Fukushima Intricate: A Case Study

The convergence of three separate disasters in Fukushima Prefecture – earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis – is not only unique in terms of its scale and complexity, but also about the complicated interaction of health problems to which it may have given rise. The great Hanshin-Awaji (Kobe) earthquake that killed over 6,000 people in 1995 showed that in Japan disasters can affect different population groups with differing severity and that the elderly are especially vulnerable. For many villages, such as Iitate, May 2011 was the last opportunity to obtain information on the health of the population before the enactment of a compulsory group evacuation order at the end of the month.
Before 11 March, this village had a population of 6152,