These Images Of Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Look Straight Out Of A Horror Movie

Isolated

Japan is a country familiar with earthquakes. The nation has developed and adapted to cope with one of Mother Nature’s most dangerous disasters to minimize its losses. But the effects of the tsunami induced by the 9 magnitude earthquake on March 11th, 2011 were unprecedented, even for the Japanese.

The tsunami disabled generators which drove cooling water into the core reactors and the resulting meltdown caused the release of a tremendous amount of radioactive material into the surrounding area. The incident was rated as a Level-7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale. The scale rates from 0 to 7 based on the severity of the consequences caused by the incident. The Fukushima incident is the worst Nuclear incident since Chernobyl (which was also rated a 7 on the INES). Homes within a 20 km radius of the power plant were evacuated and the towns remain desolate to this day. The animals and crops from the region also remain unfit for human consumption. This, however, does not stop the residents of the area from visiting their homes and taking care of the livestock and other animals.

With the darkness of the past two years, the future for Fukushima Prefecture is not all that grim. The government has started projects to dismantle and remove the reactors from the wasted power plant. On the other end, Japanese fast food chain Yoshinoya, plans to harvest ingredients for its dishes in the area (rice and vegetables); while fish caught offshore from Fukushima is being sold in the Japanese fish market since September of this year. Check out some of the photos of this disaster:

News report from the day of the earthquake (11th March, 2011)

One of the most alarming effects of the meltdown have been reported recently. The radioactive groundwater from the area has been flowing into the sea by the tonne. This was reported by Tokyo Electric Power in July 2013.

Almost all the beaches in Fukushima prefectures remain closed since the disaster in 2011. In July this year, Tokyo Electric Power admitted that hundreds of tons of radioactive groundwater may be flowing out to the sea every day.

A barrier installed by the government to prevent people from entering the plant extremely radioactive plant site.

A security barrier blocks the road into the exclusion zone near the tsunami-crippled Daiichi nuclear power plant.

An abandoned farm at the edge of the restricted area from which people were evacuated.

This abandoned farm is at the edge of the exclusion zone at the coastal area near Minamisoma, a partially evacuated city.

Newspapers reporting the devastating earthquake at an abandoned newsstand.

Copies of Fukushima Minpo newspapers are dated a day after the 2011 earthquake with headlines "M(magnitude) 8.8, largest in the country."

People wearing face masks in the cemeteries of one of the affected cities.

People wear face masks as they visit the graves of their relatives at a cemetery damaged by the earthquake in Tomioka.

A small tribute to those who lost their lives due to the tsunami.

A small monument to victims is seen in front of an abandoned house at the tsunami destroyed coastal area.

Exposure to the radiation may increase the chances of thyroid cancer in children. Free examinations are being offered to those evacuated from the radiated areas.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) says children in Fukushima may have a higher risk of developing thyroid cancer after the Daiichi nuclear disaster. A non-profit organization now offers free thyroid examination for children from the Fukushima area.

Cleanup of the radiation waste material has been ongoing for the past two years but has proved unsuccessful since the material has been collected but lies, piled up, in the affected area. This is due to the refusal of local communities to dispose of the waste near their homes, meaning the time and money spent on the cleanup attempts has seemingly gone to waste.

The most ambitious radiation clean-up ever attempted has proved costly and time-consuming since it began two years ago. It may also fail. Most of the contaminated debris (seen here collected in plastic bags) remains piled up in driveways and empty lots because of fierce opposition from local communities to storing it in one place.

The animals and crops from the region remain unfit for human consumption to this day. This, however, does not stop the residents of the area from visiting their homes and taking care of the livestock and other animals.

Keigo Sakamoto, 58, holds Atom, one of his 21 dogs and over 500 animals he keeps at his home in the exclusion zone. Sakamoto, a former caregiver and farmer, takes care of the animals with donations and support from outside Fukushima.

Noboru (L) and Nagako Harada travel every day back to Namie to take care of their 30 cows even though they no longer can be sold. "Cows are my family. I don't want to kill them, I don't know what to do," said Norobu.

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