The 2011 Japan tsunami: Images then and now

Five years ago this week, Japan experienced the most powerful earthquake in its recorded history.

The 9.0-magnitude quake off the country's northeast coast triggereda tsunami that washed deep inland, putting many towns underwater andcausing a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, with the subsequent release of radioactive material.

Almost 16,000 people died as a result of the quake and tsunami, with another 2,500 people still labelled as missing. More than 150,000 were displaced from their homes.

Use the before-and-after slider below to see the difference betweenconditions immediately after the tsunami and today.