Japan marks fifth anniversary of Fukushima nuclear disaster
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Ceremonies have been held across Japan to mark five years since one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded spawned a monster tsunami, killing more than 18,000 people and sparking the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl.
Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and other participants at a national ceremony in Tokyo bowed their heads as did many residents across the affected region at 2:46pm (local time) — the exact moment on March 11, 2011, the magnitude 9.0 quake struck under the Pacific Ocean.
Huge tsunami waves crashed onto the land in the hour after the quake. The nuclear power station in Fukushima was inundated with water, which led to meltdowns in three of its reactors.
"Whenever I go to affected areas, I feel that the disaster is ongoing," Mr Abe said at the memorial event, acknowledging the enormity of the task that remains even five years on.
<snip>
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-03-11/japan-marks-fifth-anniversary-of-fukushima-nuclear-disaster/7241174
= new reply since forum marked as read
