Japan Commemorates the 15th Anniversary of the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
Japan remembers today, Wednesday, the passage of 15 years since one of the most tragic natural and industrial disasters in its modern history;
On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake measuring 9 on the Richter scale struck the northeast of the country, followed by giant tsunami waves that led to the collapse of the Fukushima Nuclear Power Plant, leaving behind enormous human and material losses, described as the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl incident in 1986.
The Kyodo News Agency revealed that the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown resulted in the deaths of more than 22 thousand people, and the operating company of the plant still faces enormous challenges in dismantling the damaged facilities, with expectations to complete the dismantling process by 2051.
Although the central government stopped holding memorial ceremonies in Tokyo since 2022, Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takahashi will attend a special ceremony organized by Fukushima Prefecture to honor the victims.
According to the Japanese National Police Agency, the total number of victims from the three disasters (the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear meltdown) reached 15,901 people, and there are still 2,519 missing as of the end of February, most of whom are in Miyagi, Fukushima, and Iwate Prefectures.
Today, Japan stands between sorrow and reflection, remembering a tragedy that time has not erased, and its effects continue to challenge time and human capabilities.
