On March 11, 2011, an earthquake struck off the coast of Japan, churning up a devastating tsunami that swept over cities and farmland in the northern part of the country and set off warnings as far away the west coast of the United States and South America. Recorded as 9.0 on the richter scale, it was the most powerful quake ever to hit the country.
Families raced from their homes without closing the front doors. Now the land stands empty, frozen in time, virtually untouched since the March 11 disaster that created a wasteland in the 12-mile circle of farmland that surrounds the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. Some 78,000 people lived here; only a handful have been permitted to return. Lots of damage was done and caused cattle and the pets to roam untended near closed Fukushima plant.
When it came down to recovery, NY times states ” On November 2011, Japan’s economy grew at a 6 percent annualized rate in the third quarter, signaling a strong recovery after the devastating tsunami in March. Still, a slowing global economy and a stubbornly strong yen cloud the outlook for Japan, the world’s third-largest economy. ” Saved by a rebound in exports and consumption, the gross domestic product expanded 1.5 percent in three months. These numbers were released by the Cabinet office. Also exports jumped 6.2 percent as manufacturers got production back on track.