Satellite photos of earthquakes in Japan in 2024 and 2011 show the destruction each left in its aftermath

• A powerful earthquake that struck Japan this week killed dozens and destroyed roads and buildings.
• The 7.6-magnitude quake was powerful, but nothing compared to the magnitude 9.0 that struck in 2011.

Over 20 powerful earthquakes hit Japan's Noto Peninsula on January 1, including one with a magnitude of 7.6, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

So far, at least 84 people have been killed and thousands are without power or have evacuated their homes. While this is one of the most powerful earthquakes Japan has experienced this century, it's not the most powerful in history.

That notorious title goes to the great Sendai earthquake — a devastating 9.0-magnitude temblor that struck offshore in 2011 and triggered a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 and led to the Fukushima Power Plant meltdown.

Both the 2024 and 2011 earthquakes caused catastrophic damage on such massive scales that could be seen from space. The following photos show satellite imagery from both quakes.

Homes and buildings seemed to disappear in Ishinomaki in 2011.

The epicenter of the 2011 earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that destroyed the northeast coast of Japan. Ishinomaki, shown below, witnessed waves as high as 32 feet tall, according to the International Tsunami Information Center.

Sendai's airport was damaged as a result of the 2011 disasters.

It took about a month for Sendai's airport, shown below, to reopen after the 2011 tsunami, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan.

The 2011 tsunami caused severe flooding near Natori Port.

During the 2011 tsunami, waves reached as high as 130 feet, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Water flooded fields near Natori Port, shown below.

Following the 2011 tsunami, the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant melted down.

Though the plant automatically shut down its reactors and turned on the generators to keep the reactors cool, a 46-foot wave flooded the plant. The generators shut off, and the reactors overheated and partially melted the cores, according to the BBC.

During the 2024 earthquake, buildings and homes were leveled in Wajima.

A fire following the earthquake engulfed wooden stalls and homes in the fishing town of Wajima, per the BBC.

Boats capsized off the coast of Suzu City when the 2024 earthquake hit.

Japan issued tsunami warnings after the January 1 quake, and a small one hit Suzu, the BBC reported. Waves were as high as 4 feet in some areas, per The Guardian. Smaller aftershocks continued to shake the peninsula in the days following.

The 2024 earthquake also destroyed homes along the coastline.

Due to its position on top of four tectonic plates, the area around Japan experiences about 18% of the world's earthquakes, The Washington Post reported.

This week's earthquake left thousands without power.

Roads cracked open as a result of the 2024 earthquake.

The 2024 earthquake's epicenter was near Suzu. It lifted the ground as much as 13 feet in some areas.

The total death toll and overall destruction from the 2024 quake are still unclear as rescuers scramble to save people trapped under rubble.

However, what is clear is that this event will claim a small fraction of lives compared to the 2011 quake.

The 2011 quake was significantly more powerful than the 2024 event and it occurred offshore, triggering a much larger tsunami that reached speeds of about 500 mph as it traveled toward land.

Japan is known for its earthquake preparedness, helping save lives during these natural disasters.

For example, a similarly powerful 7.8-magnitude quake struck Turkey last February killing more than 50,000, The Japan Times reported. Many of the country's old buildings don't meet modern codes, according to AP News.