Fukushima - A Nuclear Disaster II

Today will just be a quick blog on the second disaster to score a 7 on the International nuclear and Radiological Event Scale, the Fukushima Disaster (WNA 2016). The result of the damage caused by a 15-metre tsunami following a major earthquake of magnitude 9.0 on Japans East Coast; this disaster has forced around 154,000 people to be evacuated from their home with no real knowledge of when, or if, they will be able to return (Reconstruction Agency).

Location of the Fukushima power plant and evacuation zones (CNN 2011)

The first video is slightly technical, but it is a very good explanation of the events that unfolded from an objective point of view. It explains how this particular nuclear reactor works, which in turn will allow a better understanding of why the reactors went into meltdown and the path it followed.

The second video is produced by Greenpeace and looks at the impacts that the radiation has had on the environment and the local population. As Greenpeace is a noted activist against nuclear power, it is good to keep in mind that this video will most likely contain some bias against nuclear power which may or may not be true (Greenpeace).

If you have a bit more time to spare and want to watch a documentary style video of the disaster such as those on TV, here is another option.

If you are really interested in the details of the Fukushima Disaster, I'd recommend taking a look at this web page by the World Nuclear Association; it contains a good summary with lots of detailed subsections for you to investigate depending on your interest.