Japan struck by earthquake and tsunami - in pictures

A tsunami wave washes away buildings in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: Keystone/Rex Features

Buildings and debris are swept across farmland in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: AP

People on top of a building at Sendai airport Miyagi prefecture as cars, planes and debris are swept past Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Water surges through Iwaki, Fukushima prefecture Photograph: AP

Cars, lorries and debris swept inland by the tsunami at Kesennuma, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: Keichi Nakane/AP

A fire burns amongst swamped houses in Natori, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

Natural gas storage tanks burn at the Cosmo oil refinery, Ichihara, Chiba prefecture Photograph: Reuters

Japanese police close a highway destroyed by the earthquake in Fukushima prefecture Photograph: EPA

People watch the aftermath of the tsunami at Kesennuma in Miyagi prefecture Photograph: Keichi Nakane/AP

The indundated Sendai airport, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: AP

Swirling waves on the coast at Oarai, Ibaraki prefecture Photograph: AP

The sea engulfs homes in Natori, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: Keystone/Rex Features

Water surges through part of Kesennuma city in Miyagi prefecture Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Houses ablaze in Natori city, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

An office building on fire in Tokyo Photograph: Kyodo/Reuters

A policeman runs across a street as people stand outside after being evacuated from buildings in the financial district of Tokyo Photograph: Toru Hanai/Reuters

A man sits wrapped in a blanket after he was evacuated from a building in Tokyo Photograph: Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters

Stranded people rest at the Tokyo International Forum which has been converted to a temporary shelter after transportation was suspended when the earthquake hit Photograph: Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters

Employees at a Tokyo hotel wait for news in the foyer Photograph: Itsuo Inouye/AP

Passengers on the Yurikamome transit line in Tokyo walk along the track towards Shiodome station Photograph: Koji Sasahara/AP

Badly damaged vehicles are seen on Japan's NHK television channel in Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan Photograph: AP

People walk by a bus stop which was destroyed in Sendai, Miyagi prefecture Photograph: AP

Expected wave heights of the tsunami as it travels across the Pacific Photograph: Getty Images