March 11, 2011 — The magnitude 9 earthquake and subsequent tsunami cause a station blackout at the Fukushima No. 1 power plant, crippling reactors 1 through 4. The government declares an emergency and orders residents living within 3 km of the plant to evacuate.
March 12 — Prime Minister Naoto Kan inspects the plant. A hydrogen explosion rips through the No. 1 reactor building. The evacuation zone is expanded to a 10-km radius and later to 20 km.
March 14 — The No. 3 reactor building suffers a hydrogen explosion.