Japan is still attempting to recover from 9.0 magnitude earthquake, which occurred on March 11, followed by more than a dozens aftershocks, ranging from 5.0 to 6.0 in magnitude.

Japan's government estimated the damage from this month's record earthquake and tsunami at as much as 25 trillion yen ($309 billion), nearly four times the impact of Hurricane Katrina in the US.

The destruction will push down gross domestic product by as much as 2.75 trillion yen for the year starting April 1, today's report showed.

The following are dramatic pictures of the destruction left in the wake of the earthquake and the tsunami that battered the area shortly thereafter:

Chinese Premier Wen walks after addressing the session of United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen
China's Premier Wen Jiabao walks after addressing the session of United Nations Climate Change Conference 2009 in Copenhagen December 18, 2009. REUTERS
Miyagi
A man walks next to port area destroyed by the earthquake and tsunami in Kessenuma town, in Miyagi prefecture Reuters
Kesennuma
A ship destroyed by the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami is seen in Kesennuma town in Miyagi prefecture Reuters
Submerged
Car is seen partially submerged in inundated rice field after area was destroyed by 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami Reuters
Survivors
Earthquake and tsunami survivors walk through a flooded street searching for their belongings Reuters
Kesennuma
A man walks with his dog at a destroyed residential area of Kesennuma Reuters
Minamisanriku
A bulldozer removes remains from destroyed houses after the earthquake and tsunami near Minamisanriku town Reuters
Rikuzentakata
Komagai Yoshihiro listens to the news on a portable radio at the ruins of his brother's house in Rikuzentakata Reuters
Yamada
A woman crosses a street at an area destroyed by the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami in Yamada town Reuters
Japan Tsunami Japan Tsunami