Fukushima Nuclear Disaster
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami struck Japan, disabling cooling systems at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant and triggering three reactor meltdowns — the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. Some 154,000 residents were evacuated; radioactive contamination spread into the Pacific. The disaster prompted Germany and other nations to accelerate nuclear phase-outs and triggered a global reassessment of nuclear energy policy.
- Year: 2011 CE
- Category: Political
