'Miracle tree' removed from tsunami-ravaged city (Japan)
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The tsunami-ravaged city of Rikuzentakata, Japan, cut down the lone pine tree that survived the disaster 18 months ago and came to symbolize hope, but there are plans to keep the preserved tree on display.
A single pine tree that was left standing after the March 11th tsunami last year, which swept away an entire forest in the city of Rikuzentakata, is seen on March 10, 2012 in Rikuzentakata, Japan.
On the eve of the one year anniversary of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami the effected areas have been inundated with families, friends and relatives, the limited amount of hotels in the area are full to capacity with the worlds media and people from across Japan are arriving to take part in ceremonies paying tribute to the many people who lost their lives.
The 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake struck offshore on March 11, 2011 at 2:46pm local time, triggering a tsunami wave of up to ten metres which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan and also damaged the Fukushima nuclear plant, causing the worst nuclear crisis in decades. The number of dead and missing ammounted to over 25,000 people.
A total lunar eclipse is seen above a tree known as miracle solitary pine tree in Japan, which survived after the March 11 tsunami hit the area, in Rikuzentakata, Iwate prefecture.
