Published: TUESDAY February 10, 2026: 'Remembering 3.11' Photography by ZUMA Press photographer Hitoshi Yamada: Next month marks the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear disaster. On March 11, 2011, the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent massive tsunami struck Northeast Japan, triggering the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the worst since Chernobyl. At least 20,000 people died or went missing from the 3/11 catastrophe, which devastated towns and caused long-term radiation contamination. Even today, 2,520 people remain missing. Japan observes a moment of silence at 2:46 PM the exact time the quake struck to honor victims and reflect on the disaster's enduring impact on survivors. The population in the disaster-stricken area is declining at a faster pace than the national average. Recovery is still far from completed and expected to take decades more. Welcome to 'Remembering 3.11'
© zReportage.com Issue #1027 Story of the Week: Published: TUESDAY February 10, 2026: 'Remembering 3.11' Photography by ZUMA Press photographer Hitoshi Yamada: Next month marks the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear disaster. On March 11, 2011, the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake and subsequent massive tsunami struck Northeast Japan, triggering the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, the worst since Chernobyl. At least 20,000 people died or went missing from the 3/11 catastrophe, which devastated towns and caused long-term radiation contamination. Even today, 2,520 people remain missing. Japan observes a moment of silence at 2:46 PM the exact time the quake struck to honor victims and reflect on the disaster's enduring impact on survivors. The population in the disaster-stricken area is declining at a faster pace than the national average. Recovery is still far from completed and expected to take decades more. Welcome to 'Remembering 3.11'

The view through an abandoned vehicles cracked and smashed windshield after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A car sits submerged in flood waters after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A fishing boat sits on a street amid houses far from the harbor after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A car sits on its roof at the beach along coastal area after the tsunami swept the region. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Cars sit on a section of collapsed highway in Ishinomaki after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A massive debris filled coastal area after tsunami swept through the flattening everything in its path. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Survivors including young children walk on a cleared street amid the devastation in Ishinomaki days after the earthquake and tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Cars are left stacked atop one another when floodwaters recede, after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A resident walks in the street past a partially collapsed building, after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Family portraits hang inside a badly damaged home after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Japanese Self Defense Force members clear debris looking for bodies in the rubble after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A girl hugs her younger brother amid devastation in Ishinomaki, just after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Family portraits in a photo album inside a badly damaged home after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Close up of a damaged clock with hands stuck in a destroyed high school in Ishinomaki after the earthquake and tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A mud filled stairwell at a destroyed high school in Ishinomaki after the earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

School bags a piled up in a high school gym as portraits of those still missing hang from wall bars in Ishinomaki after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Burned desks in a classroom at a destroyed high school in Ishinomaki after the earthquake and tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A massive debris filled area after tsunami swept through the area flattening everything in its path. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Japanese Self Defense Force members clear debris looking for bodies in the rubble, after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Japanese Self Defense Force members clear debris looking for bodies in the rubble of homes, after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A Japanese Self Defense Force member clears through piles of debris looking for bodies in the rubble after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Survivors look for belongings and pictures among collected family items that were found scattered among the debris after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

Volunteers gather and preserve family photographs that were found scattered among the debris in hopes of returning them to their owners just days after the tsunami hit. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A man walks in a window reflection as a mannequin appears to peer from a store front into the street days after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire

A wheelchair stands amid the debris and devastation, after a magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami swept the area. Japan's Fukushima region transformed from rural haven to ravaged wasteland when the earthquake and tsunami struck in March 2011.
© Hitoshi Yamada/ZUMA Press Wire