The Great 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake

The Great 2011 Tōhoku Earthquake was a powerful magnitude 9.0 megathrust quake off Japan’s northeastern coast, triggered by tectonic plates colliding beneath the Pacific Ocean. It caused massive shaking, tsunamis over 40 meters high, and widespread destruction. The disaster led to tens of thousands of deaths, severe damage to infrastructure, and a nuclear crisis at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. The event highlighted vulnerabilities in earthquake preparedness and nuclear safety, prompting global attention toward better disaster response and resilient infrastructure development.