The monumental 8.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Japan on Friday left behind a trail of destruction and damage. The earthquake that centered east of the city of Sendai shook houses and cracked the highways.
The deadly tsunami that followed swept away cars, planes and homes. With the country left in shambles, the death toll rising to around 1000 and over 20 countries hit in varying degrees by the tsunami; many predict 3/11 to be the Armageddon for the human race.
Start the slideshow to catch never-before-seen glimpses of the destructive 3/11 earthquake and tsunami and its aftermath:
On March 11, 2011, the world faced one of the biggest natural calamities that slammed northern Japan. Measuring 8.9 magnitudes on Richter scale, the tremor was felt all over Japan including Shizuoka-ken, Yamanashi and Hokkaido.
As per the US Geological Survey, the epicenter of the earthquake was around 250 miles from Tokyo at a depth of 20 miles.
In the picture: Flooding following an earthquake and tsunami is seen in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.Tsunami warnings were also issued for most of the “Pacific Ring of Fire” countries like Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Peru.
The pan-region warning came after officials said the tsunami was likely to be prolonged and massive as the quake was one of the severest ever to hit Japan. The Pacific Ring countries are very prone to earthquakes and as per reports, around 90 percent of the world’s earthquakes occur in this zone.
In the picture: Smoke rises above a town struck by a tsunami following an earthquake in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.Despite warnings, the Bureau of Meteorology stated that Australia is safe from the Tsunami threat that was issued by the US Tsunami monitoring center on Friday Later, alerts were also issued for over 20 countries across the globe including Russia and Indonesia, Central American countries like Guatemala, El Salvador and Costa Rica and the U.S. state of Hawaii.
In the picture: A ship tossed ashore by a tsunami following an earthquake is seen in Aomori Prefecture, northern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.All forms of communication including train services were suspended in Japan as the tsunami washed everything that came in its path. Millions of people were stranded on the streets searching for emergency accommodations in nearby hotels and restaurants.
In the picture: Evacuees walk between houses destroyed by a tsunami and earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.Even mobile lines were blocked thereby preventing nearly all calls and text messages. The Associated Press reported that calls to northeastern Japan, where a 23-foot (7-meter) tsunami washed ashore after the quake, generally failed to go through, with a recording saying the area's lines were busy.
Unable to rely on their mobile phones, people formed lines at Tokyo's normally vacant public phone booths dotting the city.
In the picture: A man and boy walk between houses destroyed by a tsunami and earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.In the picture: A woman cries after learning that her mother was successfully rescued from a building following an earthquake and tsunami in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. Japan confronted devastation along its northeastern coast on Saturday, with fires raging and parts of some cities under water after a massive earthquake and tsunami that likely killed at least 1,000 people.
Reuters.
