Seen from above, the awesome scale of Japan's destruction (big photo gallery)

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A whirlpool is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan on record struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-meter (33-foot) tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, ships, cars and farm buildings on fire. (REUTERS/Kyodo )

Houses are swept by water following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City. (REUTERS/KYODO)

A massive tsunami hits the coastal areas of Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (REUTERS/KYODO)

Sendai Airport is flooded after a tsunami following an earthquake in Sendai. (REUTERS/KYODO)

An oncoming tsunami strikes the coast in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO)

A massive tsunami sweeps in to engulf a residential area after a powerful earthquake in Natori.(REUTERS/KYODO)

People evacuate to a street following an earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan. (Reuters)

Boats are swept by a wave after a tsunami and earthquake in Asahikawa city. (Reuters)

Houses and buildings burn following earthquake in Iwate Prefecture. (Reuters)

Natural gas storage tanks burn at Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city. (Reuters)

Natural gas storage tanks burn at a facility in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo. (Reuters)

A massive tsunami hits the coastal areas of Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Reuters)

An aerial view of a tsunami swamped Sendai Airport in northeastern Japan. (Reuters)

Houses swept by a tsunami smoulder near Sendai Airport in Japan. (Reuters)

Houses burn at night following an earthquake in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan. (Reuters)

People stand on top of a building near cars and airplanes among debris swept by a tsunami at Sendai Airport. (Reuters)

People evacuate along train tracks following an earthquake in Tokyo. (Reuters)


Previously on Boing Boing:
Japan Sendai Quake and Tsunami: big photo gallery
Japan hit by catastrophic 8.9 magnitude quake, massive tsunami sweeps country

Some updates from Japan


Japan Quake: The Night After