When you see a car abandoned on the side of the road, it’s usually because there is something mechanically wrong or it’s been in an accident and hasn’t been moved yet. In 2011, there were hundreds of cars abandoned on highway, the reason for which is a shocking one:
There was a disaster that took place in Fukushima, Japan a few years ago – the massive earthquake that registered a 9.0 on the Richter, and caused a tsunami over 50 feet high. This massive wall of water slammed into the coast and nearly destroyed a nuclear reactor, which subsequently started exploding and leaking toxic wastes into the ocean.
Residents were quickly evacuated, some leaving behind everything, never to return to their homes again. There are some places in the area where people still can’t live or revisit because the radiation is dangerously high and could result in serious health problems.
One photographer was able to capture pictures of the cars that were left along the highway when people fled the area. Since the tsunami weeds, small trees and grass has started to grow around the cars, surrounding many to the point where they are unrecognizable. It is an eerie scene reminiscent of apocalyptic movies, where people were forced from their homes by forces unknown, on a moments notice, leaving everything behind as they tore off towards safety with nothing but their lives… But I suppose that is exactly what happened, isn’t it?
