18,500 people were killed or missing
Japan commemorates the tenth anniversary of the Fukushima disaster
Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako in front of the tsunami victims' monument.
EPA
Civil defense personnel conduct searches for the remains of the missing.
EPA
picture
There was silence in Japan for one minute yesterday, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the worst natural disaster in the country's living memory, represented by a strong earthquake, tsunami and a nuclear reactor meltdown, and it shocked the country.
A minute of silence was recorded across Japan, the moment a nine-magnitude earthquake struck off the northeastern coast on March 11, 2011.
About 18,500 people were killed or missing in the disaster, most of them due to the tidal waves caused by one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded.
The ensuing nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Station contaminated neighboring areas with radiation, rendering some towns uninhabitable for years, and tens of thousands of residents were displaced.
"The unforgettable memory of the tragedy" lasted a decade, said Emperor Naruhito, speaking at a ceremony at the Tokyo National Theater.
He added, "Many of those affected, despite having suffered unimaginably great damage, overcame many difficulties by helping each other."
The anniversary was held in front of a smaller audience than usual, as the capital and surrounding areas are currently under a state of emergency due to the Corona epidemic.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said that the challenges faced by survivors were exacerbated by the epidemic and natural disasters, including the recent strong earthquake in the region, classified as a consequence of the 2011 earthquake, but he noted that Japan has always "overcome all crises with courage and hope." ».
Private and public ceremonies were held across Japan, and residents placed flowers on the graves and delivered messages to their missing loved ones at sea.
As the sun rose in Hisanuhama, in the Fukushima district, 78-year-old Toshio Kumaki walked along a giant seawall, built after the tsunami, and performed prayers.
About 60 people were killed in Ohesa, one of the areas adjacent to the beach, when the tsunami, reaching a height of seven meters, swept the coast, wiping out everything, except for a small religious shrine.
Komaki's eyes filled with tears as he recalled the disaster. "It was very frightening," he said.
Messages of condolences and sympathy poured in from all over the world, and everyone, from the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, to the singer Lady Gaga, expressed their solidarity on the anniversary of the triple disaster.
Searches for the missing are under way this week, as loved ones refuse to give up hope of finding them, even after a decade of disaster.
The chances of success may seem slim, but last week the remains of a woman missing since the tsunami were identified in what her son, a survivor, described as an opportunity to move forward.
The anniversary of the disaster comes just two weeks before the launch of the Olympic torch relay in the Fukushima region, referring to efforts made to portray the sporting event as a "reconstruction games".
The pandemic cast a shadow over the Olympic Games, forcing the organizers to postpone it for a year, which is unprecedented, but the government and organizers hope that the torch relay will re-shine the spotlight on the region.
A decade later, the disaster reshaped Japan's preparations for natural disasters, with many cities along the coast building new sea walls or more high walls.
Evacuation methods and plans have also been strengthened and improved in a country that regularly deals with disasters ranging from hurricanes to earthquakes.
Nayuta Gambi, from Sendai, Miyagi, often talks about disaster prevention and shares his experience during a tsunami, but usually celebrates the anniversary in private.
"The day I lost my colleagues, people died in front of my eyes," the 21-year-old told Agence France-Presse. "March 11th is a day that I hope will never come again."
Tens of thousands of people, who were evacuated in fear of the radiation, are still displaced, and about 2% of Fukushima's area remains off limits.
Most of Japan's nuclear reactors are still idle, while the government's plans to revitalize the sector are raising controversy.
Tens of thousands of people, who were evacuated for fear of radiation, are still displaced, and about 2% of Fukushima's area remains off limits.
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