Summary
On Friday, March 11, 2011, a catastrophic earthquake resulted in a tsunami engulfing parts of Japan’s coastline. A state of emergency was declared at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which subsequently experienced multiple explosions, a fire, and radiation releases. Two weeks after the earthquake, more than 10,000 people were confirmed dead, and more than 17,400 people were missing. Large numbers of people had been evacuated among dire reports of a lack of water and food. The combination of crises is unprecedented. This Forum event examined the “Response to the Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crises in Japan: Disaster Leadership in Action.”
[Editor’s Note: The information presented by the Expert Participants at The Forum event was current as of March 16, 2011.]
Part of: Policy Controversies.
Background Articles
- Japan -- Earthquake and Tsunami (2011)
The New York Times - Japan
By Harvard Kennedy School Associate Professor Matthew Bunn - A Quake Data Clearinghouse
Harvard Gazette
Image Credit: AP Photo/Kyodo News
