A Study of Events Leading to Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Disaster and Suggested Measured that would have Prevented It

Abstract

Primarily our energy requirements are being met by fossil fuels. The climate change being ushered in due to the pollution caused by their use has forced the mankind to look for new sources of clean energy. But its use has certain disadvantages. Accidents in the Nuclear power plants can cause immense damage as we have seen earlier in Chemobyl and now in Fukushima. The great east Japan earthquake (magnitude 9) on 11 March 2011 generated a number of large tsunami waves the struck the east coast of Japan, the highest being 38.9m at Aneyoshi, Miyako. The earthquake and tsunami waves that followed it, caused widespread devastation across a large part of Japan. In addition to this, many people still remain missing. Many aspects of Japan's infrastructure were ruined by this devastation and loss. Several nuclear power facilities were affected. These power plants were Tokai Dai-ni, Higash Dori, Onagawa and TEPCO's Fukishima Dai-ichi and Dai-ni. The present paper traces the progression of the accident at Fukishima Dai-ichi nuclear power station and the author suggests the ways in which it could have been prevented.