JAPAN – MARCH, 2011 On March 11, 2011, Japan was hit by one of the strongest earthquakes in history – up to 9 on the Richter scale in some areas. This triggered a massive tsunami off the coast of the Tōhoku prefecture. Waves up to 40 meters high completely destroyed towns and villages and caused enormous loss of life. Some estimates speak of up to 18,000 dead, 6,000 injured, and millions of people who lost their homes and all their possessions. In addition, the waves also caused an accident at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, where radioactive substances were released.
After the massive tsunami, the coastal waters turned into a place of accumulation of destroyed houses, debris, vehicles, and unfortunately, human bodies. Many victims were found in the water or on the shore, often covered with salt crusts formed upon contact with seawater. Rescue teams, the military, and civilian volunteers spent long weeks trying to recover bodies from the sea and identify them so they could be returned to their families. The operation was extremely demanding not only physically but also psychologically, as workers faced immense suffering and devastation caused by the tsunami every day.
