15 moments that shook the planet
TŌHOKU EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI, FUKUSHIMA DAIICHI NUCLEAR DISASTER (2011)
A seismic event of unprecedented magnitude, measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale, struck off the coast of Japan, unleashing a towering tsunami wave that reached staggering heights of 133 feet at its peak and surged inland up to six miles beyond expectations.
The devastation wrought by the tsunami alone would have been catastrophic, but the disaster took a harrowing turn akin to the infamous Chernobyl crisis of 1986. The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant succumbed to a series of meltdowns, leading to a massive release of radioactive material into the environment.
The toll on human life was profound, with estimates of the death toll varying, but potentially as high as 20,000 individuals perishing in a country renowned for its wealth and advanced infrastructure, making such a staggering loss of life seemingly incomprehensible.
