The National Police Agency said on Saturday that the catastrophic earthquake and ensuing tsunami have left 11,800 people dead and 15,540 others unaccounted for in Japan by 10:00 a.m. local time (0100 GMT).

The search for the missing by Japan and U.S. forces will end on Sunday and the country will shift its focus to a daunting reconstruction effort.

A 9.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific coastal areas of northeastern and eastern Japan on March 11, triggering enormous tsunami.

Heavy casualties and extensive damage have been caused by the twin disasters.