91茄子

A recap of the short-term impacts听

The short-term refers to the immediate aftermath of an event, in this case in the days and weeks that follow a natural disaster.听

• In the short term 16 people were injured in the initial explosions at the nuclear power plant听

• Over 18,000 people were killed and 465,000 were evacuated听

• There were increased radiation levels as far as Tokyo, 225-kilometres away听

• A听4-metre-high听wave听was听triggered at 15:27 local time听which the听power planet seawall听successfully deflected听(as it is built听to withstand听10-metre-high听waves)听

• However, a second wave听was听triggered听later听at 15:35 which听was听15-metres in height. This wave overwhelmed听the seawall. Crucially,听this听destroyed听the water pumps of the Fukushima听Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, rendering the power plant听powerless. You can see听footage of the tsunami听in this video, as it听听from 2 minutes-in听

• 5 out of the 6 reactors听lost听power. Without a cooling听mechanism听a nuclear meltdown听occurs听

• Ultimately,听3 nuclear reactors听exploded releasing听radiation听

• Reactors 5 and 6听were听brought under control with听emergency听replacement diesel generators听听

• Wastewater听was听contaminated. Seawater that is tested near the听Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant听had听1,250 times the legal limit of iodine 131听

10-years on听

10-years on听the country is still experiencing the听aftereffects听of such a big disaster.听Japanese authorities believe it will take up to 40 years听in total听to finish the work.听听

On听11 March 2021 Japan recognised听and mourned听the 10-year听anniversary of听the听Fukushima disaster.听Today听nearby roads are听closed听with听40,000 people听still unable to return to their homes听near the听power plant,听due to high levels of听radioactive contamination.听2.4% of the land around the听site remains听a no-go zone in the Fukushima听Prefecture.听Milk and water show excessively high levels of radioactive iodine听to this day.听

A听public ceremony was held in the听Tokyo鈥檚 national theatre听to mark the anniversary听(you can watch a Sky News report听on听the ceremony titled听) with Emperor Naruhito saying that a decade on:听

鈥淭he unforgettable memory of the tragedy鈥澨齪ersists听a decade on.听

Emperor Hironomiya Naruhito听

Japan鈥檚 Prime Minister, Yoshihide听Suga,听added that听the challenges faced by survivors had been 鈥渃ompounded鈥� by the pandemic and natural disasters, referencing a recent听earthquake听in Japan听which registered 7.3听in magnitude听(13 February 2021).听听

This recent earthquake, which injured听100 people听and听left听950,000 households initially without power, is an aftershock of the 2011 earthquake.听Described as听a decade-long-delayed aftershock听it听occurred听on the main shock fault听plane where听the听original focus听occurred.听Seismologists听believe it has听allowed听for听stress听to be听released听and听for听readjustment听along听the听faultline.听

Since 2011, there has been a huge surge in听anti-nuclear demonstrations and public concern over the听energy听technology.听Anti-nuclear activists have grown substantially in the country听and as a result this form of energy production has waned.听In Japan today, nuclear power now only contributes a little over 7%听to听the nation鈥檚 electricity supply听(not听the originally planned听22% a decade ago).听听

Economically the earthquake and tsunami were听devasting, a total of $360 billion听has been听lost from the Japanese economy听since听2011.听

In the long term there have been limited deaths associated with the disaster. The听World Health Organisation听 in 2013 stating听the predicted risks听of cancer for the region were听low, and that there were 鈥渘o听observable increases in cancer rates above听[expected]听baseline rates鈥�.听

Further reading听

• 础听贬颈蝉迟辞谤测听迟颈尘别濒颈苍别听

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