2011 Japan Earthquake
Tōhoku Region, Japan — March 11, 2011
The 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster and remains the costliest natural disaster in history. Waves reaching 40.5 meters struck the Pacific coast of Japan, destroying entire towns and triggering the nuclear meltdown.
Earthquake Facts
Magnitude
M9.1
Date
Mar 11, 2011
Depth
29 km
Deaths
19,747
Latitude
38.297°
Longitude
142.373°
Tsunami
Yes
Region
Japan
Tectonic Cause
Megathrust earthquake along the Japan Trench where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Okhotsk Plate. The fault ruptured approximately 400 km along strike.
Aftermath in Pictures
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — open licenses (CC / Public Domain)
Images sourced from Wikimedia Commons under open licenses. Attribution required where specified. Click any image to enlarge.
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