BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

Earthquake, Tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan: an assessment

Author: Sufia Khanom

DOI Link: DOI: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2011v32n2a2

ABSTRACT

This paper attempts to assess the impacts of the devastating natural disaster - earthquake followed by tsunami, that shook Japan on 11 March 2011, from socio-economic and development point of view. The intensity of the disaster was reflected through a destructive earth quake measuring 8.9 on Richter scale along with a tsunami at a speed of 500 miles/hour. Though, Japan is technologically and economically developed, it described the disaster as the worst crisis in the 65 years of its history since the end of World War II. Huge humanitarian crisis and massive disruption of industrial supply chains negatively affected the economic growth of Japan and put enormous stress on the psyche of Japanese people. The plight of the people had been compounded further by the threat of radiation exposure from the damaged reactors of nuclear power plants at Fukushima. The mishap at nuclear power plants at Fukushima posed some serious questions to the world: how safe nuclear power plants really are? Should the world look for a safer alternative to power problems? The disaster in Japan and its consequences have some serious impacts on Bangladesh from a development perspective. Japan has long been the principal donor and biggest development partner of Bangladesh. But the ongoing crisis in Japan may pose a threat or create some degree of uncertainty to the long term development planning of Bangladesh. Besides, the catastrophic experience of Japan has made Bangladesh rethink about its readiness to encounter similar disasters. As a climate induced vulnerable country, Bangladesh should strengthen its disaster management system by ensuring early warning system, as well as improving rescuing and relief management mechanism to combat such natural calamities.