The 2011 Tōhoku tsunami was a massive wave that struck the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11, 2011. It was triggered by a powerful magnitude 9.0 earthquake off the coast, one of the strongest ever recorded. The tsunami reached heights of up to 40 meters in some areas, causing widespread destruction and flooding. The disaster resulted in significant loss of life, with over 18,000 people confirmed dead or missing. It also led to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, where the tsunami disabled cooling systems, causing meltdowns and the release of radioactive materials. Recovery efforts have continued for years.