http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/in...1_RTR2JQYE.jpg Buildings burn after an earthquake near Sendai Airport, northeastern Japan

March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/in...1_RTR2JQYE.jpg Buildings burn after an earthquake near Sendai Airport, northeastern Japan

March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO)


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People take shelter as a ceiling collapses in a bookstore during an earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses are swept by a tsunami in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses are swept by a tsunami in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses, cars and other debris are washed away by a tsunami in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane, The Yomiuri Shimbun) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A massive tsunami hits the coastal areas of Iwanuma, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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The oncoming tsunami strikes the coast in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. The biggest earthquake to hit Japan in 140 years struck the northeast coast on Friday, triggering a 10-meter tsunami that swept away everything in its path, including houses, cars and farm buildings on fire. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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People watch the aftermath of tsunami waves covering a port at Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane, The Yomiuri Shimbun) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Buildings are damaged by a tsunami following an earthquake in Iwaki City, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Cars and airplanes swept by a tsunami are pictured among debris at Sendai Airport, northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-meter tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses swept by a tsunami smoulder near Sendai Airport in Japan March 11, 2011. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-meter tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses are in flame while the Natori river is flooded over the surrounding area by tsunami tidal waves in Natori city, Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, March 11, 2011, after strong earthquakes hit the area. (AP Photo/Yasushi Kanno, The Yomiuri Shimbun) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Cars and other Debris swept away by tsunami tidal waves are seen in Kesennuma in Miyagi Prefecture, northern Japan, after strong earthquakes hit the area Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Keichi Nakane, The Yomiuri Shimbun) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses are swept by water following a tsunami and earthquake in Natori City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. There were several strong aftershocks and a warning of a 10-meter tsunami following the quake, which also caused buildings to shake violently in the capital Tokyo. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Natural gas containers burn at a facility following an earthquake in Chiba Prefecture near Tokyo March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Natural gas storage tanks burn at the Cosmo oil refinery in Ichihara city, Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Asahi) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Natural gas storage tanks burn at a facility in Chiba Prefecture, near Tokyo March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A building burns after an earthquake in the Odaiba district of Tokyo Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Seismologist Bernd Weber of Germany's Geoscientific Research Institute GFZ in Potsdam poses for the media as he points on a graph with the magnitude of the earthquake in Japan on a monitor in Potsdam, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Hotel employees squat down in horror at the hotel's entrance in Tokyo after a strong earthquake hit Japan Friday, March 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Itsuo Inouye) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A fire burns at a passenger terminal at Sendai Airport after the airport was swamped by a tsunami in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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An office building burns in Tokyo after an earthquake March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A road is blocked by a landslide near Iwaki City in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Evacuees stand around Shinjuku Central Park in Tokyo Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Hirono Power Station is seen as a wave approaches after an earthquake in Hirono Town, Fukushima Prefecture, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/YOMIURI) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A massive tsunami sweeps in to engulf a residential area after a powerful earthquake in Natori, Miyagi Prefecture in northeastern Japan March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Streets are flooded after a tsunami and earthquake in Kesennuma city, Miyagi Prefecture, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/YOMIURI) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Sendai Airport is flooded after a tsunami following an earthquake in Sendai, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Boats are swept by a wave after a tsunami and earthquake in Asahikawa city March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/YOMIURI) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A whirlpool is seen near Oarai City, Ibaraki Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Fires burn in the port area of Iwaki City, Fukushima Prefecture following an earthquake in northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses burn at night following an earthquake in Natori City, Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/KYODO) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Vehicles are crushed by a collapsed wall at a carpark in Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011 after a massive earthquake rocked Japan. (JIJI PRESS/AFP/Getty Images) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Residents check the damage done to a road and house in Sukagawa city, Fukushima prefecture, in northern Japan on March 11, 2011. (FUKUSHIMA MINPO/AFP/Getty Images) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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An aerial shot shows vehicles ready for shipping being carried by a tsunami wave at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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This aerial shot shows the tsunami tidal waves moving upstream (left side) in the Naka river at Hitachinaka city in Ibaraki prefecture on March 11, 2011. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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An earthquake-triggered tsunami washes away a warehouse and vehicles in Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture (state), Japan, Friday March 11, 2011. The ferocious tsunami spawned by one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded slammed Japan's eastern coasts. (AP Photo/The Yomiuri Shimbun, Keiichi Nakane) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Fishing boats and vehicles are carried by a tsunami wave at Onahama port in Iwaki city, in Fukushima prefecture, northern Japan on March 11, 2011. (FUKUSHIMA MINPO/AFP/Getty Images) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Buildings burn following an earthquake in Yamada town, Iwate Prefecture, northeastern Japan, March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/YOMIURI) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Houses lie flattened after a powerful earthquake in Iwaki, Fukushima Prefecture March 11, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A light aircraft and vehicles swept by the tsunami are seen in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Yomiuri) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A factory facility burns following an earthquake and tsunami in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A large number of cars swept by a tsunami following an earthquake are seen in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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Buildings swept by a tsunami following an earthquake are seen in Miyagi Prefecture March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A man looks at a fishing boat swept by a tsunami at a port in Oarai town, northeast of Tokyo March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Yuriko Nakao) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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People make their way through a street clogged with debris in Sendai city, Miyagi prefecture March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Yomiuri) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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A building swept under a bridge following a tsunami and earthquake is seen in Sendai, northeastern Japan March 12, 2011. (REUTERS/Kyodo) # http://cdn.theatlantic.com/static/infocus/i/lnk.jpg


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