Life by the sea was always welcoming, friendly and reassuring. Especially for the people of Ukedo, on the Fukushima coastline. The winding yellow, sand-beach and open skies played host to parents and kids alike.
Those from the fishing community, especially, had long reaped the benefits of the sea. One such fisherman, Morihisa Kanouya, a second-generation fisherman had decided that he had been fishing for far too long and it was time to hang up his boots, spend time with his wife and travel the world. He looked out at the grey, rough waves thinking of his future when he felt the ground shake. He rushed home to find his wife and the two of them headed to a small hill that looked safe. In fact, it had been designated as an evacuation spot for the children of Ukedo Elementary School, a year ago. Almost halfway through, they were met with a wall of water, six meters high.
Kanouya held his wife’s hand and ran. But they were overpowered. When the waters finally receded, Kanouya, who had been holding his wife’s hand found he was clutching at thin air. She had been washed away, much like thousands of others, that fateful day. However, the woes of the people of Fukushima were far from over.
Elsewhere, closer to the Fukushima nuclear plants, people were running out of their homes which crumbled in their wake. Just when they thought they were safe outdoors, an explosion occurred. It was a hydrogen explosion from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.
The earthquake and the consequent tsunami set in motion, one of the worst nuclear disasters since Chernobyl. The plant’s explosion caused leakage of radioactive material. The meltdown, caused by faulty cooling systems resulted in steam filling the building and surrounding areas. Radioactive material was thrown out into the open to reduce internal pressure and prevent further explosions of the nuclear reactors. Estimates based on data from Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO) revealed that the 7,70,000 tera Bq of radioactive material had been released in the air until the beginning of April, that year.
Braving disastrous times
People remained calm in the face of disaster despite the terror they felt. They worked in tandem with the government to evacuate those affected. The government issued instructions to evacuate residents within a three-kilometre radius of the plant and later expanded it to 20. Those who fell within the range of 20 km to 30 km were asked to remain indoors. In other words, people were evacuated based on the distance and reach of the radioactive plume from the plant, as opposed to the dosage of radiation. Despite the triple threat of an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear meltdown, the spirit of the people remained strong. Those less affected helped with gathering relief material. Even as Fukushima was crumbling, what the world talked about was the calm, selflessness, and fortitude that the people displayed in picking up the pieces.
Investigations on
National Diet of Japan Fukushima Nuclear Accident Independent Investigation Commission (NAIIC), a commission to investigate the background and cause of Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster was formed by the statutory law enactment by Diet of Japan on October 7, 2011. The NAIIC panel’s chairman, Kiyoshi Kurokawa said in the inquiry report that Fukushima “cannot be regarded as a natural disaster. It was a profoundly man-made disaster — that could and should have been foreseen and prevented. Governments, regulatory authorities and TEPCO lacked a sense of responsibility to protect people's lives and society. They effectively betrayed the nation’s right to be safe from nuclear accidents.”
Timeline
March 11, 2011 ,
2.46 p.m: An earthquake measuring a magnitude of 9.0 on the Richter scale hits 130 km off Japan’s north-eastern coast. Several nuclear power plants automatically shut down; the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex loses its connection to the electrical grid.
3.27 p.m: Diesel generators at Fukushima shut down after being hit by a series of seven tsunamis; the Japanese government issues a state of emergency.
March 12
The Japanese government announces evacuation within 10 km of the Fukushima Daiichi and Fukushima Daini nuclear power plants.
A hydrogen explosion blows the roof off of the Unit 1 reactor building and collapses the walls surrounding the pool where spent nuclear fuel rods are kept cool. Residents within 20 km of the plant are evacuated.
Radioactive cesium 137 and iodine 131 are detected near the power plant.
March 13
Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yukio Edano, says that a partial meltdown in Unit 3 is “highly possible”.
March 14
Falling water levels in reactors 1, 2 and 3 expose the upper portions of active nuclear fuel. A hydrogen explosion occurs in the reactor Unit 3 building, injuring several workers.
March 15
A fire breaks out in the Unit 4 reactor building.
Radiation readings taken near the plant show emissions of up to 400 millisieverts per hour, compared to the average person's exposure rate of 2.4 millisieverts per year.
March 16
TEPCO estimates that many of Fukushima Daiichi’s fuel rods have suffered damage, including 70 per cent of the fuel in Unit 1 and 33 per cent in Unit 2.
March 19
Milk and water from the Fukushima area are found to have excessively high levels of radioactive iodine. Tap water in Tokyo, 225 km from Fukushima, also carries elevated levels of radiation.
March 20
Temperatures stabilise in units 5 and 6, which reach safe cold shutdown conditions, or temperatures below the boiling point of water.
