Great East Japan Earthquake 2nd Anniversary

Above, Matsushima Bay before the earthquake and tsunami.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is the second anniversary of the March 11, 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake that resulted in a devastating tsunami and radiation problems at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Almost 19,000 people lost their lives in the disaster.

According to Japan Today, Americans donated nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in disaster relief:

TOKYO — Americans have given nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in private donations to help tsunami-wracked communities, a report said, as Japan marked the second anniversary of the disaster Monday. 

Individuals, companies and non-profit groups have donated $712.6 million to help crisis-stricken areas over the last 24 months, the Japan Center for International Exchange said in a report.

To read the full article, go here.