Fukushima disaster documentary

The magnitude 9.0 earthquake that struck Japan on March 11, 2011, combined with the catastrophic tsunami resulted in emergency shutdowns at numerous Japanese nuclear power plants. At the Fukushima Daiichi power plant, a loss of electricity allowed three reactors to overheat, endangering all the nearby civilian population. Despite multiple attempts to cool down the reactor with sea water, partial meltdowns of the reactor cores have occured. The environmental damage can't be fully understood at this time. People are taking precautions in their struggle to combat the negative effects of the radiation. Learn more on the nuclear disaster in this short documentary.

Chernobyl nuclear disaster documentary

The documentary shows a sequence of events which resulted in a destruction of a nuclear reactor and a considerable amounts of radioactive material released to the environment at Chernobyl powerplant. The accident caused many deaths from radiation injuries over time. The authorities evacuated and subsequently relocated thousands of people from areas surrounding the reactor.

Fukushima nuclear accident

On March 11, 2011, an undersea earthquake of 9.0 magnitude hit Japan. It was the most powerful known earthquake to hit Japan and among the five most powerful earthquakes in the world. The epicenter was approximately 70 km east of the Oshika Peninsula of Tōhoku, created a devastating tsunami with a catastrophic effect on the nearby coast. The massive wave shattered the cooling systems at the TEPCO nuclear plant in Fukushima, causing hydrogen explosions and reactor meltdowns. Evacuations of those living within a 20km radius of the plant were taken and extreme measures in order to prevent complete nuclear disaster. Read more about the development of Fukushima nuclear accident here...

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster - part II

A Russian publication concluded that 985,000 excess cancer deaths occurred between 1986 and 2004 as a result of radioactive contamination. In general, a huge discrepancy among the estimates exists largely due to the geographical range of the accident and a large number of health problems caused. The highest radiation doses affected people responding immediatly after the explosion such as army, police and fireman. Evacuation and relocation of the nearby civil population was a traumatic experience for most since it meant they could never return to their homes. For many there was a social stigma associated with being an "exposed person". Read more about the radioactive effects here... Warning, some of the images are very graphic!

The Chernobyl nuclear disaster

The Chernobyl nuclear power plant had four working reactors. The incident happened on April 26, 1986, when operators of the power plant ran a test on an electric control system at the reactor number four. There was a sudden power output surge which prompted an attempt of emergency shutdown. A reactor vessel ruptured and a series of explosions followed. The disastrous sequence of events destroyed the Chernobyl 4 reactor, killing 30 operators and firemen within three months and several further deaths later. The resulting fire sent a plume of highly radioactive smoke into the atmosphere spreading over large parts of the western Soviet Union and Europe. It is considered as one of two worst nuclear crisis in history, classified as a level 7 event on the International Nuclear Event Scale. Find out more about the Chernobyl disaster...