TOKYO (AP) — Newly released videos taken during the crisis last year at Japan’s crippled nuclear plant show the emergency command center shaking violently when hydrogen exploded at one reactor and the plant’s chief shouting, “This is serious, this is serious.”
The plant’s operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co., released videos today of teleconferences between its headquarters in Tokyo and staff at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear plant during the crisis in March last year.
The company initially refused to release the videos, but was ordered to do so by the government.
A massive earthquake and tsunami hit the plant on March 11 last year, knocking out its cooling systems. The cores of three reactors melted, releasing large amounts of radiation, and explosions of hydrogen gas badly damaged two reactor buildings.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less