On March 11, 2011, a massive amount of energy built up as the Pacific tectonic plate pushed under the plate beneath northern Honshu, Japan, causing a magnitude 9.0 earthquake. While the epicenter was offshore, the earthquake caused a tsunami that swept into northeastern Japan, led to nearly 20,000 deaths and caused mass destruction. However, the damage didn’t end there. The massive wave disabled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, triggering a meltdown and the release of radioactive water.
According to Our World in Data, nobody died directly as a result of acute radiation exposure. But hundreds of others died because of the evacuation and stress related to the power plant. More than 100,000 people were also evacuated after the meltdown, many of whom have yet to return due to persistent levels of radioactivity.
But how long will the Fukushima Prefecture remain contaminated?
