Fukushima frozen in time: How the uninhabitable exclusion zone remains untouched, five years after tsunami caused Japanese nuclear plant disaster 

  • The area around Fukushima's reactor was evacuated in April 2011 and is still cordoned off to the public 
  • It followed the 8.9 magnitude Tohoku earthquake which led to a tsunami which partly flooded the plant
  • This led to the failure of several coolant water pumps, which prevented the reactor from overheating 
  • In February three Tokyo Electric Power Company executives were charged with professional negligence 

By Chris Summers For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

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Five years after a tsunami shut down the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan, these haunting images show how the uninhabitable towns that surround the exclusion zone have been frozen in time.

In March 2011 an earthquake measuring 8.9 triggered a tsunami off the coast of north-eastern Japan, leading to an explosion at the nuclear reactor in Fukushima.

On April 22 everybody within a 12 mile radius of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station was forced to flee and the area completely cordoned off.

This bookshop and manga comic store was abandoned by its owner. The aisles are now filled with April 2011 editions of magazines 

This bookshop and manga comic store was abandoned by its owner. The aisles are now filled with April 2011 editions of magazines 

But photographer Arkadiusz Podniesinski has journeyed through the ghost towns on the fringe of the central exclusion zone, to take these shocking images.

It is an urban area like something from an apocalyptic movie - untouched and uninhabitable. 

Mr Podniesinski visited the towns of Tomioka, Okuma, Futaba and Namie to take these pictures.

In the spring of 2011 dozens of children were forced to abandon their school bags (pictured) and flee the area around the Fukushima nuclear reactor

In the spring of 2011 dozens of children were forced to abandon their school bags (pictured) and flee the area around the Fukushima nuclear reactor

Earlier this year three executives with the Tokyo Electric Power Company (Tepco) were charged with professional negligence resulting in death and injury.

Tsunehisa Katsumata, 75, chairman of Tepco at the time, and two former vice presidents, Sakae Muto, 65, and Ichiro Takekuro, 69, were blamed for injuries to 13 people, including soldiers who were drafted in to help, and the deaths of 44 patients forced to evacuate from a nearby hospital.

The tsunami killed more than 18,000 people and Fukushima was the worst nuclear disaster since Chernobyl, although nobody is believed to have died directly as a result of the failure of the reactor. 

Frozen in time: Although these clocks in a shop did not all stop at the same hour, they are no less spooky for it  

Frozen in time: Although these clocks in a shop did not all stop at the same hour, they are no less spooky for it  

This photograph was taken on March 14, 2011, three days after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi plant, leading to the failure of a reactor (pictured, right)

This photograph was taken on March 14, 2011, three days after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit the Fukushima Daiichi plant, leading to the failure of a reactor (pictured, right)

This picture, taken in the spring during the traditional cherry blossom season, shows the entrance to the exclusion zone in Tomioka

This picture, taken in the spring during the traditional cherry blossom season, shows the entrance to the exclusion zone in Tomioka

These tricycles were abandoned when the nuclear reactor at Fukushima Daiichi failed. In 2013 the WHO said residents of the area who had been evacuated were exposed to low amounts of radiation and their health was unlikely to be affected

These tricycles were abandoned when the nuclear reactor at Fukushima Daiichi failed. In 2013 the WHO said residents of the area who had been evacuated were exposed to low amounts of radiation and their health was unlikely to be affected

Sadly many animals which were abandoned on this farm died of hunger or thirst

Sadly many animals which were abandoned on this farm died of hunger or thirst

This photograph shows the inside of a municipal swimming pool, which has been closed to the public since 2011

This photograph shows the inside of a municipal swimming pool, which has been closed to the public since 2011

Fire sale: This fascinating time capsule shows hundreds of DVDs in a store within the exclusion zone. Ironically 2011 was the same year Blockbuster closed down most of its 1,700 stores in the US. Nowadays most people download films or stream them

Fire sale: This fascinating time capsule shows hundreds of DVDs in a store within the exclusion zone. Ironically 2011 was the same year Blockbuster closed down most of its 1,700 stores in the US. Nowadays most people download films or stream them

The area around the Fukushima Daiichi plant is now a ghost town. Even if the residents had been allowed to stay they may not have done as the plant was by far the biggest local employer and its closure would have devastated the towns nearby

The area around the Fukushima Daiichi plant is now a ghost town. Even if the residents had been allowed to stay they may not have done as the plant was by far the biggest local employer and its closure would have devastated the towns nearby

This sculpture of a dinosaur - thought to be in the grounds of a creche - has become overgrown in the last five years

This sculpture of a dinosaur - thought to be in the grounds of a creche - has become overgrown in the last five years

Coincidentally the Sendai District Court today ruled that the parents of 23 children who were washed out to sea by the tsunami should get 1.43 billion yen (£10m) in compensation 

Coincidentally the Sendai District Court today ruled that the parents of 23 children who were washed out to sea by the tsunami should get 1.43 billion yen (£10m) in compensation 

Forty-four seriously ill patients died after being evacuated from this hospital in the exclusion zone 

Forty-four seriously ill patients died after being evacuated from this hospital in the exclusion zone 

This school hall was abandoned after the disaster. The damage to the roof is believed to have been caused by the earthquake

This school hall was abandoned after the disaster. The damage to the roof is believed to have been caused by the earthquake

Where once students played and learned music in this school, now there is only silence

Where once students played and learned music in this school, now there is only silence

The noise of a pachinko parlour has been replaced by a haunting silence 

The noise of a pachinko parlour has been replaced by a haunting silence 

Nature recovers: The blossom on these cherry trees within the exclusion zones carries echoes of the disaster in the spring of 2011, which happened during the cherry blossom season

Nature recovers: The blossom on these cherry trees within the exclusion zones carries echoes of the disaster in the spring of 2011, which happened during the cherry blossom season

Mr Podniesinski said he took the pictures between January and August this year, during multiple trips to Fukushima

Mr Podniesinski said he took the pictures between January and August this year, during multiple trips to Fukushima

An empty hospital ward near to Fukushima. Tokyo Electric Power Company estimates it will take at least 30 years to completely decommission the power station and will cost two trillion yen (£785m)

An empty hospital ward near to Fukushima. Tokyo Electric Power Company estimates it will take at least 30 years to completely decommission the power station and will cost two trillion yen (£785m)

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