TOKYO – An earthquake, a tsunami and a nuclear disaster.
Japan on Thursday marked 10 years since a triple catastrophe paralyzed its northeastern region, killing thousands and leaving a trail of devastation that left many survivors still struggling to rebuild their lives a decade later.
The magnitude 9.0 earthquake, the strongest in the country’s history, occurred on March 11, 2011.
He unleashed a tsunami that swept the interior, destroying cities and causing melts at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant.
It is estimated that more than 20,000 people died, mainly in the tsunami, and almost half a million people were displaced while the region suffered the worst nuclear disaster in the world since Chernobyl.
Ten years later, many Japanese went to the coast on Thursday carrying bouquets or visited tombs to pray, while others participated in anti-nuclear protests to mark their anniversary.
Japanese emperor Naruhito and his wife attended a dark memorial in Tokyo along with Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, observing a moment of silence at 2:46 pm – the minute the tremor began.
“My heart hurts” thinking of those who have lost loved ones, jobs and communities, said Emperor Naruhito, noting that many residents of Fukushima are still unable to return.
“I also think it is important to heal emotional scars and to care for the mental and physical health of those affected, including the elderly and children,” he told a small audience who wore masks because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Prime Minister Suga, dressed in a black suit, told the memorial that the loss of life was still impossible to contemplate.
The event has been hovering over Japanese life for ten years, since it made global headlines too, and on Thursday support poured in from abroad.
Singer Lady Gaga, which has a large fan base in the country, expressed a message of solidarity.
“It seems like yesterday that I was watching the shocking images of the devastating earthquake and tsunami on the news and thinking, what can I do to help,” she said in a video on Twitter.
After the disaster, the singer contributed a song to the charity album “Songs for Japan” and $ 1.5 million to help fund the sale of a bracelet on her website. She also performed at a benefit concert for the Japanese Red Cross.
“We will all continue to support each other, be kind to each other and love each other,” she added, making comparisons to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
Earthquakes are common in Japan, one of the most seismically active areas in the world. Last month, a 7.3 magnitude earthquake hit the coast of Fukushima Prefecture, adding to the fear of a new crisis, but causing little damage.
About 40,000 people are still homeless due to the disaster, unable to return home, in areas close to the destroyed plant, which are still off limits due to radioactive contamination.
The government spent about $ 300 billion to rebuild the region, but the plant’s secure decommissioning will take decades and billions of dollars.
In a revival demonstration, Fukushima was due to host parts of the Summer Olympics scheduled to take place in Japan in 2020.
However, the games were postponed to July 2021 due to the pandemic and were hit by a sexism scandal. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s resignation due to health problems last August and worsening US-China tensions have further obscured what should be a year of celebration for the country.
Thursday’s memorial takes place two weeks before the start of the Olympic torch race in Fukushima. Prime Minister Suga said the Olympics will show Japan’s recovery from the disaster.
Arata Yamamoto reported from Tokyo, and Adela Suliman reported from London.
Associated Press and Reuters contributed.