Japan’s largest earthquake of magnitude 9.0 hit the northeastern region on March 11, 2011,  releasing a massive tsunami that destroyed much of the Pacific coast of northern Japan and killed nearly 15,000 people, with more than 10,000 others missing.  Here are the images shortly after March 11 and six months later, showing the progress of the countries enormous  cleanup and recovery.

This combo picture shows tsunami destruction and debris covering the road in Ofunato city, Iwate prefecture on March 14, 2011, three-days after the tsunami disaster (above) and after the road was cleaned of debris, on April 15, 2011 (lower).   (Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images)

This combo of photos shows the tsunami-devastated town of Minamisanriku, Miyagi prefecture on March 22, 2011 (above) shortly after the March 11 disaster; the same scene on May 9, 2011 (center photo) and then on Sept. 11, 2011 (bottom) six months after the quake and tsunami hit.     (Toshifumi Kitamura/AFP/Getty Images)

In this composite image, (Bottom Photo) the devastated town of Otsuchi is seen before the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and massive tsunami on Sept. 10, 2011 in Ostuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.  (Top Photo) The Hamayuri, a catamaran sightseeing boat, sits atop a two-story building among the tsunami debris on April 3, 2011 in Ostuchi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.  (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

In this composite image, (Bottom Photo) a general view of Kesennuma is seen before the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and massive tsunami on Sept. 10, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.  (Top Photo) A local resident walks among debris on March 31, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.   (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

In this composite image, (Bottom Photo) a devastated area is seen before the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and massive tsunami on Sept. 10, 2011 in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.  (Top Photo) A devastated area is seen on March 26, 2011 in Ofunato, Iwate Prefecture, Japan.  (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

In this composite image, (Bottom Photo) a general view of Kesennuma is seen before the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and massive tsunami on Sept. 10, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.  (Top Photo) Local residents walk among debris on March 31, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.   (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)

In this composite image, (Bottom Photo) a general view of Kesennuma is seen before the sixth month anniversary of the March 11 earthquake and massive tsunami on Sept. 10, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.  (Top Photo) A general view of devastation is seen on March 31, 2011 in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan.   (Photo by Athit Perawongmetha/Getty Images)