friday 's quake and tsunami damaged two nuclear reactors ... ( associated press ) a crate of beer is balanced on downed power lines on sunday , march 13 , 2011 over a canal littered with cans of alcohol that were washed into the area from a nearby brewery when a tsunami struck sendai , ... ( associated press ) tv sets are scattered on a street in hachinohe , northeastern japan , on sunday , march 13 , 2011 after friday 's catastrophic earthquake and tsunami .
the decision still trumped the worst - case alternative _ total nuclear meltdown .
a strong earthquake on march 11 , 2011 knocked out power at the plant , and because ... ( associated press ) police officers wearing gas masks patrol in the area of the fukushima power plant 's unit 1 in okumamachi , fukushima prefecture ( state ) , northern japan , saturday , march 12 , 2011 , amid fears that a part ... ( associated press ) fukushima daiichi power plant 's unit 1 is seen in okumamachi , fukushima prefecture , japan , friday , march 11 , 2011 .
 
the chain of events started friday when a magnitude-8.9 earthquake and tsunami severed electricity to the fukushima dai - ichi nuclear complex 170 miles ( 270 kilometers ) northeast of tokyo , crippling its cooling system .
the nuclear power plant affected by a massive earthquake is facing a possible meltdown , ... ( associated press ) in this photo taken on oct. 3 , 2008 , the fukushima daiichi nuclear power plant in okumamachi , fukushima prefecture , is seen .
eds note : graphic content - a dead man lies on the stairs of a destroyed house in sendai , northeastern japan , sunday , march 13 , 2011 , two days after the powerful earthquake and tsunami hit the area .
in this photo taken on aug. 10 , 2006 , the fukushima daini nuclear power plant in tmiokamachi , fukushima prefecture , is seen .
then , backup power did not kick in properly at one of its units .