Japan: Fukushima Executives Acquitted

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Japan

Fukushima Executives Acquitted
Three former Tokyo Electric Power Co. executives have been acquitted of professional negligence linked with an explosion at the Fukushima nuclear power plant after a tsunami in 2011. Prosecutors alleged that the three defendants failed to safeguard the plant, and in doing so are responsible for the many deaths caused by the explosion. The Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA) has reopened it’s investigation in hopes to improve the safety of nuclear power plants and prevent future disasters.

This map depicts the damage to the power plant, and how many people were forced to evacuate . Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: New York Times, NPR, Asahi Simbun, Telegraph,

Graphic Source: AFP
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Liberia
School Fire Kills 28
A religious boarding school broke into flames early Wednesday morning in Paynesville City, Liberia, killing 28. The victims, mostly students, were asleep in the nearby mosque when a presumed electrical malfunction sparked the flames. With the building’s single entrance blocked by the fire and the windows barred, school residents were effectively trapped. Two survivors have been admitted to the hospital in critical condition, while an investigation is underway to analyze fire safety in a city generally lacking fire detectors and extinguishers. The community gathered to mourn the deaths. A disaster of this degree has not occurred in decades.

This map depicts the location of the disaster at a school in Paynesville City, Liberia. Click on the map to learn more.

Further Reading: Washington Post, BBC, AlJazeera, EuroNews

Graphic Source: AFP
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World
Dangers of Disease Spread

A report released yesterday by the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board (GPMB) finds that the world is unprepared if a pandemic disease were to take hold, asserting such an event would “upend economies and create social chaos.” The report warns that a disease has the potential to move quickly in this modern age and could easily wipe out tens of millions of people in a matter of 36 hours, citing efforts by international governments to prepare for such an event as “grossly insufficient.” In addition, the scientists add that managing the spread of disease is increasingly difficult in the backdrop of growing conflicts, such as climate change, migrations, and war. The new body of experts, GPMB, is an off-branch of the World Health Organization and World Bank, assembled after the outbreak of Ebola in west Africa.

This map depicts deadly diseases around the world that have the potential to spread and kill millions. Click on the map to expand.

Further Reading: Guardian, Independent, VOX, Deutsche Welle, Gizmodo

Graphic Source: Daily Mail

+ India’s government has initiated a project to create a digital map of the country using drones. The project is already underway in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Haryana.

+ What did New York City look like four centuries ago? Welikia, the subject of our latest “Map of the Week” article, aims to answer that question.
+ Scientists have been trying to figure out what determines global patterns of biodiversity for centuries. Recent studies have found that mountains, particularly tropical ones, contain high levels of biodiversity richness.

Yesterday’s Answer

Q: Which Native American reservation, whose territory includes portions of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah, is the largest by land area in the United States?

A: Navajo Nation
With a land area of approximately 25,000 square miles, the Navajo Nation is larger than 10 US states. The area was designated after the signing of the 1868 Navajo Treaty with the US government.

Source

Today’s Question

Q: Which US state has the most counties?

Stay tuned for the answer to today’s question in tomorrow’s DailyGeo.

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Japan: Fukushima Executives Acquitted