Empty shelves at Japan supermarkets

The empty shelves in a store in downtown Morioka, well north of the disaster zone speak to the issue facing several areas in Japan.

The shortages of food and fuel are more pronounced in the north, where the streets - even the main areas surrounding the main train station - are almost empty, and some stores, normally open 24 hours, are closed.

The clerks in that store told Al Jazeera's Dorothy Parvaz that their shelves have been in that state since yesterday, and they're not sure when they will be able to restock.

There are lots of soft drinks, tea and other drinks, everything else is gone. Most restaurants are still operating, but many have run out of certain items.