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.