On 11th March an earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean off the coastline of Japan causing a tsunami that has destroyed several of its coastal cities. Measuring at a magnitude of 9, it has left Japan devastated. Furthermore to the structural damage, the confirmed death toll (as of the end of March), counted as over 12,000 and many of the survivors are now homeless, camping out in some of the few remaining buildings and shelters.
With the shock of the damage caused, the loss of loved ones and the additional threat to a nuclear power plant crisis, it is easy to say Japan has never been worse affected- in recorded history, Japan’s previous biggest earthquake measured at 8.4. The current nuclear crisis at the Fukushima power plant keeps many fearful- with reports of increased spending on reservations for a luxury nuclear bunker in the United States, costing a grand total of £18,700 or $30,000 each.
The scare comes from reports of increased radiation levels in Japan. Despite Japan’s Deputy Cabinet Secretary stating “we are very close to getting the situation under control”, increased levels of radiation are still being reported. Villagers within 19 miles of the Fukushima power plant have been advised not to drink tap water since there has been a slight rise in water levels. There have even been reports of contaminated water 150 miles from the plant in Tokyo and reports of contaminated plants, such as spinach and milk, leading the government to consider imposing a restriction on seafood.
At this time of crisis, the Japanese public have been left feeling let down by their government. Many believe more attention has been paid by the government to the nuclear crisis than to the many people left in the shelters.
Nuclear worries have also reached Britain with increased radioactive iodine having been found in Oxfordshire and Glasgow. Despite the levels not being high enough to be damaging to health, it has caused concerns on the affects in Britain should there be a serious nuclear incident. It has also left the coalition divided on whether nuclear energy should be ‘part of the mix’ and plans to build eight new reactors at existing power plants now seem uncertain.
In addition to the worries of a nuclear disaster comes the price of the damage caused. The World Bank has estimated the cost of rebuilding Japan after the devastation to be around £145 billion and could take an estimate of five years. As the third largest economy in the world, and the majority of its GDP coming from exports, this cost will certainly be damaging not only to Japan, but to the rest of the global economy.
With Japan only just heading out of recession, its exports are vital to the country’s GDP. Japan’s biggest exports are in electrical products and car manufacture, but with so many destroyed or damaged factories now unable to produce their full potential, Japan’s economy will suffer. The price of electronic computer chips made in Japan has already risen by 20 per cent, and it is likely there will be a shortage of car parts too due to the disruption in supply.
Although there are shelters for those whose homes were destroyed, they are hardly places of luxury. Food is provided, but not as enjoyable as home-made meals, nor as nutritious and in some shelters there is limited, if any, heating. Nonetheless these consequences of the tsunami are nothing compared to the loss of loved ones. With family photos and personal possessions still being found amongst the debris and friends and family still missing, it is going to take Japan longer than five years to emotionally recover from the devastation.
Claire Phillips
Photo: Travel bite
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