami-beached ship lies among debris in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 13. The same area, bottom, with the ship remaining there as photographed on June 3,.

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Damaged cars are submerged in flooded residential area with other debris swept away by tsunami March 12. A car goes by a cleared street in the same area June 3 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

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Damaged houses stand amid debris swept away by tsunami March 23. Debris is almost cleared as of June 3 in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan.

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People walk along Prefectural Highway 30 sandwiched by floodwaters in Ishinomaki, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 24. In the same arean earth mover goes on reconstruction work on June 4.

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Two-car trains lie L-shaped after being swept away by tsunami at Shinchi Station only its railway bridge section left standing on March 12. Below, a truck is parked near the bridge June 3 in Shinchi, Fukushima Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami on Saturday.

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Debris is piled up by damaged buildings in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 13. The same area with several houses demolished as photographed on June 3.

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In this combo of two photos, vehicles park on the ground of a junior high school serving a refugee center in Rikuzentakata, Iwata prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 19, 2011, days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, left, and the same area, right, with temporary houses are set up for survivors as photographed on June 3, 2011. Japan marks three months since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami that struck the nation's eastern coast on Saturday, June 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

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In this combo of two photos, a group of firefighters head for a rescue operation March 13, 2011, top, while a truck goes by the same road lined with electric poles June 6, 2011 in Minamisanriku, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami Saturday, June 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Kyodo News) JAPAN OUT, MANDATORY CREDIT, NO LICENSING IN CHINA, HONG KONG, JAPAN, SOUTH KOREA AND FRANCE

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Buildings are surrounded by debris in Onagawa, Miyagi prefecture, northeastern Japan, on March 16. The same area, bottom, with the debris almost cleared as photographed on June 3.

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Left, a damaged house stands in a flooded residential area on March 20. Right, the sun shines over the same area June 3 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.

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Fire engines park among the debris as a search for missing people goes on in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture on March 18. Below, the debris is almost cleared as photographed on June 6.

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A burnt pickup truck lies among debris swept away by tsunami March 13. Below, marguerites are in bloom along a cleared street corner in the same area June 3 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture.

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A sightseeing boat sits on a building in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture on April 6. The boat is gone, as photographed on June 3.

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Top, destroyed houses and debris fill a parking lot of a shopping center in Otsuchi, Iwate prefecture on March 13, two days after the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit the area, The same area, below, with the houses and debris cleared as photographed on June 3.

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Tsunami waves surge over a residential area March 11. Power shovels doing reconstruction work June 3 in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. On Saturday, Japan marks three month since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

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