March 11, 2012, will mark the first anniversary of the massive earthquake and tsunami that pummelled Japan, claiming more than 19,000 lives. These combo images show areas in the devastated northeast in the disaster's immediate aftermath and again more recently.
Then And Now: One Year After Japan's Tsunami
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On top, an image taken by a Miyako city official on March 11, 2011, of the tsunami breeching an embankment and flowing into the city of Miyako in Iwate Prefecture, and below, the same area on January 16, 2012
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On top, people take pictures of a ship left on a building in Otsuchi, Iwate Prefecture, on April 17, 2011, and below on February 18, 2012
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On top, tsunami-devastated Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture on March 13, 2011, and below on March 1, 2012
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On the left, an aerial view of a tsunami-devastated area in Kesennuma on March 12, 2011, and on the right, on March 3, 2012
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On top, the tsunami-devastated town of Yamada in Iwate Prefecture on March 14, 2011, and below on March 1, 2012
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On the left, cars piled up in front of the airport control tower in Sendai on March 14, 2011, and on the right, the same area on January 12, 2012
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On top, people evacuating with small boats down a road flooded by the tsunami in the city of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture on March 12, 2011, and below, the same area on January 13, 2012
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On top, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Fukushima Prefecture in December 2000, and below on February 26, 2012
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On top, the tsunami-devastated city of Higashimatsushima in Miyagi Prefecture on March 12, 2011, and below, on March 3, 2012
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On top, people walking on train tracks littered with cars in Tagajo, Miyagi Prefecture, on March 13, 2011, and below, the same area on January 12, 2012
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On top, the tsunami-hit area of Rikuzentakata, Iwate Prefecture, on March 22, 2011, and below, the same area on January 15, 2012
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On top, Yuko Sugimoto standing in front of debris looking for her son in the tsunami-hit town of Ishinomaki in Miyagi Prefecture on March 13, 2011, and below, with her 5-year-old son Raito on January 27, 2012
