Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Analysis

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster: Analysis of Safety

On 11th March, 2011, Japan experienced an earthquake in the Tōhoku region, of magnitude 9.1 on the Richter Scale. This resulted in a devastating tsunami that affected millions of people. The tsunami also caused three reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant to malfunction, leading to a nuclear meltdown and release of potentially lethal radioactive material into the surroundings.

The Tōhoku Earthquake ranks fourth on the list of all time worst earthquakes in terms of magnitude. As a result, the tidal waves it generated were huge, with the crests reaching up to 15 m in height. The tsunami wreaked havoc, killing almost 20000 people, and causing huge damage to property.

When the tsunami

With laborious work spread over a span of several weeks in dangerous and inhospitable conditions, the workers finally managed to cool the three reactors and bring them to a stable condition.

The entire disaster was rated a 7 on the International Nuclear Event Scale (INES), which is the highest rating and signifies a major disaster. The only other event to be rated a 7 was the Chernobyl disaster nearly a quarter of a century ago, which represents the seriousness of the situation faced by the Japanese.

So, the question arises – why did the safety regulations that the plant adhered to fail, and could anything have been done to prevent it. In order to answer these questions, the Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission was set up. Following are the points that are inferred from the above investigation, regarding the possible causes of the disaster –

• Lapse on the part of TEPCO, the Nuclear Safety Commission (NSC) and the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency (NISA), who are the principal regulators to protect the critical equipment present from

• Ensuring that the emergency generators are in a more inaccessible environment, so that they are not easily affected by external events.

• Paying heed to earthquake or tsunami warnings and acting accordingly, so that the plant is prepared to face the onslaught of nature.

Although the Fukushima Nuclear Disaster did not directly claim any lives, it still lives on in the memory of the world as one of the worst nuclear disasters in history. Although there were no direct deaths. around 130-640 people are expected to succumb to the effects of indirect radiation poisoning. According to a World Health Organization Report, the effects will not be as far-reaching as say, Hiroshima or Nagasaki, with an increase in cancer predicted to be unlikely.

Around 1600 deaths have been associated with the evacuation process following the disaster. This shows that although it might not seem as horrific an event as far as loss of life is concerned, reality paints a stark picture. Coupled with the tsunami, this was one of the worst calamities Japan has ever faced, and therefore, any measures that can be taken to avoid such a scene in the future should be