Japan Earthquake / Tsunami

On March 11, 2011 , earthquake/tsunami hit the coast of japan . Recorded as 9.0 on the Richter scale, it was the most powerful quake ever to hit the country . Leading up to explosions and leaks of radioactive gas took place in three reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station that suffered meltdowns, while spent fuel rods at another reactor overheated and caught fire, releasing radioactive material into the atmosphere. The official death toll had been raised to more than eight thousand . But the final toll is expected to reach nearly 20,000. More than 13,000 people are listed as missing. More than 350,000 people are still living in evacuation centres in northern and eastern Japan. Not only do they have the deaths & missing , everyday people are dying from this radioactivity in the atmosphere .Villagers living near the plant have been told not to drink tap water because of higher levels of radioactive iodine . Also , they are complaining from lack of help from the government to clear people the danger zone & aid people who decided not to leave their residence . But for the positive of this devistating situation reactors are being fixed and they say this is "the beginning of a new era" .