Japan has sustained $312 billion worth of damage from the devastating March 11 quake and tsunami, Kyodo news quoted the government as saying on Wednesday.

The disaster claimed at least 9,400 lives and 14,700 are still missing. About 300,000 people are staying in evacuation centers. The quake destroyed buildings, motorways, railways and railway stations in northeastern Japan.

The damage figure is twice as large as the destruction caused by a quake in Japan's Kobe in 1995.

Most of the motorways have been partially or completely reconstructed, and three ports and the Sendai airport are already receiving humanitarian cargoes. Mail service has resumed all across the quake-stricken area. Temporary houses are being built for people left homeless by the disaster.

TOKYO, March 23 (RIA Novosti)