FUKUSHIMA NUCLEAR

Eleven years ago, on a Friday

afternoon in March, the most
powerful earthquake ever
DISASTER recorded in Japan struck off the
country's eastern coast.
FUKUSHIMA
NUCLEAR
DISASTER
The 9.0-magnitude quake was so forceful it shifted
the Earth off its axis. It triggered a tsunami which
swept over the main island of Honshu, killing more
than 18,000 people and wiping entire towns off the
map.
WHAT HAPPENED AT
FUKUSHIMA?
Systems at the nuclear plant detected the earthquake and automatically shut down
the nuclear reactors. Emergency diesel generators turned on to keep coolant pumping
around the cores, which remain incredibly hot even after reactions stop.
 There were no deaths immediately
HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE during the nuclear disaster. At least 16

HURT? workers were injured in the

explosions, while dozens more were
exposed to radiation as they worked to
cool the reactors and stabilise the
plant.
WHO WAS AT
FAULT?

Critics blamed the lack of preparedness for

the event, as well as a muddled response
from both the plant operator Tokyo Electric
Power (Tepco) and the government.
HOW IS THE CLEAN Eleven years later, several towns

UP GOING? in north-eastern Japan remain

off limits. Authorities are
working to clean up the area so
residents can return.