Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/japan-s-crises-a-critical-first-week Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Story When an earthquake struck Japan on March 11, it triggered a tsunami that devastated the northeastern coast of Japan. The earthquake also caused a series of explosions at a nuclear power plant in the region. Nearly 7,000 Japanese citizens are reported dead, over 10,000 missing and more than 450,000 are homeless.