Aerial Photos Before And After 2011 Earthquake And Tsunami, Japan

Both the earthquake and the resultant tsunami caused many casualties. Unlike other countries which had many hours' notice of a relatively small surge, a major tsunami struck Japan with only minutes' warning, leaving many people unable to escape.
The National Police Agency has officially confirmed 1,647 people dead, 1,990 injured, and 1,720 missing across sixteen prefectures. These numbers are expected to significantly increase, with casualties expected to reach tens of thousands.
Prefectural officials and the Kyodo News Agency, quoting local officials, said that 9,500 people from Minamisanriku in Miyagi Prefecture—about a half of the town′s population—were unaccounted for. NHK has reported that the death toll in Iwate Prefecture alone may reach 10,000.
Officials in Wakabayashi-ku, Sendai, which was heavily damaged by tsunami waves, stated that they had found the bodies of 200–300 victims.