The Tōhoku Earthquake, also known as the Great East Japan Earthquake, occurred on March 11, 2011. It registered a magnitude of 9.0, making it one of the most powerful earthquakes ever recorded. The epicenter was off the coast of Honshu, Japan's main island, and it triggered a massive tsunami that devastated coastal areas. The tsunami caused widespread destruction, leading to significant loss of life and damage to infrastructure. One of the most severe impacts was at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, where the tsunami disabled cooling systems, resulting in nuclear meltdowns and the release of radioactive materials.