3/11 Triple Disaster: Earthquake, Tsunami, Nuclear Meltdown

On March 11, 2011 at 2:46 PM, a magnitude 9.0 megathrust earthquake — Japan's most powerful ever — struck off the Tōhoku coast, triggering a tsunami up to 40 meters high. Approximately 19,750 people died or went missing. The tsunami overwhelmed Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Plant, causing three reactor meltdowns — the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. The disaster caused ¥16.9 trillion ($210 billion) in damage and profoundly reshaped Japan's energy policy.