TOKYO -- Ten years have passed since a 9.0 earthquake, tsunami and triple meltdown mercilessly slammed Fukushima, Miyagi and Iwate prefectures, leaving northeastern Japan a cleanup job so massive that it continues today, especially around the crippled nuclear plant.

Fukushima Anniversary
In pictures: A decade on, Japan cannot forget its 9.0 earthquake
A look back at the destruction that began at 2:46 p.m., March 11, 2011