Two weeks has passed since a massive earthquake and the ensuing tsunami struck Japan to cause one of the most severe natural disasters in Japanese history.
The National Police Agency wasn't able to confirm the exact number of casualties but so far, 9,811 people are confirmed dead and 17,541 are officially listed as missing. The total casualty, then, may be around 27,000.
The quake was Japan's worst natural disaster since the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, which killed more than 142,000 people around Tokyo. The economic damage could reach $310 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster of all time. Economic costs resulted from damage of houses, businesses and infrastructure in the seven worst-hit prefectures.
Moreover, various international corporations have fled from Tokyo, fearing a potential future disaster at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Japanese companies also halted production for a while.
In the midst of this tragedy, countries from around the world have continued to show their support for Japan. International rescue teams are continuing to facilitate the recovery and rescue of Japan and its people from this devastating disaster.
Here are some photos of international rescue teams that have helped Japan.
Japan`s Deputy Prime Minister Naoto Kan arrives at a lower house plenary session at Parliament in Tokyo September 18, 2009.REUTERSA U.S. marine based in Japan directs heavy lifting equipment March 25, 2011 as reconstruction work continues at Sendai airport that was hit by an earthquake and tsunami, northern Japan. U.S. forces will provide water to help cool the reactors at Japan's stricken nuclear plant north of Tokyo, Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa as saying on Friday.ReutersU.S. marines based in Japan start to clear rubble in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, March 25, 2011 as reconstruction continues at Sendai airport, which was hit by the earthquake and tsunami in northern Japan. U.S. forces will provide water to help cool the reactors at Japan's stricken nuclear plant north of Tokyo, Kyodo news agency quoted Japanese Defence Minister Toshimi Kitazawa as saying on Friday.ReutersRelief goods which will be sent to Japan are pictured on a dummy in a factory building of nuclear reactor maker Areva in Erlangen March 22, 2011. An international rescue effort to help Japan seek survivors of a massive earthquake and tsunami and address a nuclear crisis is gathering pace, with many countries offering assistance. ReutersA Russian Emergencies Ministry member searches for survivors in a building damaged by the earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northern Japan March 18, 2011. Picture taken March 18, 2011. ReutersTaiwanese rescue officers prepare for their rescue operation at a village destroyed by an earthquake and tsunami a week ago in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, northeast Japan March 18, 2011. ReutersRuling out laymen speculation on a connection between the earthquakes that have stuck nations across the world including the powerful Christchurch and Japan ones, a new study has found that large quakes do not cause temblors in far away lands. ReutersMembers of the Special Malaysia Disaster Assistance and Rescue Team (SMART) walk back to the terminal after loading supplies into an aircraft before leaving for earthquake and tsunami-hit Japan, at an airport in Subang outside Kuala Lumpur March 15, 2011. Malaysia is to send a 15-member search and rescue team with medical officers and 6 tracker dogs to Japan. ReutersHector Mendez aka "El Chino" from the Mexican rescue team Topos de Tlatelolco (Moles of Tlatelolco) listens to another team member as they discuss their trip to Japan, in Mexico City March 12, 2011. The Topos is a self-financed rescue team which searches for people trapped under collapsed buildings. More than 1,800 people are likely dead or missing from the 8.9-magnitude quake and tsunami that struck Japan on Friday. Reuters
