1. FUKUSHIMA, MON AMOUR
In March, Japan suffered a 9.0-magnitude undersea megathrust earthquake followed by a killer tsunami that washed entire villages into the ocean. The one-two punch killed tens of thousands of people and reduced large areas of northern Japan to a sea of crushed debris and human remains. The quake also damaged nuclear power plants operating near the epicenter, causing life-threatening radiation leaks that authorities have been unable to stem despite frantic efforts. Radiation tests revealed contamination in milk, spinach and seawater, but the long-term effects of the threefold disaster are unknown.
What Do You Think?