18 March 2011Last updated at 09:50

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Remembering the moment

A group of rescue workers observe a minute of silence to mourn for the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture.

Across Japan, people stood for a minute of silence to mark the moment, exactly one week ago, when a magnitude 9 earthquake struck, leaving devastation in its wake. Here, a group of rescue workers in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture, stand among the rubble to remember.

The watch of an employee of Tono municipal office marks exactly 1446 as he observes a minute of silence in Tono, northern Japan.

The quake struck at exactly 1446 in the afternoon local time (0546 GMT) on Friday 11 March.

An elderly couple observes a moment of silence for victims of the 11 March earthquake and tsunami at a shelter in Rikuaentakata, Iwate Prefecture.

The tsunami it triggered wiped out entire villages. The death toll is expected to reach 10,000 as thousands are still missing. Many of those who survived are now living in difficult conditions in sports halls and schools.

Municipal officials observe a moment of silence at Fukushima prefecture's disaster provision headquarters in Fukushima City.

The tsunami damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and a 30km (19 miles) evacuation zone around the damaged structure has been imposed. Here, officials at the city's disaster provision headquarters pause to mark the moment the quake struck.

Quake survivors observe a moment of silence at the time the massive earthquake struck their village of Tanohata, north-eastern Japan.

In the village of Tanohata, those who survived have faced freezing temperatures as well as the loss of their loved ones, livelihoods and homes.

Asia-Pacific

Japan earthquake and tsunami: Remembering the moment

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