On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, triggering a massive tsunami. The disaster led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plants reactors overheating and releasing radioactive material into the surrounding environment. The tsunami caused widespread destruction, killing nearly 16,000 people and leaving thousands more injured or displaced. The nuclear disaster became one of the worst in history, alongside Chernobyl, with long-term environmental consequences. The event sparked a reevaluation of nuclear energy safety worldwide.