The magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 remains one of the most devastating natural disasters in modern history. The powerful quake triggered a massive tsunami, caused widespread destruction and led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
According to Japan's National Police Agency , more than 15,000 people lost their lives, while thousands were injured or remain missing. For years, scientists believed they had a detailed understanding of what happened during and after the disaster.
