Japan today marks the seventh anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that killed more than 18.000 people, caused a nuclear disaster and devastated the country's northeast coast.
Japanese citizens gathered in Tokyo and northeastern Japan to commemorate the tragedy that occurred on March 11, 2011 at 14.46:9,0 p.m. local time when sirens sounded as a XNUMX-magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami, AP reported.
The nuclear power plant in the Japanese prefecture of Fukishima was hit by a devastating earthquake and tsunami that caused breakdowns in three reactors.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe told a central ceremony in Tokyo that reconstruction was progressing but that more than 70.000 people were still displaced, adding that many of them were unable to return to their homes.
Japanese Prince Akishino expressed the hope that the tsunami that ravaged the coast of northeastern Japan will raise people's awareness and contribute to preventing or mitigating the damage from future natural disasters.
A minute's silence was held in Hibiya Park in central Tokyo, attended by several hundred people who lit candles and laid flowers.
The Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was badly damaged by the earthquake and tsunami, is expected to take 30 to 40 years to clean up.
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