Japan

Source: Gizmodo

Japan was first hit with a 9.0 earthquake; minutes later it was hit by a massive tsunami. In the aftermath, there were 3 aftershocks above 7.0 and 44 above 6.0 (there were 405 total aftershocks -- so far), a massive whirlpool, and 2 of the 15 nuclear power plants in the region are on the brink of meltdown.

NYT put together a before and after view of various cities (slide the bar).

Here's a pretty scary first person account watching the water rise and building being taken out.

Compilations of photographs:

Gizmodo

Boing Boing

BBC

ABC