Japan, due to its location, has always battled with natural disasters such as earthquakes.However, the 2011 Japan earthquake topped all records and wreaked havoc in large parts of the country. It caused tsunami flooding and destroyed nuclear reactors!On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake hit Japan, resulting in one of the worst natural disasters in history. The epicenter of the earthquake was located about 80 mi (129 km) east of the city of Sendai, Miyagi prefecture, and the focus happened at a depth of 18.6 mi (about 30 km) below the floor of the western Pacific Ocean. The earthquake triggered a massive tsunami that devastated coastal towns and villages. In addition to the loss of human life, the earthquake and tsunami caused extensive damage to infrastructure and property. Let’s get an overview of the earthquake and tsunami, and gather more information on their effects and aftermath!Nuclear Power PlantsThe earthquake and tsunami severely damaged three nuclear power plants in Japan, resulting in the release of radioactive material into the environment. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant was hit the hardest, with two explosions and a partial meltdown of its reactors. This disaster led to the evacuation of thousands of people and caused widespread contamination of food and water supplies. The other two affected nuclear plants were the Fukushima Daini plant and the Tokai Daini plant. Both plants experienced fires and radiation leaks, but they did not experience meltdowns.As with any other country, Japan’s nuclear power plants were very integral to the smooth functioning of the country’s many sectors. When the Pacific coast of Japan was impacted by the massive earthquake and tsunami waves, the direct aftermath was that the major power plants of the country were destroyed. This was a nuclear disaster and caused much harm, both economically and in terms of loss of lives.All three of the nuclear power plants at Fukushima Daiichi largely melted away within three days and hence, the Japanese government was forced to declare a nuclear disaster and nuclear emergency. The Fukushima prefecture has been very hard to recover from due to the sheer magnitude of the disaster and the amount of damage it caused at the Fukushima Daiichi plant. The Tokyo Electric Power Company says that the full recovery of powerplants is likely to take at least 30-40 years for a complete recovery.In addition to this, when tsunami waves hit Japan’s Pacific coast and destroyed these nuclear power plants, the surrounding areas were gravely affected by the radioactive materials. The Japanese government has been trying its best to make sure that the affected industries such as the fisheries are able to start producing safe products again.The areas surrounding the nuclear power plants were made into an evacuation zone and around 270,000 people were successfully rescued.Damage And EffectsIn spite of a great tsunami warning system, Japan was hardly able to prepare for the earthquake and tsunami that hit the northeast coast of Honshu. This earthquake was one of the worst in world history and is still remembered for the amount of damage that it caused. Hurricane Katrina, which is one of the worst disasters that has hit the world in a long time, caused less economic distress than the 2011 earthquake and tsunami of Japan.It even created massive loads of tsunami debris, and even though Japan has been making constant efforts at clearing this debris, a small portion of it is still believed to be out there. All the ports in northeastern Japan were damaged and the electricity transmission lines were also largely affected. There was no water supply in the affected regions of Northern Japan for almost a month. 10% of the houses did not have any water supply for more than a month, which added to the problems of those who had been displaced as a result of the earthquake and tsunami.The tsunami warning system could not aptly predict the intensity of the tsunami waves and hence, people could not be removed from the coastal regions in time. Due to this reason, around 470,000 people were displaced. For years afterward, around 75% of these displaced people could not find stable housing again. Even after five years of the powerful earthquake and tsunami, more than 60,000 people remained displaced and had to live in temporary housing.Electrical power was cut off in the areas that were affected by this large tsunami. Sources also reveal that many of the backup generators were also rendered useless. Additionally, the low-level radiations that were released after the destruction of the power plants also kept many fisheries and other such firms from functioning.According to the World Bank, the Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami was the costliest natural disaster to ever take place. The expenses that the country has had to bear in an effort to restore the region amounts roughly to around $360 billion!Roughly 20,000 people lost their lives because of this disaster. Most of these people are thought to have drowned in the tsunami waves that came after the Tōhoku earthquake.Dams And Water ProblemsThe earthquake and tsunami also caused widespread damage to dams and other water infrastructure. More than 100 dams failed or were damaged as a result of the earthquake, resulting in flooding and the release of toxic pollutants into the environment. In addition, many people lost access to clean water supplies due to damage to water treatment plants. This led to a public health crisis, with reports of increased rates of disease and malnutrition.The tsunami waves were so powerful that they barged through the water supply infrastructure of large areas. The problem was so immense that in spite of continued government efforts, only 90% of the water supplies could be restored at the end of an entire month after the disaster. The waves also destroyed many important ports and the heavy flooding in most areas made it nearly impossible for people to be able to navigate or make their way to rescue shelters.Scientific And Research ResponseThe earthquake and tsunami also caused extensive damage to scientific research facilities and observatories.In addition, many hospitals and other health care facilities were destroyed or severely damaged, leading to a shortage of medical supplies and personnel.Wreckage And Recovery In Ishinomaki, JapanIn spite of tsunami warnings, Japan was hardly able to prepare for the disaster that this earthquake would cause. Since Japan has such a geological position, earthquakes are no stranger to the residents. Many earthquakes take place, and a large chunk of them have seismic waves that are stronger than three on the Richter scale. The tectonic plates that the country is located above create such a ‘shaky’ situation for the people. This is also a part of the reason why people in Japan have earthquake readiness. Their buildings and most other infrastructure is created in such a way that the average earthquake would not be a problem.However, the 2011 earthquake was anything but average. The tsunami warning was too little too late, and could not measure up the sheer amount of damage that was going to be caused to the entire country and its citizens in a matter of a few days. When the tectonic plates moved, they created an earthquake that measured up to a nine on the Richter scale. Furthermore, the vibrations were so strong that the water from the depths of the Pacific Ocean was stirred up. This created tsunami waves that were larger than most others.Several places had felt the wrath of the raging tsunami waves and at this time, the flooding made it very difficult to either rescue people or give them the aid that they needed. This is when global support started to pour in and people started to help those affected in their own capacities. Many organizations also tried to make sure that people were in safety and could have access to basic amenities. The government very swiftly set up the Japan Reconstruction Agency which promised that the housing situation would be fixed for people within a 10-year span. It is safe to say that this agency has been proactive in delivering those claims. However, a small chunk of the people who were displaced still need permanent housing.It is also refreshing to note that most of the fisheries and farms are recovering from the effects of the radioactive radiation and their products are becoming safe for consumption again, as declared by the government through meticulous screening!It is noteworthy that the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami that took place in December 2004, the loss of human life far outweighed damage to infrastructure, whereas, for the 2011 Japan tsunami, there was prominent damage to infrastructure in Japan.Ishinomaki was one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake and tsunami. More than half of the city’s buildings were destroyed, and many people lost their homes. The city’s port was also severely damaged, making it difficult for residents to access essential supplies. In addition, Ishinomaki was cut off from the rest of Japan due to damage to roads and bridges. Despite these challenges, the people of Ishinomaki have worked hard to rebuild their city.Additionally, in case you want to help people affected by disasters, you can donate to reputable disaster relief organizations, organize a fundraiser, and send essentials and necessary supplies to the people affected.
Japan, due to its location, has always battled with natural disasters such as earthquakes.
