Japan may need up to five years to rebuild from the disastrous¹ earthquake and tsunami² that has caused up to $235bn (£145bn) of damage, the World Bank said in a report.

世界银行的一份报告显示，日本可能需要多达五年的时间来重建被地震和海啸毁坏的地区。据悉此次地震造成的损失达2350亿美元。

devastation³ in the north-eastern part of Japan is immense" src="http://www.enread.com/upimg/allimg/110321/1_110321062754_1.jpg" width="304" height="171" />
The scale of the devastation in the north-eastern part of Japan is immense
It also estimates about 0.5% was shaved from the country's economic growth this year.

However, it expects growth to pick up again in the second half of the year.

The 11 March earthquake and tsunami, disrupted production networks in the automotive and electronic industries.

"Damage to housing and infrastructure⁵ has been unprecedented," The World Bank said.

"Growth should pick up through subsequent quarters as reconstruction⁶ efforts, which could last five years, accelerate," it said.

The bank estimates the damage to be between $123bn and $235bn.

Knock-on effects

The World Bank also predicted that East Asia would be affected⁷ in a separate report.

"In the immediate⁸ future the biggest impact will be in terms of trade and finance," Vikram Nehru, World Bank chief economist⁹ for the East Asia and Pacific region.

Japan's north-east region, where the earthquake and tsunami hit, is home to ports, steel mills and manufacturers of auto⁴ and electronic components¹⁰.

"Disruption to production networks, especially in automotive and electronics industries, could continue to pose problems," the World Bank said.

The other worrying factor for the region is that about one-fourth of East Asia's long-term debt is denominated in yen¹¹.

For China it is only about 8% but for Thailand it is about 60%.

A 1% appreciation¹² in the Japanese yen translates into about a $250m increase in annual debt servicing on the yen-denominated assets held by the nations, the report points out.

The region is expected to see less robust¹³（强健的） growth in 2011 as it fights inflation.