Gagasan Nusantara Bersatu: Back from the brink: How the people of Japan have rebuilt their country a year after the tsunami

As the anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami approaches, these stunning before and after images show how Japan has brought itself back from the dead

It is almost a year since a catastrophic earthquake struck Japan sending a devastating tsunami crashing through the east coast of the city.

The destructive wave claimed the lives of around 19,000 people and obliterated everything in its path, wiping out buildings, roads and bridges.

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake hit on March 11 and the surge of water knocked out power at the Fukushima plant, causing the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.

The disaster sent shockwaves around the world as heartbreaking images emerged of towns and cities reduced to rubble and families desperately searching for loved ones.

Now, as the anniversary of the tsunami approaches, these pictures show how the Japanese people are reclaiming the ravaged land for themselves.

Volunteers and government organisations have worked tirelessly to make areas habitable again and gradually restore the country.

These juxtaposed pictures show the desolate landscape of streets and areas of Miyako, in the Iwate Prefecture of northeastern Japan as it was on March 11, 2011 and February 17, 2012.

A combination photograph shows the same location on a street in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Unrecognisable: A street once submerged is now open and peacefully open to traffic

A combination photograph shows the same location in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Regeneration: The debris is cleared to make way for a playing field

A combination photograph shows the n two different dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Horror: The shocking scene as water gushed over the banks of a river

s, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 16, 2012 (left) — Deadly waves: The after effect of the tidal wave can still be seen whereas now a crane is now rebuilding the area

(right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Unimaginable: A boat lies wedged under a road bridge after the tsunami struck

A combination photograph shows the same location in a fishing port in Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan on two different dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Swamped: Crate and cars float in what is now a car park

A combination photograph shows the o different dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — Horror: The scenes of water tearing across the city is reminiscent of a horror film

rent dates, March 11, 2011 (right) and February 17, 2012 (left) — New start: The debris has been cleared to make way for the area to be regenerated

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Back from the brink: How the people of Japan have rebuilt their country a year after the tsunami

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