Fukushima Disaster

 

What Happened?

On 11 March 2011, a tsunami and earthquake struck Japan and resulted in a disastrous meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. The meltdown resulted from power loss and non-functional cooling systems causing three nuclear reactors to meltdown, and radioactive substances were released into the environment. It was graded Level 7 (max) in the International Nuclear Event Scale—severe enough to be equated with the Chernobyl meltdown. No deaths due to radiation exposure were officially determined to occur simultaneously, but over 160,000 were evacuated and numerous others suffered the social and psychological effects of the accident. Investigations placed blame on inadequate safety planning and management. In the cleanup and compensation, the cost was estimated at ¥20 trillion ($180 billion) and there remain controversies surrounding long-term effect and nuclear waste disposal.

This accident directed attention to severe loopholes in nuclear power plants, especially in locations prone to natural disasters like Japan. It also caused a global rethinking of nuclear energy policy, with others slowing or abolishing nuclear programs altogether. In Japan, faith in energy officials hit rock bottom, and debates over alternative sources of energy picked up more momentum. The Fukushima disaster reminds us to this day of the value of disaster preparedness, technological protection, and open government response during a crisis.

This powerful documentary from Japan’s NHK network covers what happened inside the plant during the crisis. It includes real accounts from workers, government officials, and survivors. A must-watch to understand how close the world came to a larger disaster — and how heroes on the ground prevented it.

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