‘Japan’s existence was at stake’: Fukushima disaster nearly prompted Tokyo evacuation – former PM

[yuiyoshida]

The fate of Japan hung on a “paper-thin margin” due to the government’s inadequate performance and the unprofessionalism of TEPCO’s executives after the Fukushima nuclear meltdown in 2011, which almost caused the evacuation of 50 million people.

Total chaos in operations and decision making reigned at the highest level in Tokyo, when the 2011 earthquake and tsunami forced the meltdown of three nuclear reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station, Naoto Kan, a former Japanese prime minister told The Daily Telegraph ahead of the fifth anniversary of the tragedy.

Making any decisions when TEPCO, the power station’s operator, offered “no clear information” to the scope of the disaster was nearly impossible.

“There was so little precise information coming in. It was very difficult to make clear judgments. I don’t consider myself a nuclear expert, but I did study physics at university,” Kan told the Telegraph.

https://www.rt.com/news/334682-fukushima-tokyo-nuclear-disaster/

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. Hmm I remember writing about that at the time

and having some here making fun of me. Well, if the PM says it... maybe I was right.



Ok, ok, better do my gear check

[Fairgo]

3. I remember that

seemed we had a lot of "experts" scoffing at the potential for catastrophic ecological damage.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. It was beyond scoffing

it was down right bullying... and... they were wrong as far as Japan is concerned.

But those experts are gone now... hmmm some of us suspected they were hired by the industry for damage control.

[Downwinder]

7. For some reason, with MS, radiation is invigorating.

An MRI is good for about four hours. The weekend after Fukushima blew and the cloud came by here, I was pumped up for three days.

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. That is actually interesting

[Fairgo]

11. Bullying is correct

Like a squadron of flying assholes...

They seemed to have returned to base after their sortie.

[Generic Other]

5. Me too

I have gone into self-imposed silence on Fukushima preferring to get and share information at less hostile sites.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Ayup

Hey, there is a slew of shit I do not bother with here

Though in the recent past my other long range prediction is on the news... the breakdown of the GOP, or possible realignment of the two parties.

I just hope to god, that civil war I have seen as a possibilty does not become a reality. I would hate to tell the locals I told you so over that one.

[Purveyor]

2. Rule 1: never trust the official line when a major disaster is taking place.

Always assume the worst and hopefully work back from there.

[First Speaker]

8. It was almost like a Japanese disaster movie come to life...

...all that was needed were Mothra and Godzilla swooping by...

[nadinbrzezinski]

10. Some of us, as dark humor, made those jokes