On March 11, 2011, Japan suffer a devastating disaster that earned the attention of the whole world. A 9.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the country, followed closely by a tsunami that slammed the northeast coast. 7,000 people died and many more went missing, but in Fukushima a crisis was underway. The nuclear power plant, which housed six reactors, was in critical condition. Struggling to prevent a melt down, the Japanese engineers diligently worked at controlling the situation amid explosions in four of the reactors and the release of radioactive materials. Today, the nuclear crisis is still a threat to the country and its people. Not only is the situation still a struggle to control, but its effects on the people, the country, and even the world are still felt. Close to a year later, the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster is still a crisis for Japan and a troubling reality for the world.
The Event
Despite the country’s precautions against natural disasters, Japan was not ready for the 9.0 magnitude earthquake that hit on March 11, 2011. The ensuing tsunami, 250 miles long, which hit the northeast coast of the country dealt a devastating blow to the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, sending the plant into a critical condition. Engineers tried desperately to prevent the fuel rods from melting down. During their efforts, four of the six reactors in the plant experienced explosions and radioactive materials were released into the environment.
The reason behind why cooling the rods was a critical issue was because the cooling system had been incapacitated. The earthquake took out the electricity that would have pumped the cool water over the rods and the tsunami destroyed the back-up generators and crucial electrical equipment, leaving only batteries that powered the plant for a few short hours. When those batteries ran out, the plant was without electricity and without means of cooling the rods off.
Outside generators were brought in to supply what little electricity they could. Radioactive steam started to be vented into the first reactor to prevent pressure from building up in the core, but the hydrogen exploded and severely damaged the reactor. Sea water had to be pumped into the reactor to cool it so as to prevent fission from resuming. On March 13th, the Japanese government evacuated 100,000 people in response to rising radiation levels and the pumping of sea water was expanded to include reactors two and three, indicating further failure of the plant’s cooling system. The following day the third reactor experienced an explosion and the second reactor had a complete failure in its cooling system, requiring workers to cut into it to prevent another hydrogen buildup.
Despite their efforts, an explosion occurred on March 15th and radiation level increased dramatically. Following several severe threats and the deteriorating condition, the plant was evacuated and only a small group of fifty people were left behind, who later had to evacuate as well due to the increased radiation. The risk of melt down was now promnant and every method possible was being used to keep the rods cool. The combined effort of the plant engineers and the military worked to stabilize the condition of the plant and avert nuclear disaster.
Stability
In December, newly elected Prime Minster Yoshihiko Noda declared the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant stable, meaning they achieved a “cold shutdown” of the plant. Noda states that the dismantling process can now begin, a process which is estimated to take forty years, and evacuated people can move back to their homes in certain decontaminated areas.
The decision to declare a cold shutdown is seen as premature by some, made not in response to an improved situation but rather to quiet growing anger and frustration. What is clear is that the worst of the threat is over and now the dismantling of the plant and the rebuilding of the community can begin. The effects of the crisis however are prominent. Not only were entire communities ruined and local agriculture wounded, threatening the economic situation, but the mentality of the people is forever changed. Despite their ability to move back home, many people are choosing not to. Nuclear energy is bring brought into question in regards to its safely around the world. Nevertheless, nuclear energy is vital to Japan and Prime Minister Noda is issuing the remaining nuclear plants in the country to resume fission.
Reflection
The use of nuclear energy is certainly vital to many countries. Even in the United States nuclear energy is used as a prominent source, though not a primary one. It is my opinion that nuclear energy is not a bad thing, in fact I consider it preferable to some other sources. What needs to be changed is the way we handle the potential for disaster. Construction of the plants need to be efficient and better suited for surviving a crisis, whether natural or not. It’s through our anticipation of events such as the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear crisis that nuclear energy becomes safer to use.
References
http://e360.yale.edu/feature/anatomy_of_a_nuclear_crisis_a_chronology_of_fukushima/2385/
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/world/asia/japans-prime-minister-declares-fukushima-plant-stable.html
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/japan/index.html