Photo of the Day: Japan Under Siege

Damage estimates for the widespread devastation to the country's homes, infrastructure and economy are expected to reach $310 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in history. Entire towns have been wiped away with the tide. More than 27,000 people have been counted as officially dead or missing. 

Food and water supplies have been irradiated by a leak from the Fukushima nuclear power facility. A suspected reactor breach at the plant threatens to upend even more beleaguered locals. International firms based in Tokyo have evacuated their staffs from the nation's beating heart, fearing a wider nuclear crisis. 

Rolling blackouts plagued the northeastern coast. Across the battered region, hundreds of thousands of Japanese huddle in shelters with no power, no hot food, and no hot showers, waiting for dawn to break on the nation's dark day.