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Japan observed a moment of silence on Tuesday to mark the third anniversary of the earthquake-tsunami disaster that swept away thousands of victims, destroyed coastal communities and created a nuclear emergency that forced a global rethink of nuclear power.

Survivors bowed deeply and joined hands at remembrance ceremonies in towns and cities around the disaster zone and in Tokyo, where Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko led tributes to those who died in Japan's worst peacetime disaster.

A national moment of silence followed the cry of tsunami alarm sirens, which were set off at 2:46 pm, the moment the magnitude-9.0 undersea tremor occurred.

Its raw force unleashed a towering wall of water that traveled at the speed of a jet plane to the Japanese coast. Within minutes, communities were turned to matchwood, and whole families were drowned.

Giant waves also crashed into the Fukushima nuclear power plant, sparking reactor melt downs and explosions, and setting off the worst atomic crisis in a generation.

The crippled plant remains volatile, and the complicated decommissioning process is expected to last for decades, as fears persist over the health effects of leaked radiation. Tens of thousands were evacuated from the stricken area.

As night fell, an event in a Fukushima park saw about 2,000 lit candles arranged to read "Fukushima 3/11."

In Tokyo, Emperor Akihito paid tribute to those who died in the tragedy, and those struggling in its aftermath.

"Many still lead difficult lives in devastated areas and places that were evacuated," he said. "I pray for a return of peaceful times."

Although no one died as a direct result of Fukushima, about 1,650 area residents died from complications related to stress and other problems after the accident.

A total of 15,884 people are confirmed to have died in the tsunami with another 2,633 still listed as missing. Human remains are sometimes discovered even now.

（中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語(yǔ)點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.