Technology
Home
World
UK
England
N. Ireland
Scotland
Wales
Business
Politics
Health
Education
Sci/Environment
Technology
Entertainment & Arts
13 December 2011
Last updated at
12:02
Google Street View explores post-tsunami Japan
Google has returned to tsunami-hit Japan to update its Street View imagery, offering a haunting glimpse of life before and after the disaster.
Buildings and farmland can be seen torn apart by the devastating wave which followed the 8.9-magnitude earthquake in March.
The specially adapted Street View car covered 27,340 miles across the affected areas.
The pictures form part of a "Build the memory" section which allows visitors to compare pictures and learn more about the tragic events.
Google said the context of seeing before and after pictures "demonstrates how truly life-changing this tragedy has been for those who live there".
The launch of the special section coincides with a new timestamping feature which has been rolled out across Street View.
Google suggests beginning inland before navigating out to the coast to see how the damage spread.
Structures in affected towns and cities were left barely recognisable.
More than 15,000 people died in the disaster - almost 5,000 more are still missing.
Across the north-east cost of the country, more than 115,000 buildings were completely destroyed.
Google said it hoped the images will mean "the memories of the disaster remain relevant and tangible for future generations".
Share this page
Delicious
Digg
Facebook
reddit
StumbleUpon
Twitter
Email
Print
Related Internet links
Build the Memory
Services
Mobile
Connected TV
News feeds
Alerts
E-mail news
About BBC News
Editors' blog
BBC College of Journalism
News sources
Editorial Guidelines