On March 11 2011, an earthquake which measured 9.0 on the Richter scale became the biggest earthquake in recorded history to hit Japan. The earthquake was caused when the Pacific Plate thrusted underneath the North American Plate.

The earthquake itself, although much bigger than usually seen in Japan, was prepared for extensively as they receive many earthquakes every year. Many buildings remained standing afterwards. However, what caused major destruction was the subsequent Tsunami.

The tsunami that was generated contributed greatly to the loss of life and inundated the eastern sea board of Japan. The tsunami generated wave heights that averaged of 5-12m sweeping away boats, cars, homes and people.

At the two nuclear plants on the Pacific coast in Fukushima, the tsunami disabled emergency generators required to cool the reactors. Over the following three weeks there was evidence of a partial nuclear meltdown; visible explosions, suspected to be caused by hydrogen gas and a suspected explosion that may have damaged the primary containment vessel.  Radiation releases caused large evacuations, concern over food and water supplies, and treatment of nuclear workers.