Japan Marks Anniversary of 2011 Tsunami Victims With Moment of Silence

At 2:46 p.m. local time (06:46 GMT), the exact moment that the earthquake struck Japan five years ago, millions of the Japanese citizens observed a moment of silence, commemorating the victims of the disaster.

TOKYO (Sputnik) — Japan on Friday marked the fifth anniversary of a massive earthquake and tsunami that hit the country's northeast coast with a moment of silence, local media reported.

On March 11, 2011, a 9.0-magnitude earthquake struck Japan, which was followed by a massive tsunami. About 16,000 people were killed and over 2,500 people are still on the missing after the natural disasters. The incident also crippled the Fukushima nuclear power plant, with radiation leaking into the atmosphere, soil and sea.

According to The Japan Times newspaper, at 2:46 p.m. local time (06:46 GMT), the exact moment that the earthquake struck Japan five years ago, millions of the Japanese citizens observed the moment of silence, commemorating the victims of the disaster.

The ceremony in the country's capital of Tokyo that commemorated the victims of the disaster was attended by Japanese Emperor Akihito, as well as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.

15:37 #5yearsago — Tsunami hits Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. Backup diesel generators, fuel tanks are lost. pic.twitter.com/rOro0u2le5

— Nippon.com (@nippon_en) 11 марта 2016 г.

Crew of the Rainbow Warrior just off the coast of the #Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear power plant. Never forget. pic.twitter.com/vYTStVz7qA

— GP Rainbow Warrior (@gp_warrior) 11 марта 2016 г.

Japan marks fifth anniversary of 2011 earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster pic.twitter.com/po5tGZFQDz

— TIMES NOW (@TimesNow) 11 марта 2016 г.

Some 175,000 people, evacuated due to the 2011 natural disasters and Fukushima accident, still cannot return home, the newspaper reported.