Inside Japan's Nuclear Meltdown (full documentary) | FRONTLINE

FRONTLINE PBS | Official・2 minutes read

Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant faced a series of challenges, including a powerful earthquake, tsunami, and potential reactor meltdown, leading to brave and risky actions to stabilize the situation and prevent a catastrophic explosion. Despite facing dangerous radiation levels and explosions, workers, including a suicide squad, firefighters, and soldiers, risked their lives to cool the reactor cores and prevent further radiation leaks, ultimately marking the end of the most dangerous phase of the crisis.

Insights

  • The Fukushima nuclear plant faced a series of crises, including earthquakes, tsunamis, and reactor core meltdowns, leading to the release of radioactive gases to prevent catastrophic explosions and risking dangerous radiation exposure for workers.
  • Despite facing severe challenges and criticism, courageous actions by workers, including a suicide squad and a team of firefighters, helped stabilize the reactors and prevent further meltdowns, ultimately marking the end of the most perilous phase of the crisis.

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Recent questions

  • What caused the Fukushima nuclear plant crisis?

    The Fukushima nuclear plant crisis was caused by a powerful earthquake followed by a destructive tsunami. The earthquake led to the shutdown of reactors, but the tsunami destroyed backup generators, preventing cooling systems from functioning. This resulted in intense heat due to nuclear fuel rods, risking a meltdown.

  • How did workers stabilize the reactor cores?

    Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant faced dangerous radiation levels and potential meltdown. A suicide squad was prepared to vent the reactors to prevent a catastrophic explosion. The venting team, limited to 17 minutes in the reactor building, showed courage and resolution in opening vents to stabilize the reactor cores.

  • What led to the evacuation of the Fukushima plant area?

    A plume of radiation from an explosion at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan led to the evacuation of everyone within 12 miles of the plant. The explosion caused by leaking hydrogen halted efforts to cool the reactor cores, leading to fears of a meltdown and radiation exposure, necessitating the evacuation.

  • Who was involved in injecting water into reactor three?

    A team of soldiers, including Colonel Shinji Iwakuma, was sent to inject water directly into the core of reactor three at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Despite facing high radiation levels and narrowly escaping a lethal dose during their mission, they played a crucial role in cooling the reactor.

  • How did firefighters contribute to the crisis response?

    A team of firefighters, including over-40s with no children, was sent to spray water into the fuel pools at the Fukushima nuclear plant to prevent further radiation leaks. Despite facing high radiation levels, they completed their mission within an hour, significantly reducing radiation levels at the plant and aiding in crisis management.

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Summary

00:00

Fukushima Workers Brave Disaster to Stabilize Reactors

  • Workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant faced a powerful earthquake, leading to the shutdown of reactors but causing intense heat due to nuclear fuel rods.
  • The tsunami that followed the earthquake destroyed backup generators, preventing cooling systems from functioning and risking nuclear fuel meltdown.
  • Engineers struggled to restore power to pressure gauges and faced rising pressure and heat in the reactor cores, leading to the need to release radioactive gases.
  • The prime minister authorized the release of radioactivity to prevent a reactor explosion, despite the risks and lack of electricity to operate venting valves.
  • Workers faced dangerous radiation levels and potential meltdown, with a suicide squad prepared to vent the reactors to prevent a catastrophic explosion.
  • The venting team, limited to 17 minutes in the reactor building, showed courage and resolution in opening vents to stabilize the reactor cores.
  • An explosion caused by leaking hydrogen halted efforts to cool the reactor cores, leading to fears of a meltdown and radiation exposure.
  • The prime minister and his team faced criticism for downplaying the severity of the disaster, as efforts to stabilize the reactors faced challenges and risks of fuel melting through.
  • Despite the explosion, the reactor core remained intact, but the situation at the Fukushima plant was still precarious and out of control.
  • The workers continued their efforts to stabilize the reactors, facing challenges and risks of further explosions or meltdowns, as the severity of the disaster became apparent.

26:44

"Radiation Crisis at Japan Nuclear Plant"

  • A plume of radiation from the explosion at the nuclear plant in Japan led to the evacuation of everyone within 12 miles of the plant.
  • Norio Kimura and his daughter were in the danger zone and received iodine tablets for protection.
  • Efforts to cool the melting cores of reactors one, two, and three were hindered by explosions and radiation leaks.
  • A team of soldiers, including Colonel Shinji Iwakuma, was sent to inject water directly into the core of reactor three.
  • The soldiers faced high radiation levels and narrowly escaped a lethal dose during their mission.
  • The situation at the plant worsened, with radiation levels reaching 1,000 millisieverts per hour near one reactor building.
  • The prime minister was informed of plans to withdraw workers from the plant, but the plant manager, Masao Yoshida, decided to evacuate only non-essential personnel.
  • A team of firefighters, including over-40s with no children, was sent to spray water into the fuel pools to prevent further radiation leaks.
  • The firefighters faced high radiation levels and completed their mission within an hour, reducing radiation levels at the plant.
  • Workers laid pipes to channel water into the reactor cores, cooling them and marking the end of the most dangerous phase of the crisis.
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