Knowra Fukushima nuclear accident Fukushima nuclear accident The 2011 nuclear accident at Japan’s Fukushima Daiichi plant followed an earthquake and tsunami, causing reactor meltdowns, hydrogen explosions, and radioactive releases.
Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant : A nuclear power station in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, with six boiling water reactors. The accident unfolded across several of this station’s reactor units.
Nuclear safety : The engineering, operating, and regulatory measures used to prevent nuclear accidents and limit their consequences. The accident prompted scrutiny of Japan’s safety rules and emergency arrangements.
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster evacuation : The relocation of residents from areas affected by radioactive releases after the Fukushima accident. Evacuation orders displaced communities around the plant and changed over time.
Fukushima Daiichi Unit 1 : The first reactor unit at Fukushima Daiichi, a boiling water reactor that suffered core damage in 2011. Unit 1 lost cooling early and experienced a hydrogen explosion on 12 March.
Chernobyl disaster : A 1986 nuclear accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Soviet Ukraine, involving an explosive reactor fire and radioactive releases. Unlike Fukushima’s tsunami-driven cooling failure, Chernobyl began during a reactor test and involved a graphite fire.
2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami : A magnitude 9.0 earthquake and ensuing tsunami struck northeastern Japan on 11 March 2011. The earthquake shut down operating reactors; the tsunami disabled vital power and cooling systems.
Tsunami hazard assessment : The estimation of tsunami likelihood, size, and effects at a particular location. The plant’s flood defenses reflected hazard estimates that proved inadequate for the 2011 tsunami.
Radioactive contamination : The presence of radioactive substances in places or materials where they are unwanted. Releases contaminated land and water, leading to monitoring and cleanup.
Fukushima Daiichi Unit 2 : The second reactor unit at Fukushima Daiichi, whose core was damaged during the 2011 accident. Unit 2 suffered severe fuel damage and was a major source of radioactive releases.
Three Mile Island accident : A 1979 partial core meltdown at the Three Mile Island nuclear plant in Pennsylvania. Both accidents involved core damage, but Three Mile Island’s radioactive releases were far smaller.
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